Shawnee Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shawnee Smith
Smith in 2007
Born	(1969-07-03) July 3, 1969 (age 55) Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	Jason Reposar (divorced) Kai Mattoon (divorced)
Children	2

Shawnee Smith (born July 3, 1969) is an American actress and singer. She started acting when she was very young. Her first movie was Annie in 1982, when she was 11 years old.

Later, she acted on stage in a play called To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1984). She even won an award for her acting in that play. In the late 1980s, she got bigger roles in movies like The Blob (1988) and Who's Harry Crumb? (1989).

During the 1990s, she appeared in popular TV shows like Murder, She Wrote and The X-Files. She then got a main role in the TV show Becker, which aired from 1998 to 2004. Shawnee Smith is also well-known for playing Amanda Young in the horror movie Saw (2004). She continued her role in several Saw sequels, including Saw II (2005) and Saw X (2023). She also starred as Jennifer Goodson in the TV series Anger Management from 2012 to 2014.

Early Life and Family

Shawnee Smith was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, in 1969. Her mother was a nurse, and her father was a financial planner. When she was one year old, her family moved to California. Her parents divorced when she was two.

Shawnee went to elementary and junior high schools in Los Angeles. She graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1987.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting in the 1980s

Shawnee Smith first appeared on TV in a McDonald's commercial when she was eight. At age 11, she made her first movie appearance in the 1982 film Annie. She played one of Annie's friends at the orphanage. The next year, she sang on a TV show called The Merv Griffin Show.

When she was 15, Shawnee got her first stage role in a play. Her co-star, Richard Dreyfuss, saw her talent and suggested she get a bigger part. She won a special award for her performance in that play.

In 1985, she had small roles in TV shows and movies like Iron Eagle (1986). In 1987, she played a student named Rhonda in the movie Summer School. Her first main role in a movie was in the 1988 remake of The Blob. She also starred in a TV movie called I Saw What You Did that same year.

In 1989, Shawnee had a supporting role with John Candy in Who's Harry Crumb?. She played a teen who helped find a kidnapped sister. She also starred in the TV series Brand New Life.

Work in the 1990s

In 1990, she co-starred in the thriller Desperate Hours. She took a break from acting for three years in the early 1990s. This was partly because she was growing out of teenage roles.

She made a guest appearance on the 200th episode of Murder, She Wrote in 1993. The next year, she played Julie Lawry in the TV miniseries The Stand. This show was based on a book by Stephen King. Shawnee also appeared in The X-Files episode "Firewalker" in 1994.

In 1998, Shawnee Smith was cast as Linda in the TV show Becker. She played the office assistant for Dr. John Becker, played by Ted Danson. The show was very popular, and she was a main character for all six seasons until 2004.

Projects in the 2000s

Smith promoting Saw III at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2003, she lent her voice to the Disney cartoon Kim Possible. Also in 2003, she was cast in the horror film Saw as Amanda Young. She filmed her part in one day. The movie was a big success, earning over $103 million worldwide. She played Amanda Young again in Saw II (2005), Saw III (2006), Saw VI (2009), and Saw X (2023). The Saw movies became one of the highest-earning horror series ever.

Shawnee also worked on a solo music album in 2004. However, she did not finish the project because she was busy being a mom and working. She sang on the soundtrack for Saw III in 2006. She also sang a solo song for the movie Catacombs.

Smith (right) with Missi Pyle (left), performing as Smith & Pyle in 2008

In 2007, she formed a country rock music group with actress Missi Pyle. Their band was called Smith & Pyle. Their first album, It's OK to Be Happy, was released online in 2008.

In 2008, Shawnee played Detective Gina Harcourt in the web series 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust. She was also a host and mentor on the VH1 reality TV show Scream Queens. This show helped new actresses learn about horror movies.

Shawnee played Dr. Sullivan in The Grudge 3, which came out in 2009.

Later Career: 2010s and 2020s

In 2010, Shawnee appeared in the first episode of Law & Order: Los Angeles. In 2012, she voiced a character in the video game Lollipop Chainsaw. From 2012 to 2014, she starred as Jennifer Goodson in the TV series Anger Management. She played the ex-wife of Charlie Sheen's character.

In 2019, she sang on a cover of the song "Abracadabra" by Eagles of Death Metal.

In the 2020s, Shawnee Smith co-starred in the comedy film Christmas vs. the Walters (2021). She returned as Amanda Young in Saw X in September 2023. She also appeared in the slasher film Bloodline Killer in April 2024.

Personal Life

Shawnee Smith has been married twice. She has a daughter from her first marriage to photographer Jason Reposar. She also has a son from her second marriage to musician Kai Mattoon. Shawnee Smith is a follower of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Filmography

Film

List of films and roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Annie	Dancer
1986	Iron Eagle	Joenie
1987	Summer School	Rhonda Altobello
1988	Blob, TheThe Blob	Meg Penny
1989	Who's Harry Crumb?	Nikki Downing
1990	Desperate Hours	May Cornell
1995	Leaving Las Vegas	Biker girl
	Low Life, TheThe Low Life	"Little Tramp" Woman
1996	Female Perversions	Make-up salesgirl
1997	Every Dog Has Its Day	Redhead
	Dead Men Can't Dance	Sgt. Addy Cooper
	Men	Clara
	Dogtown	Tammy Hayes
	...	Shelly
	Eat Your Heart Out	Nicole
1998	Armageddon	Redhead
	Carnival of Souls	Sandra Grant
	Party Crashers, TheThe Party Crashers	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	Island, TheThe Island	Suzie
	Saw II	Amanda Young
2006	Saw III
2009	The Grudge 3	Dr. Sullivan	Direct to video
2009	Saw VI	Amanda Young
2010	Kill Speed	Honey
2013	Jayne Mansfield's Car	Vicky Caldwell
2013	Grace Unplugged	Michelle Trey
2016	Savannah Sunrise	Joy
2016	Believe	Dr. Nancy Wells
2021	Christmas vs. the Walters	Diane Walters
2023	Saw X	Amanda Young
2024	Bloodline Killer	Moira Cole
TBA	Psychopomp
	Slay

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

See also

In Spanish: Shawnee Smith para niños