Martha Smith

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 Marthaan honor student with a mention in Whos Who of American Studentsenrolled in Michigan State University at 17 to study psychology She soon became an indemand 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 ME 1976 Charlies 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 archrival to John Belushis Bluto Shortly after she shared star billing with Debbie Allen in the CBS pilot Ebony Ivory and Jade 1979 TV which marked her professional singingdancing debut