Shawnee Smith has established herself as a multifaceted talent, effortlessly transitioning between the realms of film, television, theatre, and music. Her illustrious career is marked by a diverse array of roles, showcasing her impressive range and versatility.
Born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to Patricia Ann Smoak, an oncology nurse, and James H. "Jim" Smith, a financial planner and U.S. Air Force pilot, Shawnee's early beginnings in the entertainment industry were nothing short of remarkable.
Her debut in the 1982 film Annie marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career, punctuated by a Youth in Film Award for Best Actress in a television film for her role in the CBS drama Crime of Innocence (1985).
Shawnee's theatrical credits are equally impressive, with a Dramalogue Critics Award for her performance in the production "To Gillian on her 37th Birthday" and rave reviews for her co-starring role with Richard Dreyfuss in "The Hands of its Enemy" at the Huntington Hartford Theatre.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Shawnee appeared in a string of successful films, including The Blob (1988),Summer School (1987),Who's Harry Crumb? (1989),Leaving Las Vegas (1995),Armageddon (1998),Desperate Hours (1990),and Breakfast of Champions (1999).
Her television credits are equally impressive, with a list of notable roles including a regular spot on the hit CBS comedy Becker (1998),as well as series regular roles on The Tom Show (1997) and Arsenio (1997).
Shawnee has also made appearances in a number of critically acclaimed television movies, including Something Borrowed, Something Blue (1997),I Saw What You Did (1988),and Face of Evil (1996),as well as the miniseries The Stand (1994) and The Shining (1997).
In recent years, Shawnee has continued to push the boundaries of her craft, starring in the gritty and terrifying film Saw (2004) and its sequel Saw II (2005). When not acting, Shawnee is also the lead singer of the punk/metal band Fydolla Ho, which she has toured with extensively. She is currently working on her first solo record with Queens of the Stone Age producer Chris Goss.
