Anna Deavere Smith
About
Biography
Filmography
Bibliography
Notes
Smith received a 1996 MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant.
"I wanted not just to be part of the theater 'tradition'. I felt that the theater tradition in this country was too far behind the times.I think that art is supposed to be ahead of the times."I knew that I could not rely on my theater colleagues to get me 'with' the times, so I knew I was going to have to find a way to use art to put myself among the American people, in order to discover something about the American character. That's why I go out and interview poeple instead of making up things in my head; there's a trap that every play that I did would have MY voice, and not an American one." -- Smith quoted in "Ms. Smith Goes to Washington" by Diane Haithman, Los Angeles Times, January 24, 1995.
Biography
Known just as well for her socially relevant work as a playwright as for her stunning reputation as an actor, Anna Deavere Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. After graduating from Arcadia University with her Bachelor's in 1971, she earned an MFA in acting from American Conservatory Theater and embarked upon a career as a professional actor. Though she would earn quick notoriety for playing Glamorama the Shampoo Girl on the soap opera "All My Children" (ABC, 1970-2011) in 1970, Deavere Smith would find a real home on the stage, appearing in productions like the Riverside Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and The American Place Theatre's "Aye, Aye, Aye, I'm Integrated." In 1992, she wrote and starred in "Fires in the Mirror," her first of several one-woman-shows written in the documentary theater style, with Deavere Smith portraying several real-life people who survived a socially tumultuous historical event. She would earn tremendous acclaim with several such plays including "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992," "The Arizona Project," "Let Me Down Easy," and "On Grace." Deavere Smith has also consistently worked as a college professor, teaching at Stanford University, the University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University, and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, in addition to enjoying a successful career on screen. She notably appeared in the White House films "Dave" (1993) and "The American President" (1995) before joining the cast of the presidential series "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006). She later co-starred on the series "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime, 2009-2015). In 2018, Deavere Smith appeared in the biographical dramedy "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Writer (Special)
Special Thanks (Special)
Life Events
1974
Made her stage debut in "Horatio"
1978
Was an assistant professor of theater at Carnegie-Mellon University
1982
Feature film debut, "Soup for One"
1983
Made TV debut on the ABC daytime soap, "All My Children"
1983
First play produced, "On the Road"
1986
Moved to Los Angeles
1992
Breakthrough role as the solo performer playing multiple and diverse characters in "Fires in the Mirror"; also wrote play
1993
Appeared in Jonathan Demme's film about AIDS and homosexuality, "Philadelphia"
1993
Once again was the solo performer of multiple characters in "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992"; first opened in LA and later moved to NY; nominated for two Tony Awards for Best Actress and Best Play
1995
Played the president's press secretary in Rob Reiner's "The American President"; scripted by Aaron Sorkin
1997
First produced stage play with a cast of actors, "House Arrest: First Edition"
1999
Reworked the stage play of "House Arrest" for the Los Angeles stage
2000
Had a recurring role as District Attorney Kate Brunner on "The Practice" (ABC)
2000
Starred in film version of "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992"; presented in a special screening at the Sundance Film Festival
2001
Had a recurring role on the NBC White House drama, "The West Wing"; created by Aaron Sorkin
2003
Cast in "The Human Stain," opposite Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman
2005
Co-starred in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, "Rent"
2007
Played Deputy National Security Advisor in Peter Berg's "The Kingdom"
2008
Co-starred in Jonathan Demme's "Rachel Getting Married"
2009
Headlined her solo show "Let Me Down Easy" at off-Broadway's Second Stage
2009
Cast as hospital administrator Mrs. Akalitus in Showtime's dark comedy, "Nurse Jackie"
Family
Bibliography
Notes
Smith received a 1996 MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant.
"I wanted not just to be part of the theater 'tradition'. I felt that the theater tradition in this country was too far behind the times.I think that art is supposed to be ahead of the times."I knew that I could not rely on my theater colleagues to get me 'with' the times, so I knew I was going to have to find a way to use art to put myself among the American people, in order to discover something about the American character. That's why I go out and interview poeple instead of making up things in my head; there's a trap that every play that I did would have MY voice, and not an American one." -- Smith quoted in "Ms. Smith Goes to Washington" by Diane Haithman, Los Angeles Times, January 24, 1995.
"Maybe there is something more strategic to what I'm doing than I realize. It has always been my nature never to be trapped in any ghetto, and when I saw through my training as an artist that [theater] could be a ghetto, I immediately started to move away and to find allies elsewhere." -- from "Ms. Smith Goes to Washington" in Los Angeles Times, January 24, 1995.
