34 Facts About Alexis Smith

Margaret Alexis Fitzsimmons-Smith was a Canadian-born American actress and singer.

Alexis Smith appeared in several major Hollywood films in the 1940s and had a notable career on Broadway in the 1970s, winning a Tony Award in 1972 for the Stephen Sondheim-James Goldman musical Follies.

Alexis Smith's family moved to Los Angeles when she was about a year old.

Alexis Smith grew up in Los Angeles, attending Hollywood High School along with other future talents, including actress Nanette Fabray.

Alexis Smith made her professional debut performing ballet at the Hollywood Bowl.

Alexis Smith was discovered in 1940 at Los Angeles City College, acting in a school production, by a Warner Brothers' talent scout.

Alexis Smith's first credited role was in the feature film Dive Bomber, playing the female lead opposite Errol Flynn.

Alexis Smith had a support role in The Smiling Ghost and appeared with her future husband Craig Stevens in Steel Against the Sky, the first time she was top billed.

Alexis Smith co starred opposite Errol Flynn in Gentleman Jim, one of the most popular movies of the year.

Alexis Smith had another cameo in Hollywood Canteen then co starred with Jack Benny in The Horn Blows at Midnight.

Alexis Smith co-starred with Humphrey Bogart in Conflict and Robert Alda in the George Gershwin biopic Rhapsody In Blue.

Alexis Smith was reunited with Flynn in San Antonio in which she sang a special version of the popular ballad "Some Sunday Morning"; the movie was a huge hit.

Alexis Smith appeared with Sheridan again in One More Tomorrow then Cary Grant in a sanitized, fictionalized version of the life of Cole and Linda Porter in Night and Day ; the latter was another box office success.

Alexis Smith made Stallion Road with Ronald Reagan and The Woman in White with Parker.

Alexis Smith was top billed in The Decision of Christopher Blake which was announced as an attempt to change her image instead of being just "a mirror to reflect others' emotions".

Alexis Smith co starred with Dane Clark in Whiplash, was Joel McCrea's leading lady in South of St Louis then worked with Zachary Scott in One Last Fling.

In October 1949 Alexis Smith was granted a release from her contract with Warner Bros after refusing being loaned out to Universal for a role in Shoplifter.

Alexis Smith had been at the studio for nine years, having signed a four-year deal in 1946 that had the option of going to 1953.

Alexis Smith went to Universal to appear in Wyoming Mail, a Western with Stephen McNally, and Undercover Girl a film noir.

Alexis Smith played Jane Wyman's rival in Paramount's Here Comes the Groom, her favorite role.

Alexis Smith received excellent reviews for playing Private Lives on stage with Victor Jory.

Alexis Smith was in Split Second at RKO with McNally then went to England to star in The Sleeping Tiger with Dirk Bogarde for Joseph Losey.

Alexis Smith began appearing in television on shows such as The Star and the Story, Stage 7, The 20th Century-Fox Hour, The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial, Robert Montgomery Presents, Lux Video Theatre, Schlitz Playhouse, and The United States Steel Hour.

Alexis Smith had no offers so signed to go on tour with her husband in a production of Plain and Fancy which meant she missed out on roles in the films Serenade and The Toy Tiger.

Alexis Smith was in Beau James with Bob Hope, This Happy Feeling with Curt Jurgens and The Young Philadelphians with Paul Newman.

Alexis Smith appeared on a Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis radio broadcast on January 25,1952.

Alexis Smith appeared on the cover of the May 3,1971 issue of Time as the result of the critical acclaim for her singing and dancing role in Hal Prince's Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which marked her long-awaited Broadway debut.

Alexis Smith has appeared on TV in movies like Nightside and shows such as The Lives of Benjamin Franklin.

Alexis Smith returned to the big screen with star billing at the age of 54 in Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough opposite Kirk Douglas, followed by The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane with Martin Sheen and Jodie Foster the following year and Casey's Shadow with Walter Matthau in 1978.

Alexis Smith had a recurring role on the television series Dallas as Clayton Farlow's mentally unstable sister, Lady Jessica Montford in 1984, and again in 1990.

Alexis Smith starred in the short-lived 1988 series Hothouse, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for her guest appearance on Cheers in 1990.

Alexis Smith died of brain cancer in Los Angeles on June 9,1993, the day after her 72nd birthday.

Alexis Smith had no children; her sole survivor was her husband of 49 years, actor Craig Stevens.

Alexis Smith's body was cremated and her ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.