Alexis Smith
A Hollywood starlet who reinvented herself as a Broadway powerhouse, winning a Tony for her sharp, sophisticated performance in 'Follies'.
1921–1993 (age 72)·American actress·Birthday: June 8·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born in Penticton, Canada, and raised in Los Angeles, Alexis Smith projected an image of cool, statuesque glamour from her earliest days at Warner Bros. in the 1940s. Often cast as the elegant, sometimes aloof society woman opposite stars like Errol Flynn and Cary Grant, she brought a wry intelligence to roles that could have been merely decorative. By the 1950s, the studio system that crafted her image was fading, and Smith found a new artistic home on the stage. Her career underwent a remarkable second act on Broadway, where she honed a formidable presence in musicals and plays. The pinnacle came in 1971 with Stephen Sondheim's 'Follies,' where her portrayal of the worldly, disillusioned Phyllis Rogers Stone earned her a Tony Award, cementing her legacy not as a pin-up, but as a serious and nuanced theatrical performer.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alexis was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Alexis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Died at 72
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- Won the 1972 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Phyllis in Stephen Sondheim's 'Follies'.
- Starred in major Hollywood films of the 1940s such as 'The Adventures of Mark Twain' and 'The Horn Blows at Midnight'.
- Maintained a successful Broadway career for decades, with notable roles in 'Platinum' and 'The Women'.
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to motion pictures.
Did You Know?
She was a skilled ice skater in her youth and performed in the Ice Capades before being discovered by Hollywood.
She was married to actor Craig Stevens, best known for playing TV's private detective Peter Gunn.
Her height (5'10") and regal bearing often led to her being cast as aristocratic characters.
“I was always the one in the satin gown, never the one in the gingham dress.”
