Jean Smart husband is a topic that continues to attract attention as the acclaimed actress remains one of television’s most recognizable stars. Smart was married to actor Richard Gilliland for more than three decades, and their relationship began in an unexpected place: the set of the popular sitcom Designing Women. Their marriage lasted from 1987 until Gilliland’s death in 2021, and together they raised two sons.
Smart has since continued to build an extraordinary career, most recently earning widespread praise for her role as Deborah Vance in Hacks. Her personal life has also entered a new chapter. In recent years, she has spoken candidly about losing Gilliland, returning to the dating world and finding companionship again.
Who Was Richard Gilliland?
Richard Gilliland was an American character actor whose career stretched across television, film and theater. He became especially familiar to television audiences through his recurring role as J.D. Shackelford on Designing Women.
Gilliland appeared on the sitcom as the boyfriend of Mary Jo Shively, the character played by Annie Potts. Although his role was initially connected to another character, his arrival on the series ultimately changed his own life because it was where he met Jean Smart.
Gilliland had a long list of television credits beyond Designing Women. His work included appearances in shows such as McMillan & Wife, Thirtysomething, Criminal Minds and Desperate Housewives. He also appeared in films, television movies and stage productions.
His career was generally centered on supporting and character roles rather than leading-man status, but he developed a reputation as a dependable working actor.
How Did Jean Smart Meet Richard Gilliland?
Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland met in 1986 when Gilliland joined Designing Women as a guest performer.
Smart was already a central member of the sitcom’s cast, playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield. The series, which followed the employees of an Atlanta interior design company, had become an important early television showcase for Smart.
Gilliland’s first appearance was supposed to be another acting job. Instead, he and Smart quickly developed a personal connection.
Smart has revisited the story several times, including during a 2026 appearance on Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast Wiser Than Me. She recalled being attracted to Gilliland’s personality and smile and described him as confident and charming.
She also recalled finding excuses to spend time with him. What started as a professional relationship soon turned into a romance.
The relationship progressed quickly. The couple married in 1987, less than a year after meeting.
When Did Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland Get Married?
Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland married in June 1987.
Their wedding was held in the garden of the home belonging to Smart’s Designing Women co-star Dixie Carter and Carter’s husband, actor Hal Holbrook.
The marriage became one of the longest-running relationships among Hollywood couples connected to the sitcom. Smart and Gilliland remained together for nearly 34 years.
Their relationship also grew alongside their careers. Both were working actors, but they managed to create a family life while navigating the unpredictable demands of Hollywood.
Unlike many celebrity couples, Smart and Gilliland generally kept their marriage away from excessive media attention. They occasionally appeared together publicly, but their relationship was primarily centered on family and their careers rather than celebrity publicity.
Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland’s Children
Smart and Gilliland had two sons, Connor and Forrest.
Their first son, Connor Gilliland, was born in October 1989. Smart was pregnant during her time on Designing Women, and her pregnancy was incorporated into the storyline.
Smart has recalled the unusual timing of discovering she was pregnant. She learned the news around the same time her character was getting married on the show.
Their second son, Forrest, joined the family through adoption. Smart and Gilliland adopted him from China after years of considering expanding their family.
Forrest was born in China and joined the family as a young child. The large age difference between Connor and Forrest became part of the family’s unique story.
Smart has occasionally spoken about motherhood and the importance of protecting her children’s privacy. Connor has generally maintained a life away from the entertainment spotlight, while Forrest has appeared publicly with his mother on several occasions.
Did Richard Gilliland and Jean Smart Work Together?
Yes. Their professional lives occasionally crossed during their marriage.
Their most obvious connection was Designing Women, where their relationship began. Gilliland also appeared on 24, a series in which Smart played First Lady Martha Logan.
The couple additionally worked together in stage productions and television projects.
Their shared profession likely gave them an unusual understanding of the pressures that came with acting. Both understood long filming days, auditions, rehearsals, travel and the uncertainty that can accompany entertainment careers.
At different points, Gilliland also took on a greater role at home, allowing Smart to pursue demanding professional opportunities.
That support became especially important as Smart’s career developed into one of the most successful television careers of her generation.
What Happened to Jean Smart’s Husband?
Richard Gilliland died on March 18, 2021, at the age of 71.
His death followed a brief illness associated with a heart condition and came as a major shock to Smart and their family.
Gilliland’s death occurred while Smart was filming the first season of Hacks. The timing made an already difficult period especially painful because Smart was balancing grief with the responsibilities of a major television production.
Smart later described the loss as devastating and difficult to comprehend. After more than three decades of marriage, she suddenly had to adjust to life without the person who had been her partner for much of her adult life.
She has spoken about how surreal the experience was and how difficult it was to accept that Gilliland was gone.
How Did Jean Smart Cope After Richard Gilliland’s Death?
Smart continued working after Gilliland’s death, including completing her work on Hacks.
The series became particularly important during this period. Her co-stars and colleagues provided support while she dealt with the loss.
Smart’s performance as Deborah Vance went on to become one of the defining achievements of her later career. The role gave her another major platform at a time when she was dealing with profound personal change.
Rather than keeping her grief entirely private, Smart has occasionally discussed it in interviews. Her comments have offered insight into the complicated process of losing a spouse after decades together.
She has emphasized the magnitude of losing someone who had been part of nearly every aspect of her adult life.
Jean Smart’s Career After Her Husband’s Death
Smart’s professional career remained remarkably strong following Gilliland’s death.
Her portrayal of Deborah Vance in Hacks has earned her extensive critical acclaim and multiple major awards. The HBO comedy allowed her to combine dramatic timing, emotional depth and sharp comedic delivery.
The character also represents the kind of complicated role Smart has become known for playing. Deborah is ambitious, demanding, vulnerable and often deeply flawed, giving Smart an opportunity to showcase a broad range of acting skills.
The success of Hacks has introduced Smart to another generation of viewers while reinforcing her standing as one of television’s most accomplished performers.
Her career has now included major roles in Designing Women, Frasier, 24, Fargo, Watchmen, Samantha Who?, The District, Harry’s Law and Hacks.
Jean Smart’s Dating Life After Richard Gilliland
After Gilliland’s death, Smart eventually began considering dating again.
The transition was not easy. In 2026, Smart spoke about her first date after more than 30 years away from dating. She described the experience as emotionally difficult and admitted that she felt awkward and uncertain.
Smart eventually found a new relationship with actor Joe Pacheco.
The two have maintained a relatively private romance but have appeared together at several high-profile Hollywood events. Their public appearances began attracting increased attention after they attended the 2024 Emmy Awards together.
Pacheco is also an actor, with credits including The Sopranos, Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order and The Morning Show. He has also appeared in Hacks.
Smart has described her current partner warmly and has indicated that finding companionship again was possible even after the enormous loss of Gilliland.
Her willingness to discuss dating later in life has also challenged the idea that romance and new beginnings belong only to younger people.
Who Is Jean Smart Dating Now?
As of the latest 2026 reports, Jean Smart is in a relationship with Joe Pacheco.
Pacheco has accompanied Smart to major entertainment events, including awards ceremonies and events connected to Hacks. The couple has been photographed together and has appeared comfortable in public.
Their relationship became particularly visible during the awards season surrounding Hacks.
Smart also publicly thanked Joe during an awards speech in early 2026, providing one of the clearest indications of how important he has become in her life.
However, Smart has continued to keep many personal details private. Her relationship with Pacheco is separate from her decades-long marriage to Gilliland, who remains an important part of her family history and the father of her children.
Jean Smart’s First Marriage
Before Richard Gilliland, Smart was married to John William Norwalk Jr.
That marriage lasted from 1974 to 1977. Several years later, she met Gilliland while working on Designing Women.
Gilliland became the partner with whom she spent the majority of her adult life. Their marriage lasted more than three decades and included raising their two children together.
Why Fans Still Remember Richard Gilliland
Richard Gilliland remains an important figure in Jean Smart’s personal story because their relationship lasted through so many stages of her career.
When they met, Smart was establishing herself on Designing Women. Over the following decades, she became an Emmy-winning actress with roles across comedy and drama.
Gilliland was there through many of those transitions.
Their marriage also demonstrated how two actors could build a family while navigating the demanding entertainment industry. Their professional collaborations added another dimension to their relationship, but family remained at the center.
For fans discovering Smart through Hacks, learning about Gilliland provides additional context about the actress’s life away from the screen.
Jean Smart’s Life Today
Today, Smart remains professionally active and continues to be one of television’s most celebrated actresses.
The final season of Hacks has placed her back in the center of awards-season conversations, while her personal life has also attracted attention because of her relationship with Joe Pacheco.
At the same time, Smart continues to speak respectfully about Gilliland and the years they spent together.
Her story is ultimately one of career longevity, family, loss and personal renewal. She experienced a decades-long marriage with another actor, raised two sons and endured the sudden death of her longtime partner. Years later, she has also demonstrated that life can contain new relationships and opportunities without erasing the importance of the past.
Key Points Summary
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║ – Jean Smart was married to actor Richard Gilliland from 1987 until his death in 2021. ║
║ – Smart and Gilliland met while working together on the television series Designing Women in the 1980s. ║
║ – The couple had two sons, Connor and Forrest, with Forrest joining the family through adoption. ║
║ – Gilliland died at age 71 after a brief illness associated with a heart condition. ║
║ – Smart continued her successful acting career after his death, with Hacks becoming one of her most acclaimed projects. ║
║ – In 2026, Smart has openly discussed returning to dating and is publicly linked to actor Joe Pacheco. ║
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