Shawnee Smith

Shawnee Smith (born July 3, 1969) is an American actress and singer. She began her acting career at a young age, making her feature film debut in Annie. A few years later, she made her stage debut in To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1984) and won a Drama-League Critics Award. In the late 1980s, she was cast in smaller roles before getting roles in The Blob (1988) and Who's Harry Crumb? (1989).

She made guest appearances on Murder, She Wrote and The X-Files across the 1990s, before being cast in a main role of the sitcom Becker (1998–2004). She played Amanda Young in Saw (2004) and reprised her role in the sequels Saw II (2005), Saw III (2006), Saw VI (2009) and Saw X (2023). She also had a supporting role in The Grudge 3 (2009). Smith hosted season one of the VH1 acting competition Scream Queens (2008) and played Jennifer Goodson in Anger Management (2012–2014).

Early life Smith was born on July 3, 1969, at Orangeburg Regional Hospital in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Career

1980s In 1977, Smith made her television debut in a McDonald's commercial at age eight. In 1987, Smith played a pregnant student Rhonda in Summer School. The following year, her first starring role came with the remake of The Blob. In 1988, Smith starred in television film I Saw What You Did.

Smith had a supporting role alongside John Candy and Annie Potts in the 1989 film Who's Harry Crumb?, where Smith plays a teen who helps Harry Crumb locate her kidnapped sister. That same year, she co-starred with Jennie Garth and Barbara Eden in the short-lived TV series Brand New Life.

1990s The following year, she co-starred in Michael Cimino's remake of the thriller Desperate Hours. She took a three-year break from acting in the early 1990s, primarily because she had outgrown teenage roles and had a hard time finding work. That following year, she played Julie Lawry in the television miniseries The Stand, based on the novel by Stephen King. Smith made a guest appearance in the 1994 The X-Files episode "Firewalker", playing Jessie O'Neil.

In 1998, Smith was cast as Linda in CBS's sitcom Becker, playing the office's aide to Dr. John Becker (Ted Danson). After airing three episodes to high ratings, CBS ordered a full season. She was a main character for all six seasons until its cancellation in 2004.

2000s Smith promoting Saw III at the 2006 San Diego Comic-ConIn 2003, she lent her voice to an episode of the Disney cartoon Kim Possible as Vivian Porter. Also in 2003, she was cast in James Wan's low budget horror film, Saw, as Amanda Young. A small part, opposite Tobin Bell, she filmed her scene within one day and while battling the flu. While initially a direct-to-video release was planned, test screenings in March 2004 turned out positive prompting Lionsgate to release it theatrically that October. She would reprise her role in Saw II (2005), Saw III (2006), Saw VI (2009), and Saw X (2023). The Saw franchise went on to become one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time, grossing over $1 billion worldwide, as of 2021.

Smith began working on a solo album in 2004 with producer Chris Goss, but the project was never completed. In an interview with Radio Free in October 2005, she stated, "between being a mom, and working, and growing another baby, I have not had time to give attention to music for a while." Smith contributed to the soundtrack of Saw III in 2006 with vocals on Hydrovibe's song "Killer Inside", and to the soundtrack for Catacombs as a solo vocalist with the song "Please Myself".

In 2006, Smith made an appearance in the 10-minute short film trailer Repo! The Genetic Opera, directed by Bousman. The trailer was filmed after completing Saw III to try to pitch the idea to film producers. In 2007, she was part of a country rock music group with actress Missi Pyle called Smith & Pyle. Their first album, It's OK to Be Happy, was released digitally through iTunes and Amazon.com in 2008.

In 2008, Smith played Detective Gina Harcourt in the FEARnet original series 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust and also served as executive producer. It premiered in July 17 with six webisodes. Smith was the host and one of three mentors on the VH1 reality television series, Scream Queens, which aired from October 2008 to December 2008. Smith did not return for the second season due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced with Jaime King.

Smith played the role of Dr. Sullivan, child psychiatrist, in The Grudge 3 that was released direct-to-video on May 12, 2009.

2010s Smith appeared in the series premiere of Law & Order: Los Angeles titled, "Hollywood", on September 29, 2010. In 2012, she had her first voice role in a video game, Lollipop Chainsaw. From 2012 to 2014, Smith starred as Jennifer Goodson, the ex-wife of Charlie Sheen's character in the TV series Anger Management.

She provided vocals on a cover of Steve Miller Band's "Abracadabra" by Eagles of Death Metal after Jesse Hughes overheard her singing the song in a studio bathroom. This cover was released in 2019.

2020s Smith co-starred with Dean Winters in the 2021 indie comedy film Christmas vs. the Walters. Smith reprised her role as Amanda Young in Saw X released in September 2023. She appeared in the slasher film Bloodline Killer in April 2024.

Personal life Smith was married to photographer Jason Reposar. They have a daughter, who was born in 1999. She was later married to musician Kai Mattoon; they divorced and have a son, born in 2005. Smith is a convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Christianity.

Filmography Film +List of films and roles Year Title Role Notes 1982 Annie Background dancer 1986 Iron Eagle Joenie 1987 Summer School Rhonda Altobello 1988 Megan "Meg" Penny 1989 Who's Harry Crumb? Nikki Downing 1990 Desperate Hours May Cornell 1995 Leaving Las Vegas Biker girl Cameo appearance "Little Tramp" Woman 1996 Female Perversions Make-up Salesgirl 1997 Dead Men Can't Dance Sgt. Addy Cooper Greater Than a Tiger Alice Short film Men Clara Dogtown Tammy Hayes Bombshell Shelly Eat Your Heart Out Nicole 1998 Every Dog Has Its Day Redhead Cameo appearance Armageddon Carnival of Souls Sandra Grant Carolyn 1999 A Slipping-Down Life Faye-Jean Lindsay Breakfast of Champions Bonnie MacMahon 2002 Never Get Outta the Boat Dawn 2004 Saw Amanda Young The Almost Guys Bigger 2005 Suzie Saw II Amanda Young 2006 Saw III Repo! The Genetic Opera Heather Short film 2009 The Grudge 3 Dr. Francine Sullivan Direct-to-video film Saw VI Amanda Young 2010 Kill Speed Honey Uncredited role; direct-to-video film 2012 Jayne Mansfield's Car Vicky Caldwell 2013 Grace Unplugged Michelle Trey 2016 Savannah Sunrise Joy Believe Dr. Nancy Wells 2021 Christmas vs. the Walters Diane Walters Also producer 2023 Saw X Amanda Young 2024 Bloodline Killer Moira Cole Also producer 2025 The Other Lizzie Slay Jenna Post-production

Television +List of television appearances and roles Year Title Role Notes 1984 Silver Spoons Tawny Episode: "Growing Pains: Part 1" 1985 Not My Kid Carol Television film It's Your Move Brenda Episode: "The Experts" Cagney & Lacey Mrs. Zal's daughter Episode: "The Psychic" Crime of Innocence Jodi Hayward Television film 1986 All Is Forgiven Sonia Russell Main role; 9 episodes Easy Prey Tina Marie Risico Television film 1988 Bluegrass Alice Gibbs I Saw What You Did Kim Fielding 1989–1990 Brand New Life Amanda Gibbons Main role; 6 episodes 1990 Lucky Chances Olympia Stanislopolous Golden Miniseries; 3 episodes 1993 Murder, She Wrote Jill Cleveland Episode: "Bloodlines" 1994 The Stand Julie Lawry Miniseries; 2 episodes Jessie O'Neil Episode: "Firewalker" 1996 Face of Evil Jeanelle Polk Television film 1997 Something Borrowed, Something Blue Teri Arsenio Laura Lauman Main role; 6 episodes The Shining Waitress Miniseries; Episode 3 1997–1998 The Tom Show Florence Madison Main role; 19 episodes 1998 Players Lila Episode: "Confidence Man" Twice Upon a Time Maggie Fowler Television film 1998–2004 Becker Linda Main role; 129 episodes 2003 Kim Possible Vivian Porter Voice role; Episode: "Grudge Match" 2005 Washington Street Television film 2007 Traveling in Packs Ivy Unsold television pilot Secrets of an Undercover Wife Lisa Wilder-Crews Television film 2008 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust Detective Gina Harcourt Miniseries; 5 episodes (also executive producer) Scream Queens Herself Host and mentor; 8 episodes 2010–2011 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Carrie Episodes: "Up All Night" & "Young at Heart" 2010 Law & Order: Los Angeles Trudy Sennett Episode: "Hollywood" 2012 Reel America Lisa Slotnik Television film 2012–2014 Anger Management Jennifer Goodson Main role; 61 episodes 2023 City on Fire Ramona Recurring role; 4 episodes

Video games +List of video game appearances and roles Year Title Role Notes 2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Fever 105 Female Imaging 2012 Lollipop Chainsaw Mariska English dub 2024 Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP Remastered version of Lollipop Chainsaw 2025 Tormentor Bloody Mary