Jan Smithers From 'WKRP in Cincinnati' A Hollywood Recluse? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-04-2010, 01:37 AM

Whatever happened to Ms. Smithers? From I what I read, she divorced her husband James Brolin and lost her mother and the stress caused her to have a nervous breakdown. I hope the latter isn't true, but her promising career seems to have been cut short and she avoids interviews. Not sure if she did commentary on the WKRP DVD, but either way, I miss the "Girl Next Door" Bailey Quarters.

catlover79 · 09-04-2010, 01:44 AM

I miss her, too. Wherever Jan is now and whatever she's doing, I hope and pray that she is well and happy.

Marvo301 · 09-04-2010, 01:45 AM

No Jan didn't do commentary on the WKRP DVD. Hugh Wilson (the creator of the show), Loni Anderson, and Frank Bonner were the only three to provide commentary on the DVD. As a big fan of Jan's I wish she would have participated and I'd love to see her make a career comeback!

catlover79 · 09-04-2010, 01:49 AM

Tim Reid also showed up in the bonus documentaries on the set - I wish he would've done a commentary as well!! Not to mention Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman and Richard Sanders.

MickeyMac · 09-04-2010, 02:11 PM

It would be nice to hear from Jan Smithers, and it would be also nice if the series would be finished on DVD.

Marvo301 · 09-04-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

It would be nice to hear from Jan Smithers, and it would be also nice if the series would be finished on DVD.

catlover79 · 09-05-2010, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

It would be nice to hear from Jan Smithers, and it would be also nice if the series would be finished on DVD.

From your keyboard to God's ears, Mickey!!!

Miss Lisa · 10-23-2010, 01:21 AM

What was the last thing that she was in? I know that I have looked her up before to see if she was in anything else and I remember only seeing a few things listed, mostly just guest starring for an episode of random shows.

It really is sad that she never got the credit she deserved. I like Loni Anderson and all, but it seems like she got all the credit and Jan got nothing.

Dr. Jazz · 10-26-2010, 03:08 PM

When E! starting airing WKRP reruns in 1996, they did a "where are they now" thing with the cast and they caught up with Jan Smithers. She said she was retired from acting and was a professional artist and showed E! some of her paintings. She still looked good, almost like she never aged - but then again that was 14 years ago. Still feels recent to me tho lol

Miss Lisa · 10-27-2010, 10:04 PM

She's an artist now? That's kinda cool. jw, what kind of painting does she do? lol, I'm kinda big into art, I always have to ask.

OOliver · 11-30-2010, 03:56 PM

Is she the mother of Josh Brolin?

Marvo301 · 11-30-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

Is she the mother of Josh Brolin?

No she is not. Jan Smithers and James Brolin had one child together and that was a daughter. Jan was Josh's step mother during the time she was married to James Brolin.

Heidi Dawn · 12-23-2010, 01:31 PM

I had know idea that Jan was living in Halifax at one time with her daughter, Molly (Halifax is a three and a half hour drive from where I live, I've been there a couple of times). I think she moved back to L.A. in the last couple of years though.

09-04-2010, 01:37 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Jan Smithers From 'WKRP in Cincinnati' A Hollywood Recluse? Whatever happened to Ms. Smithers? From I what I read, she divorced her husband James Brolin and lost her mother and the stress caused her to have a nervous breakdown. I hope the latter isn't true, but her promising career seems to have been cut short and she avoids interviews. Not sure if she did commentary on the WKRP DVD, but either way, I miss the "Girl Next Door" Bailey Quarters. Attached Images
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09-04-2010, 01:44 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I miss her, too. Wherever Jan is now and whatever she's doing, I hope and pray that she is well and happy.
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09-04-2010, 01:45 AM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	No Jan didn't do commentary on the WKRP DVD. Hugh Wilson (the creator of the show), Loni Anderson, and Frank Bonner were the only three to provide commentary on the DVD. As a big fan of Jan's I wish she would have participated and I'd love to see her make a career comeback!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-23-2010, 01:21 AM	#8
Miss Lisa Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: My very own Green Acres Posts: 1,113	What was the last thing that she was in? I know that I have looked her up before to see if she was in anything else and I remember only seeing a few things listed, mostly just guest starring for an episode of random shows. It really is sad that she never got the credit she deserved. I like Loni Anderson and all, but it seems like she got all the credit and Jan got nothing.
	__________________ TEAM COCO ~♥~"No matter how big or soft or warm your bed is, you still have to get out of it."~♥~ - Grace Slick http://deviantrose112.posterous.com/

12-23-2010, 01:31 PM	#13
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	I had know idea that Jan was living in Halifax at one time with her daughter, Molly (Halifax is a three and a half hour drive from where I live, I've been there a couple of times). I think she moved back to L.A. in the last couple of years though.
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres.

09-04-2010, 01:49 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Tim Reid also showed up in the bonus documentaries on the set - I wish he would've done a commentary as well!! Not to mention Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman and Richard Sanders.

09-04-2010, 02:11 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	It would be nice to hear from Jan Smithers, and it would be also nice if the series would be finished on DVD.

10-26-2010, 03:08 PM	#9
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,094	When E! starting airing WKRP reruns in 1996, they did a "where are they now" thing with the cast and they caught up with Jan Smithers. She said she was retired from acting and was a professional artist and showed E! some of her paintings. She still looked good, almost like she never aged - but then again that was 14 years ago. Still feels recent to me tho lol

10-27-2010, 10:04 PM	#10
Miss Lisa Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: My very own Green Acres Posts: 1,113	She's an artist now? That's kinda cool. jw, what kind of painting does she do? lol, I'm kinda big into art, I always have to ask.

11-30-2010, 03:56 PM	#11
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	Is she the mother of Josh Brolin?