Jan Smithers is an American actress best known for her role as Bailey Quarters on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired from 1978 to 1982. She was born on July 3, 1949, in North Hollywood, California. Raised in Woodland Hills along with her three sisters, Jan attended William Howard Taft Charter High School, where her interest in the arts began to flourish.
Smithers began her acting career in the early 1970s, gaining recognition with her role in the 1974 film When the North Wind Blows. She went on to appear in several popular television series, including Starsky & Hutch (1976), The Love Boat (1982–1984), Mike Hammer (1985), and Murder, She Wrote (1985). Her performances demonstrated both her versatility and screen presence.
Her most iconic role came with WKRP in Cincinnati, where she portrayed the shy yet intelligent radio station employee Bailey Quarters. The show became a cult favorite and significantly contributed to her fame.
Jan Smithers was married twice. Her first marriage was to actor Kipp Whitman, known for appearances in Hondo (1967), Bummer (1973), and The Bionic Woman (1976). The marriage lasted for a brief period.
In 1986, Smithers married James Brolin, a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor. The two met on the set of the television series Hotel in 1985. During their marriage, Jan became stepmother to Brolin’s two sons from a previous marriage. The couple also welcomed a daughter, Molly Elizabeth Brolin. They divorced in 1995.
Following her time in the spotlight, Jan Smithers gradually stepped away from acting. While she has maintained a relatively private life since the 1990s, she is known to have lived in Ojai, California. She has occasionally participated in interviews and retrospectives related to WKRP in Cincinnati, maintaining a connection with her fanbase.
| Birth Date: | 3 Jul, 1949 |
| Age: | 70 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Television actor Film actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | North Hollywood |
| Education: | William Howard Taft Charter High School |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Spouse: | James Brolin[1986-1995] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 6 million |
