Out of her hundreds of TV appearances, Martha Smith is perhaps best known as "Francine Desmond", intelligence agent (and nemesis of star Kate Jackson) on the CBS series "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" (1983). Raised in Farmington, MI, Martha--an honor student with a mention in "Who's Who of American Students"--enrolled in Michigan State University at 17 to study psychology. She soon became an in-demand model and spokeswoman, whose travel demands uprooted her from her studies. She was "discovered" by a scout for "Playboy" magazine, selected as a centerfold (Miss July 1973) and promptly sent back on the road on press junkets. That road led to California. With the support of Universal Studios Contract Department, Martha honed her thespian skills in workshops while appearing in featured TV roles ("How the West Was Won" (1978), "Quincy M.E." (1976), "Charlie's Angels" (1976), etc.). Her first major film role was in the comedy blockbuster Animal House (1978), where her "Barbara 'Babs' Jansen" character, a devious cheerleader, was arch-rival to John Belushi's "Bluto". Shortly after, she shared star billing with Debbie Allen in the CBS pilot Ebony, Ivory and Jade (1979) (TV), which marked her professional singing/dancing debut.

Filmography

• 2018A Futile and Stupid Gesture — Tour Guide
• The Defenders — Anita
• 2009The Seduction of Dr. Fugazzi — Kitty Carloff
• Greek — Mary Beth
• 2007Loveless in Los Angeles — Andrea
• 2003Hotel — Mrs. Moyer
• Kingpin
• Oliver Beene
• 2003Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update — Barbara 'Babs' Jensen
• 1991To The Moon, Alice — Heather Morgan
• They Came from Outer Space — Vicki McVicker
• 1987Broadcast News — Aaron's Soundwoman
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King — Francine Desmond
• 1982Blood Link — Hedwig
• Hotel
• 1980Alex and the Doberman Gang — Susan Hamilton
• 1979Ebony, Ivory and Jade — Maggie 'Ivory' David
• 1978Animal House — Barbara Sue 'Babs' Jansen
• Taxi — Mary Snyder
• How the West Was Won — Ellen Taylor
• Charlie's Angels — Shelley
• Quincy, M.E. — Dianne Johnson
• 1976The Winds of Autumn — Maydell's Girl
• Happy Days — Kathy - Dental Assistant

Appearances as themselves (1)

• 2008Animal House: The Inside Story — Self