Lesly Stockard Smith is famous as the older sister of former actress Stockard Channing. Stockard is renowned for her work in Grease and The West Wing, Six Degrees of Separation.
Aside from Stockard herself, Lesly too is a famous personality. She is a politician known as the former mayor of Palm Beach, Florida. But as of now, what is she doing, is the biggest concern amongst many of you.
Many of you might not know but Lesly was once married to the son of the former US Ambassador to Belgium. So who was her husband? Let’s find out more about Lesly here today!
Lesly Stockard Smith Early Life and Education
She was born on January 19th, 1938, in New York City, United States. Lesly is the oldest daughter of Mary Alice, a Brooklyn native of the Irish Catholic family, and Lester Napier Stockard.
Lesly belongs to the American nationality and has Irish/German ancestry. Lesly spent the major portion of his childhood in the Upper East Side and was raised in a Catholic household.
As for her education, she studied at Chapin School, Foxcroft School, and Briarcliffe College. She made her debut as a performer at the 1955 Junior League Ball and the Debutante Cotillion and Christmas Ball.
Additionally, she was also a member of Junior Assemblies.
Her mother re-married after her father’s death
Many of you might not know this but Lesly comes from a family of big shots. Her father was a shipping magnate business while her mother was a philanthropist. Unfortunately, her father Lester died in 1950.
After his death, Mary exchanged vows with her second husband, Philip Fortin, a Montana-born oilman in 1968. Tragically, he too passed away at the age of 86 in 1982.
Afterward, Lesly’s mom focused her full attention on philanthropy. Up until her death in 2007, she was donating and helping out people as much as she can.
Lesly’s sister Stockard is a famed actor
It was back in the early 70s when Lesly’s little sis Stockard Channing embarked on the entertainment world. She made her debut in the 1971 movie, The Hospital. After a couple of small roles, she bagged a big role in the 1975 movie, The Fortune in which she played the role of Freddie. For her role, she was also nominated for the Golden Globe award for Best Acting.
Her other famous movies include Sweet Revenge (1976), Bitter Moon (1992), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Smoke (1995), and Up Close & Personal (1996). She is known throughout the industry for her role as Betty Rizzo inGrease (1978).
Not only does she made a name for herself in the movie world, but she has also gained a lot of fame for her work in the TV world as well. So far, her most famous series, Echoes in the Darkness, The West Wing, and A Day in the Death.
Currently, Stockard is living in the United Kingdom. She has been married four times, first to Walter Channing Jr., from 1963 to 1967, to Paul Schmidt, from 1970 to 1976, David Debin, from 1976 to 1980, and David Rawle from 1980 to 1988.
From 1990 to 2014, she was in a relationship with Daniel Gillam.
Lesly Stockard Smith is a former Mayor
This might shock many of you that Lesly is a big politician. Formerly, she was the Mayor of Palm Beach serving from 2000-2005. Previously, she served as the Town Council president.
Currently, Lesly is enjoying her retired life doing philanthropy, following in her later momma’s footsteps. She is often spotted in various events organized Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach where she serves as the trustee.
Stockard Channing’s sister’s Married life
Throughout her life, she has been four times, just like her younger sister. At first, she tied the knot with Frederick M. Alger III on October 1st, 1958. Their marriage didn’t last long and they divorced only four months, in February. It was Lesly who asked for the annulment citing religious reasons. Alger, who is a Protestant, reportedly insisted on birth control, something which Lesly, a devout Catholic didn’t like.
Afterward, she married John Barker Hickox and James Langley Van Alen, both of which also ended in a divorce. Her last marriage was to Earl Edward Tailer Smith, a former diplomate and once a US ambassador to Cuba.
Their marriage attracted a lot of attention due to the fact that at the time of their marriage, Stockard was 29, while her new hubby Edward was 64. They wedded in 1968.
Lesly’s daughter is a Mayor
Talk about sharing the same gene. Well, Lesly’s oldest daughter Danielle Moore Hickox, whom she shares with her ex-hubby John Hickox, is also a Mayor. Wait, there’s more, she is the mayor of Palm Beach, the same place where her mummy was also a mayor.
Aside from herself, there’s not much information if she has any other biological child or not. On the other hand, after marrying Earl, she became the stepmother of his two kids, Earl Jr., and a daughter.
How much is Lesly’s net worth?
As someone who was born with a silver spoon, there is no denying that Lesly has had an affluent upbringing. Her father was a shipping magnate and definitely left millions of dollars for his daughters.
On the other hand, Lesly has only married big aristocrats in her life which means the alimony she must have received is definitely significant. As it stands her net worth is more than $100 million.
