Gail Russell

Her death was attributed to alcohol. Smith reprised her Kelly Garrett role in a short cameo in the 2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle feature film. She appeared in two more films after that, but was not able to control her addiction, and on August 26, 1961, Gail was found dead in her apartment in Los Angeles, California at the age of 36. Smith has two children, Spencer Margaret and Gaston, from her marriage to Richmond. She divorced Madison in 1954, and returned to work in a minor role in the western Seven Men From Now (1956), and had a bigger role in The Tattered Dress (1957). Smith has been married four times; to actors Roger Davis (1972-1975) and Dennis Cole (1978-1981), to filmmaker Tony Richmond (1981-1989), and to surgeon Brad Allen (since 1997). Over the next 10 years she tried to regain control of her life. Since 1985, Smith has designed and promoted a clothing line for Kmart.

She continued working after 1947, and married Guy Madison in 1949, but by 1950 it was well known that she had become a victim of alcoholism, and Paramount did not renew her contract. Smith currently has a reoccurring role in the television series The District. Gail later appeared in the more popular films, Calcutta (1947) with Alan Ladd, and Angel and the Badman (1947) with John Wayne. In 1989, Smith had the title role in Christine Cromwell, a mystery television series which only lasted one season. Gail appeared in several more films in the early and mid 1940s, the most notable being Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1944), in which she co-starred with Diana Lynn. Smith has also appeared in over two dozen television movies and miniseries. At the age of 19 she appeared in her first film, Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour (1943). Smith was the only female lead to remain with the series for its complete run.

Although she was shy and had no acting experience, Paramount had great expectations for her and employed an acting coach to work with her. Smith is best known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels (1976-1981), a light-hearted action series about three beautiful women who worked as private investigators. Gail's extraordinary beauty brought her to the attention of Paramount Studios in 1942. She attended Trinity University and the University of San Antonio before deciding on an acting career. Gail Russell (September 21, 1924 - August 27, 1961) was an American actress. Jaclyn Ellen Smith was born in Houston, Texas. Jaclyn Smith (born October 26, 1947) is an American television actress.