Hollywood is where marriages go to die. Usually. We see the same cycle: red carpet debut, three years of "bliss," and a messy divorce filing citing "irreconcilable differences." But then there was Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland.
They stayed married for nearly 35 years. In an industry built on ego, they built a life on partnership. When Richard passed away unexpectedly in March 2021, the world didn't just lose a veteran character actor; Jean Smart lost her "north star." It's a story that feels rare because it actually was.
How Designing Women Created a Real-Life Romance
Most people remember Designing Women for the sharp-tongued Julia Sugarbaker or the lovable, slightly naive Charlene Frazier. It’s also where Jean and Richard’s story kicked off. Funny enough, Richard wasn’t even playing Jean’s love interest.
He was cast as J.D. Shackelford, the boyfriend of Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts). Jean Smart saw him at a table read and basically decided right then and there that he was the one. She didn't play it cool, either.
She actually recruited her co-star Delta Burke to do the dirty work. Jean told Delta to find out if he was married. Naturally, Delta didn't whisper it; she walked right up to him and blurted out, "Jean wants to know if you're married!"
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Honesty is a hell of a drug. Richard wasn't married. Jean then "lured" him into her dressing room under the pretense of needing help with a crossword puzzle. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but hey, it worked. They were married in June 1987 in the rose garden of fellow cast members Dixie Carter and Hal Holbrook.
The Career Sacrifice Nobody Saw
You’ve seen Jean Smart everywhere lately. Hacks, Mare of Easttown, Watchmen. She’s having a "Jean-aissance." But she is the first person to tell you she wouldn't have this late-career explosion without Richard.
Hollywood is notoriously unkind to mothers. When they had their son, Connor, in 1989, and later adopted their son, Forrest, from China in 2009, someone had to be the anchor. Richard stepped back.
- He took fewer roles.
- He handled the domestic chaos.
- He made sure Jean could travel for the big gigs.
In her 2021 Emmy acceptance speech, Jean was visibly shaking. She looked at the trophy and told the world that Richard had put his career on the back burner so she could shine. It wasn't just "supportive husband" talk. It was a literal career pivot that most male actors in the '80s and '90s wouldn't have dreamed of making.
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Richard Gilliland Was More Than "Jean Smart’s Husband"
While he often played second fiddle to Jean’s massive stardom in later years, Richard Gilliland was a powerhouse in his own right. He was a Texas boy who studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago. He had this "everyman" quality that made him a staple on television for four decades.
You might remember him as "Jonesy" on The Waltons. Or maybe from his stint on thirtysomething. He even showed up in 24 as Captain Stan Cotter, appearing alongside Jean during her legendary run as Martha Logan. He was a character actor’s character actor—reliable, talented, and completely devoid of pretension.
Dealing With the "Brief Illness" That Changed Everything
When news broke that Richard Gilliland died on March 18, 2021, the details were vague. The family called it a "short illness." It was later revealed to be a heart condition. He was 71.
The timing was brutal. Jean was right in the middle of filming the first season of Hacks. She had to go back to work and be funny while her world was falling apart.
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Honestly, it’s hard to imagine the mental toughness that requires. She’s talked about how it feels like "every atom" of her existence changed. Losing a partner of three and a half decades isn't a "grieving process" you finish. It’s a permanent rewiring of your life.
Life After Richard: Jean’s New Chapter
It’s now 2026, and Jean has slowly started to open up about moving forward. For a long time, the idea of anyone else seemed impossible. She spent more than half her life with Richard.
But recently, Jean shared that she’s found companionship again. She’s dating a fellow actor—someone she describes as "wonderful." She hasn't turned into a "poster child for older actresses," as she jokingly put it, but she is showing that there is a version of life after a devastating loss.
The Legacy of Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland
What can we actually take away from their 34-year marriage? It’s not just about "staying together." It’s about the mechanics of a partnership.
- Check the ego at the door. One person’s success is the team’s success. Richard understood this in a way many men of his generation didn't.
- Community matters. They didn't live in a vacuum. Their Designing Women castmates weren't just coworkers; they were the people whose gardens they got married in.
- Humor is the glue. Jean has mentioned that Richard made her laugh every single day. If you can't laugh at the absurdity of Hollywood (and parenting), you're doomed.
If you’re looking for a blueprint for a long-term relationship, you could do a lot worse than looking at these two. They proved that you don't have to be a "power couple" in the tabloid sense to have a powerful marriage. They were just two actors who liked each other enough to make it work for the long haul.
Actionable Insights for Navigating Loss and Legacy:
- Document the stories: If you’re in a long-term partnership, don't wait to record the "how we met" stories. Jean’s vivid memories of the crossword puzzles and Delta Burke’s bluntness are what keep Richard’s memory alive for her fans.
- Support the pivot: Recognize when one partner needs to take the lead. Career "seasons" are real. Success is rarely linear for both people at the exact same time.
- Prioritize the "unseen" work: Richard’s legacy isn't just his IMDb page; it's the stability he provided that allowed his family to thrive. Valuing the "back burner" roles in a family is just as important as the lead roles.