Jaclyn Smith is celebrating a major milestone. The iconic actress celebrated her 80th birthday last weekend, and fans were impressed by her ageless beauty. Here is a look back at the “Charlie’s Angels” star throughout the years, highlighting her work in entertainment and business, as well as her philanthropy.
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### Early Career and Rise to Fame
**1975**
Jaclyn Smith began her career in the entertainment industry in the early 1970s as a model, gradually transitioning to acting with small roles on television shows including *The Rookies*, *Switch*, and *McCloud*.
**1976**
Smith reached new levels of fame when she landed the role of Kelly in the TV series *Charlie’s Angels* in 1976. She stayed on the show for five seasons until it ended in 1981. Of the three women cast in the first season, Smith was the only original Angel to remain for the entire run. Farrah Fawcett left after the first season, and Kate Jackson exited after season three.
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### Personal Life and Early Acting Achievements
**1978-1981**
During her success on *Charlie’s Angels*, Smith married actor Dennis Cole in October 1978. This was her second marriage; her first was to actor Roger Davis from 1968 to 1975. The marriage to Cole lasted three years, ending in divorce in 1981.
**1981**
After *Charlie’s Angels*, Smith starred in the TV movie *Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy*, portraying Jackie Kennedy Onassis—a role that earned her a Golden Globe nomination. That same year, she married her third husband, cinematographer Tony Richmond. The couple met while filming the 1980 movie *Nightkill*, and together they welcomed two children: son Gaston Anthony (born 1982) and daughter Spencer Margaret (born 1985).
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### Advocacy and Business Ventures
**1984**
Smith showed her support for women’s rights by attending a celebrity fundraiser luncheon for the 300 Group, which aimed to increase women’s representation in Parliament. Photographed with British comedian Peter Cook, they held a sweater featuring Big Ben and the House of Parliament with the slogan, “A woman’s place is in the House of Commons.”
**1985**
Smith ventured into business by launching the Jaclyn Smith Collection for Kmart. As one of the first celebrities to collaborate with a major retailer, she pioneered the concept of celebrity-driven brands. Despite this focus on business, her acting career continued to thrive, notably starring in *Rage of Angels* (1983), one of the highest-rated TV movies of the decade.
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### Recognition and Continued Career
**1989**
Smith received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 1989, honoring her contributions to film and television, including roles in *Florence Nightingale*, *The Bourne Identity*, and *Sentimental Journey*. That year, she finalized her divorce from Tony Richmond after eight years of marriage.
**1990-1994**
Throughout the early 1990s, Smith maintained a successful acting career with appearances in several TV movies such as *Lies Before Kisses*, *The Rape of Doctor Willis*, and *Love Can Be Murder*.
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### Later Personal Life
**1997**
In October 1997, Smith married her fourth husband, surgeon Brad Allen, after dating for seven years. They first met at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center when Smith’s father was receiving treatment for a heart condition. Ahead of their wedding, Smith expressed optimism about the marriage, telling the *Boston Herald*, “I want this one to be forever.”
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### Philanthropy and Health Battle
**2001**
Smith was photographed visiting the AbilityFirst camp in August 2001. She had been involved with the organization, which supports children and adults with disabilities and special needs, since 1985.
**2002-2003**
In 2002, Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine mammogram. After undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation treatment, she went into remission in 2003. That same year, she returned to her beloved role with a cameo in the film *Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle*, attending the premiere alongside her daughter.
**2005**
Following her cancer battle, Smith became an advocate for breast cancer research and awareness, partnering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation for various fundraising events.
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### Legacy and Business Expansion
**2006**
Smith reunited with her original *Charlie’s Angels* co-stars at the Emmy Awards to honor legendary Hollywood producer Aaron Spelling, who was instrumental in creating the show.
**2008**
She expanded her brand by launching *Jaclyn Smith Today*, extending her lifestyle label to include home and lifestyle goods in addition to clothing.
**2010**
In 2010, Smith celebrated the 25th anniversary of her clothing line at Kmart, marking it as one of the longest-running celebrity brand collaborations in U.S. retail history.
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### Remembering Friends and Reflecting on the Past
**2014**
Smith attended an event for the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, formed after Fawcett’s diagnosis with a rare form of anal cancer. Reflecting on her late friend, Smith told *People* in October 2024, “She didn’t feel sorry for herself. She never lost her humor. I found that amazing. Going through all the pain that she did… she was a positive person, even down to the end.”
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### Celebrating *Charlie’s Angels* and Ongoing Work
**2016**
Though 2016 wasn’t a major year for acting, Smith frequently appeared in media celebrating the 40th anniversary of *Charlie’s Angels*. She shared stories about her bond with Fawcett and Jackson, describing herself as “the heart of the Angels.” She told *People* in June 2019, “*Charlie’s Angels* changed our lives. We were sort of like rock stars… The power of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ helped define who we were and where we went.”
**2019**
Smith made a cameo appearance in the *Charlie’s Angels* reboot and continued her philanthropy as the Honorary Chair of AbilityFirst’s Stroll & Roll event for the third consecutive year. Her team, Jaclyn’s Angels, marked over 30 years of partnership with the organization. She also supported the Farrah Fawcett Foundation and actively participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month interviews to promote early detection.
On Instagram, she shared, “What an incredible day we had on Saturday at @abilityfirstla’s AbilityFest in downtown LA!! Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support. To my ‘angels’ who donated—I’m so touched and proud! Together our team raised $11,152 for this wonderful charity!”
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### Recent Years and Family
**2022**
Smith experienced a resurgence in popularity when photos she posted with her son went viral, with fans praising her “ageless” beauty at 76 years old. She told *Page Six*, “Right place, right time. That’s the luck of the draw. Great lighting… I’m with a person that I adore, my son, and it was a going-away party, so my eyes were probably glistening with tears, sparkling because he’s one of the humans I worship.”
She also celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary in September, calling her husband Brad Allen “my guy, my best friend, my partner in life” in an Instagram post.
**2023**
Smith shared photos from her son’s intimate wedding in July 2023 on Instagram. The ceremony included her children and grandchildren. Speaking to *People*, she said, “I’m very close to my son, and seeing his joy and his devotion to Bonnie and his love for Bonnie made me, in this modern world, think I did something right, because he values marriage. He said, ‘Mom, I’m doing this once, and once is it.’ And I love hearing those words. He’s just devoted to her and madly in love with her, and they share the love of children.”
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### Celebrating 80 and Looking Ahead
**2025**
Jaclyn Smith turned 80 in October, continuing to surprise fans with her timeless appearance. She also celebrated the 40th anniversary of her clothing and lifestyle brand, maintaining her dedication to charitable work.
Reflecting on her journey in retail, Smith told *Forbes* in May 2022, “My experience with Kmart opened up so much to me. Taking this on has taught me about retail, studying the world, being empathetic to women’s needs, and knowing what’s happening socially, politically, and economically. That’s what retail is. It’s relentless, and it’s challenging. It’s about the long-distance runner.”
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Jaclyn Smith’s remarkable career as an actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist continues to inspire fans worldwide, proving that grace and determination know no age.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/charlies-angels-star-jaclyn-smith-marks-80th-birthday-fans-praise-her-youthful-appearance