Shelley Smith, a well-known supermodel turned actress, has sadly passed away at the age of 70. Known for her sitcom role opposite Martin Short and frequent appearances on game shows like The $10,000 Pyramid, she also established an egg-donor program to aid couples struggling with infertility.
Smith’s husband, actor Michael Maguire, shared the news of her passing on social media. She had been in a coma due to cardiac arrest for three days and had been dealing with declining health over the past year.
Shelley Smith’s TV Roles, Game Show Success, and Brief Sitcom Stints
Shelley Smith, known for her towering 5-foot-9 frame, graced television screens in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She played a role in the brief ABC comedy “The Associates” (1979-80), set in a Wall Street law firm, starring alongside Martin Short. Smith’s TV ventures also included the NBC military drama “For Love and Honor” (1983).
However, she truly shone as a game show contestant, participating in shows like “Super Password” and “The $10,000 Pyramid,” where her excellent language skills and calm attitude impressed the viewers.
Shelley Smith: Supermodel to Therapist and Founder of The Egg Donor Program
Shelley Smith, born on October 25, 1952, in Princeton, New Jersey, established a flourishing modeling career after graduating from Connecticut College. She graced the pages of prominent magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Transitioning to acting in 1979, Smith appeared in TV shows and made guest appearances on several series until the early 1990s.
Later, she obtained a master’s degree in psychology, becoming a marriage and family therapist. Smith’s legacy includes founding The Egg Donor Program, which helped countless couples achieve parenthood.