Jeannie Smith-Cameron is an American actress. She gained prominence for her roles as Janet Talbot in the Sundance TV series Rectify (2013–2016) and Gerri Kellman in the HBO series Succession (2018–2023), the latter of which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

She spent a majority of her career in theatre, making her Broadway debut in the 1982 Beth Henley play Crimes of the Heart. She went on to receive a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nomination for the Timberlake Wertenbaker play Our Country's Good (1989). She was also nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for Seán O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock (2014).

For her role in the film Nancy (2018), she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. Her other notable films include 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Sabrina (1995), In & Out (1997), You Can Count on Me (2000), Margaret (2011), and Christine (2016). She also appeared in the television series True Blood (2010–2011), Divorce (2016–2018), Search Party (2017–2020), and Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022).

Early life and education Smith was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of architect Richard Sharp Smith and granddaughter of architect Richard Sharp Smith.

She attended Florida State University for one year and was enrolled in its School of Theatre, where she met film director Victor Nuñez, who cast her as a lead in his film Gal Young 'Un (1979). She also studied acting at HB Studio in New York City.

She began being credited as "J. Smith" in college out of concern that her first name, Jeannie, was too girlish. She added a family name, Cameron, when the Actors' Equity Association told her there was already a J. Smith, and there was a rule that two actors could not have the same professional name.

Career She made her Broadway debut in August 1982, replacing Mia Dillon as Babe Botrelle in Crimes of the Heart.Lawson, Carol. "Broadway:Musical 'Baby' is on the way, story of 3 1/2 couples", The New York Times, July 30, 1982, p.C2" Crimes of the Heart see Replacement page" ibdb.com, accessed January 19, 2014 She appeared as Maggie in the original Broadway cast of Lend Me a Tenor in 1989.Rich, Frank. "Reviews/Theater; When One Tenor Is Much Like Another" The New York Times, March 3, 1989. The cast of that play won an Outer Critics Circle Award, Special Awards."Award Archives, 198801989" outercritics.org, accessed January 18, 2014 She appeared in the Broadway production of Our Country's Good in 1991, where she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.Shirley, Don. " 'Saigon,' 'Rogers' Lead the Tony Pack : Awards: Though neither received consistently enthusiastic reviews, both shows garner 11 nominations", Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1991.Rich, Frank. Review/Theater; Broadway Season's Last Drama Offers a Defense of Theater", The New York Times, April 30, 1991. She won an Obie Award for the Off-Broadway Drama Department production As Bees in Honey Drown (1997), which also earned her a Drama Desk nomination"'As Bees in Honey Drown'" Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed April 28, 2012 and Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Actress In A Play.Viagas, Robert and Lefkowitz, David. " 'Lion King' Roars With Six Outer Critics Circle Awards" playbill.com, April 27, 1998 She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Sarah, Sarah (2004)."Outstanding Actress in a Play – 'Sarah, Sarah' – J. – Smith-Cameron" , dramadesk.org, accessed January 20, 2014.

Her other Broadway credits include Night Must Fall (1999),Jones, Kenneth and David, Lefkowitz. "Curtain Up on Broderick's 'Night Must Fall', Opening March 8 at Bway's Lyceum" playbill.com, March 5, 1999 Tartuffe (2002),Simonson, Robert. "Emerson, Smith-Cameron, Meisle Added to Bway 'Tartuffe' Cast" playbill.com, September 19, 2002 and After the Night and the Music (2005). She has appeared in many Off-Broadway plays, including at the Public Theater, the Second Stage Theatre and Playwrights Horizons. She appeared in the Paul Rudnick play The Naked Truth Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1994,Kuchwara, Michael. " The Naked Truth Opens Off Broadway" apnewsarchive.com, June 16, 1994 for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination.

From November 1999 through April 2000, she appeared as Clare in Fuddy Meers at New York City Center, Stage II, for which she was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding Actress in a Play. In March through June 2004, she appeared in the Manhattan Theatre Club Off-Broadway production of Sarah, Sarah. In November through December 2009, she appeared Off-Broadway at the Acorn Theatre in her husband Kenneth Lonergan's play The Starry Messenger. From October 2013 to December 2013, she starred in the Off-Broadway Irish Repertory Theater production of Juno and the Paycock as Juno Boyle. The New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood wrote: "In one of the finest performances of her distinguished career on the New York stage, Ms. Smith-Cameron imbues her Juno with a steely pragmatism, but more important an emotional pliancy that makes her more prepared than the rest of her clan to beat back the onslaughts of ill fortune that beset them."

Smith-Cameron later transitioned to more film and television roles to focus on her family. She portrayed seven different characters in all three primary shows of the Law & Order franchise. She played Janet Talbot, the mother of a death row inmate, in Sundance TV's Rectify for four seasons. She played lawyer Gerri Kellman, a role originally written for a man, on the HBO series Succession (2018–2023). The role earned her nominations for two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. In 2023 she acted in a revival of the play Love Letters opposite Victor Garber at the Irish Repertory Theatre. She acted in a limited engagement from September 19 to 24. In 2024 she made her West End debut in the revival of Juno and the Paycock opposite Mark Rylance at the Gielgud Theatre.

Personal life Smith-Cameron is married to playwright, screenwriter, and film director Kenneth Lonergan. They have one daughter.

Acting credits Film +Key Denotes works filming or post-production + J. Smith-Cameron film credits Year Title Role Notes1979Gal Young UnElly198784 Charing Cross RoadGinny" 84 Charing Cross Road Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 20, 20141992That NightCarol Bloom1994She Led Two LivesAngela Anderson1995JeffreySharonMighty AphroditeBud's Wife" 'Mighty Aphrodite' Cast" movies.tvguide.com, accessed January 18, 2014A Modern AffairDianeLet It Be MeClariceSabrinaCarol"Cast and Crew, 'Sabrina'" tcm.com, accessed April 28, 20121996Harriet the SpyMrs. Welsch"Cast and Crew, 'Harriet the Spy'" allmovie.com, accessed April 28, 2012The First Wives ClubMiss Sullivan" The First Wives Club Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 20, 2014The ProprietorNew York - Texans1997Arresting GenaCaroline LeeIn & OutTrina Paxton"Cast and Crew, 'In and Out'" allmovie.com, accessed April 28, 20121999The Rage: Carrie 2Barbara Lang2000You Can Count on MeMabelLevy, Emanuel. Variety, February 1, 20002005Bittersweet PlaceViolet2006A Very Serious PersonCarol2011MargaretJoan Cohen"'Margaret' Cast and Crew" allmovie.com, accessed April 28, 20122012Man on a LedgePsychiatrist2014Like Sunday, Like RainMary2016ChristinePeg ChubbuckNo Pay, NudityDebra2018Nancy Ellen Lynch2022VengeanceSharon ShawThe Year BetweenSherri Miller2024Turtles All the Way DownProfessor Abbott

Television

+ J. Smith-Cameron television credits"Filmography" The New York Times, accessed January 18, 2014 "Smith-Cameron Credits" tvguide.com, accessed January 18, 2014 Year Title Role Notes1984–1985Guiding LightNancy Ferris Unknown episodes1985, 1987–1988The EqualizerVanessaEpisode: "Mama's Boy"Susan FoxworthEpisode: "Regrets Only"Natalie SantelliEpisode: "The Sins of Our Fathers"1987Wayside SchoolMiss ButterfieldTV special1990H.E.L.P.Mrs. PerryEpisode: "Fire Down Below"1990–1991The Days and Nights of Molly DoddRamona Luchesse12 episodes1992, 1998, 2003, 2009Law & OrderMs. MoskowitzEpisode: "Severance"Paula DowningEpisode: "Flight"Linda DrosiEpisode: "Blaze"Attorney WardEpisode: "Take-Out"1996Homicide: Life on the StreetAvis GriffinEpisode: "Sniper: Part 2"Spin CityLisaEpisode: "The Competition"1998American ExperienceMrs. HowardEpisode: "A Midwife's Tale"2001, 2007Law & Order: Criminal IntentTrudy PomeranskiEpisode: "Poison"Miss HillEpisode: "Endgame"2003K StreetTommy's Wife3 episodes2007Six DegreesMaggie Newton2 episodes2008Canterbury's LawElissa ShapiroEpisode: "Sweet Sixteen"2010The Big CVivianEpisode: "Playing the Cancer Card"2010–2011True BloodMelinda Mickens9 episodesProbst, Andy. "Alfre Woodard, J. Smith-Cameron To Join HBO's True Blood'" theatermania.com, December 15, 20092011Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDiane EskasEpisode: "Educated Guess"2013–2016RectifyJanet Talbot30 episodes2014Madam SecretaryAlice MillevoiEpisode: "Collateral Damage"2015The Good WifeSamara SteelEpisode: "Restraint"2016–2018DivorceElaine Campbell3 episodes2017–2020Search PartyMary Ferguson7 episodes2018Mozart in the JungleAmy RutledgeEpisode: "If I Was an Elf, I Would Tell You"2018–2023SuccessionGerri KellmanSeries regular2022Fleishman Is in TroubleBarbara HillerEpisode: "God, What an Idiot He Was!"2023Waco: The AftermathLois Roden4 episodesTeenage EuthanasiaMarnie (voice)Episode: "Mother's Day"2024In the KnowBarb (voice)6 episodes2024–2026HacksKathy Vance5 episodes 2025 Murdaugh: Death in the Family Marian Proctor Miniseries 2026 Elsbeth Isadora "Izzy" Langford Episode: "Deadutante" Francesca Main role

Theatre