Since completing her bachelor of fine arts degree at the university of washington, smart s career has launched into worldwide critical acclaim. The aileen wuornos story jean smart park overall tim grimm 1992 based on the case of a florida woman jean smart convicted of serial killings she claimed were selfdefense. Dec 03, 2007 aileen wuornos part 1 of 6 true crime story. Jean smart shines in a stunning performance as aileen wuornos, the woman convicted of seven murders in florida that stumped investigators for months before her arrest wuornos and buddy tyria. It erases and ignores some major things about the real story, most specifically, her lesbian relationship. It also never really scratches beneath the surface like monster does. A versatile and gifted actress, jean smart continues to exhibit her extraordinary talents in theater, television, and film. In 1992, the same year after wuornos was convicted of killing mallory, the lifetime cable network aired the madefortelevision movie overkill. In 1992, a tv movie was aired starring jean smart as aileen.
The birth of their son conner prompted smart to reassess her career. Aileen carol wuornos deathpenaltyusa, the database of. When the detectives investigate each of the murder scenes, they dramatically state the title. The aileen wuornos story at 9 tonight on channels 2, 8.
Special victims unit episode chameleon maggie peterson sharon lawrence, a prostitute who murders her johns is based on wuornos. Smart was 40 when she left the series to try her luck in movies. From a designing woman to a fargo mob boss, emmy nominee. Big stretch for actress cast in wuornos role orlando sentinel. Jan 29, 2020 when designing women wrapped its iconic and historic run in 1991, jean smart went on to costarring in tv movies.
The tv movie version is still essential viewing for any wuornos fan. Jean smart, in a radical acting departure, hurls herself into the sordid. You asked to see the monster crime documentary real stories duration. Jean smart celebrity profile check out the latest jean smart photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. In 1992, peter levin made a tv movie called overkill, starring jean smart, which i felt had nothing to do with who wuornos. Wuornos was portrayed as a monster, and a tv movie starring jean smart and park overall debuted around that time. Apr 09, 2019 in 1992, a tv movie was aired starring jean smart as aileen. Jean smart age, height, weight, bikini, measurements, husband. The incredible journey, the brady bunch movie, edie and. Wuornos was the subject of numerous tv documentary episodes. The aileen wuornos story while smarts version in the tv movie was no match for charlize therons version from the blockbuster film monster, it was jarring for those of us who knew her as charlene to see.
Jean smart is an american stage, film, and television actress. Mar 24, 2004 m onster isnt the first film to have been made about aileen wuornos. Growing up, smart was a bit of ham and she and her sister used to put on plays for neighbors. The aileen wuornos story 1992 directed by peter levin. Unafraid to take the sort of risks necessary to keep her career and her personal life in fair balance, fans balked when smart left. Mar 26, 2018 on tv, jean smart played wuornos in the film overkill. Jean smart, born as jean elizabeth smart, is an american stage, film, and television actress who has appeared in numerous hit projects till date. It also includes childhood nightmare flashback sequences reminiscent of 70s colour. Monster movie true story aileen wuornos women serial. This film is based on the true story of aileen wuornos a prostituteturnedserial killer. She got her first credit role in a play called last summer at bluefish cove in 1981. Wuornos has been mentioned on the crime television series criminal minds. While the movie does not purport to offer a larger message or moral.
Monster is the second film depiction of wuornos, following 1992s madefortv movie overkill. The aileen wuornos story which got released in 1992. But the actress has been shapeshifting for decades in roles as wideranging as serial killer aileen wuornos in the tv movie overkill and a whistleblowing first lady on 24. This is just bad acting filling in for a mediocre movie, and bad directing trying to make up for absence of quality. Jean smart is an american actress, known for her work in theatre, tv and films. The killing spree took place between 1990 and 1991, thus this 1992 tv. Jean smart as frances tunnecliffe on when calls the heart. One of the rare female serial killers on record, wuornos was eventually charged with murdering seven men on lonely florida roads. But it was not until an encouraging high school teacher suggested she pursue acting that smart took her knack for performance seriously. Dont let actress jean smart s filmography fool you, because though she seems to have a penchant for appearing in fairly lighthearted fare of the familyoriented variety, she possesses all the skill of the most talented dramatic stage and screen actresses around.
Dont let actress jean smarts filmography fool you, because though she seems to have a penchant for appearing in fairly lighthearted fare of the familyoriented variety, she possesses all the skill of the most talented dramatic stage and screen actresses around. The aileen wuornos story tv movie 1992 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and. Low quality but the only version i have been able to find. The aileen wuornos story 1992 starred jean smart and park overall. Critic roger ebert praised the film and called smarts character portrayal calculating. Based on the true story of the 1990 police investigation of a series of murders which finally led to the tracking down of aileen wuornos, the usas first. Sure, charlize theron would win a best actress oscar for her portrayal of prostituteturnedserial killer aileen wuornos in 2003s monster. In the words of my mother, jean smart wasnt gritty enough to play aileen wuornos.
In trying to guess which wellknown television actress plays serial killer aileen wuornos in an upcoming tv movie, you could go down a very long list of names without ever coming close. She is best recognized for appearing in the plays piaf and the man who came to dinner. Sep 19, 2016 but the actress has been shapeshifting for decades in roles as wideranging as serial killer aileen wuornos in the tv movie overkill and a whistleblowing first lady on 24. The killing spree took place between 1990 and 1991, thus this 1992 tv movie could pat itself on the back for its timeliness. She started her acting career with regional theatre performances. This film is based on the true story of aileen wuornos a prostituteturnedserial. Aileen carol wuornos 29 february 1956 9 october 2002 was an american serial killer who killed seven men in florida in 1989 an 1990. She was scarily convincing as serial killer aileen wuornos in overkill, years before charlize theron snagged an oscar for playing the same part in monster. Jan 01, 2000 hitchhiking hooker aileen wuornos jean smart occasionally pumps her tricks full of bullets, but the film spends less time on her murder spree than on her dimwitted best friend park overall.
Smarts other role includes as ory baxter in the television series of the yearling which was telecasted in the year 1994. The aileen wuornos story 1992 and lily rabe tackled the character in 2015 on american horror story. Jean smart age, height, weight, bikini, measurements. Jean elizabeth smart born september, 1951 is an american actress. Aileen wuornos was a prostitute with a lesbian lover who murdered her clients. Nick broomfield on aileen wuornos film the guardian.
Jean smart celebrity profile check out the latest jean smart photo gallery, biography, pics. Jean smart is bad as wuornos and the film is incompetent. Smart was later cast in a leading role as charlene frazier stillfield on the cbs sitcom designing women, which she starred in from 1986 to 1991. Jean smart, the best thing in this tv movie, is not a bad casting job for aileen wuornos, its this movie that lets her down. The aileen wuornos story aired, starring jean smart bringing down the house, 2003. This film is based on the true story of aileen wuornos a prostituteturned. After beginning her career in regional theater in the pacific northwest, she appeared on broadway in 1981, as marlene dietrich in the biographical play piaf.
Welcome to being jean smart, your online resource dedicated to actress jean smart. Aileen carol lee wuornos pralle was an american serial killer and prostitute who murdered. From 1993 to 1999, smart got the opportunity to act in several films including homeward bound. We claim no rights to know her personally and its absolutely respectful of her privacy and paparazzifree please note. Other media an operatic adaptation of wuornos life events premiered at san franciscos yerba buena center for the arts on june 22, 2001. Jean smart biography facts, childhood, family life. The hit sitcom designing women jumpstarted her career in 1986 and introduced her to costar and future husband richard gilliland. When designing women wrapped its iconic and historic run in 1991, jean smart went on to costarring in tv movies. Big stretch for actress cast in wuornos role orlando. The aileen wuornos story, 1992, directed by peter levin, with jean smart, park overall, tim grimm, at turner classic movies. One of the rare female serial killers on record, wuornos was eventually charged with murdering seven men on lonely. The selling of a serial killer is worth a look for more than just postmonster curiosity. For the last 40 or so years, jean smart has been many different people.
The aileen wuornos story stars jean smart as the title character. The aileen wuornos story 1992 starred jean smart as aileen. The aileen wuornos story 1992, in which she essayed the role of americas most notorious female serial killer. Jean smart shines in a stunning performance as aileen wuornos, the. But the actress has been shapeshifting for decades in roles as wideranging as serial killer aileen wuornos in the tv movie overkill.
More esoteric takes followed in the form of wuoronos, an opera performed at the yerba center for the arts in san francisco, and iron lady, a musical tribute by avantgarde. Feb 08, 2017 sure, charlize theron would win a best actress oscar for her portrayal of prostituteturnedserial killer aileen wuornos in 2003s monster. Just trying to get in to see wuornos proves to be a challenge for broomfield. Watchmens jean smart on her tv journey from sweet to. In 1992, peter levin made a tv movie called overkill, starring jean smart. But 11 years before that film, smart tackled the same. Wuornos claimed that her victims had either raped or attempted to viciously violate, tie her up, beat her up, then rape her or rape her and take her money, andor harmfully rape her while she was working as a prostitute, that was her reason why the killings. Jean smart, however, was taking her daughter to school. Sep 15, 2016 for viewers who fondly recall jean smart as sweetbut. Aileens life story has twice been dramatized on film. She was the naive and sweet charlene on designing women. Seattle native jean smart was born on september, 1951. Watchmens jean smart on her tv journey from sweet to salty. Originally planned to be a veterinarian, but got interested in theater during her senior year in high school.
This film is based on the true story of aileen wuornos a prostituteturnedserial killer who preyed mostly on truck drivers. For viewers who fondly recall jean smart as sweetbut. Unafraid to take the sort of risks necessary to keep her career and her personal. Smart also did the role of aileen wuornos in the television movie titled overkill. M onster isnt the first film to have been made about aileen wuornos. Early in the movie, a ranking detective, reflecting male sexism, scoffs at. The aileen wuornos story 1992 based on the case of a florida woman jean smart convicted of serial killings she claimed were selfdefense. Notably she portrayed serial killer, aileen wuornos, in the tv movie, overkill. Jean smart biography, movie highlights and photos allmovie. Several tv series and television films followed, including overkill, the critically acclaimed story of serial killer aileen wuornos, high society, in which she played neurotic novelist ellie walker opposite mary mcdonnell an americanized version of the british phenomenon absolutely fabulous, peter tolans comedy style and substance.
Notably, smart played aileen wuornos in the made for tv movie overkill. On tv, jean smart played wuornos in the film overkill. Hitchhiking hooker aileen wuornos jean smart occasionally pumps her tricks full of bullets, but the film spends less time on her murder spree. With jean smart, park overall, tim grimm, ernie lively. He must pay both arlene and steven, watching an ever despondent wuornos growing angry in court and screaming obscenities at the judge and juries. Monster isnt the first film to have been made about aileen wuornos. The point of most of broomfields documentaries is the rashomonlike unknowability of truth he ventures into scuzzy outlands, boom mike in hand, and tries to get people to talk to him, like michael moore only a lot more fearless. A more recent film, damsel of death, premiered at a film festival in new york, promising in an advertisement, youve seen ted bundy, son of sam, jeffrey. Nov 25, 2019 for the last 40 or so years, jean smart has been many different people. This unofficial fansite photo archive is comprehensive of various section dedicated to promote the amazing actor and wonderful woman that lisa is.