Early life

The second youngest of six children, Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1956 and grew up there for several years before her family relocated to Florida; there she was raised by her mother and step father.^[2] Smith has been very open about growing up in a "dysfunctional family", often using this as the basis for material in her stand-up comedy.^[3]

Adult life

Smith currently lives in Austin, Texas with her two sons. She has written at length about her unsuccessful attempts with in vitro fertilization for several years before turning to adoption.^[2] The story of her becoming a mother is what inspired her first publication: an autobiography on the subject of her childhood with her mother and subsequently becoming a mother herself.

Smith has also been quite open about her experiences with and support of attending therapy, once again in the form of material for her stand-up and book.^[2]

Stand-up comedy

Studying improvisational comedy at Second City in Chicago during the late 1970s, it was after a move to New York City that she found there was no market for improv.^[4] Smith began performing stand up during the early 1980s in New York as a result of this. Initial stage fright almost ended her career before it began, and the rock bottom of the worst comedy clubs in the city was only a preface to the struggle she'd face in standup that decade: "It was hard enough for [the audience] to accept a woman stand-up," remarked Smith, to the Daily Herald in May 1999.^[5] Her biggest break came in 1984 when she was invited to perform on Late Night with David Letterman; she would eventually be invited back an additional six times.^[4] Her performances took her onto the screen for small movie roles, and even a position opening for George Carlin on tour.^[6] Despite these successes she was still described in papers as an "up and coming comedian" as late as 1988.^[7] Her performances into the early 1990s would be given a great deal more weight as she could at that time be billed as a nominee for Comedian of the Year from the American Comedy Awards.^[8]

She has toured the comedy circuit doing live performances throughout the United States and appeared in Amsterdam, Australia, Ireland and the Queen's Theater in London. She appeared twice at Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival.

Smith has produced and starred in her own independent projects, including her CD, As It Should Be. Released August 2000, it carries a liner note endorsement from Jay Leno: "The best comedians are the ones that write and perform their own material, and Margaret Smith is at the top of that list".

Television and film appearances

She played Margaret the record store owner in That '80s Show. Her television and film credits include roles in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, the remake of The Blob, and the Wachowskis' thriller Bound with Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. She made a guest-star appearance in the Pamela Anderson series, VIP.^[1]

Smith starred in a special for Comedy Central. Her other television credits include appearances on CNN, PBS, HBO, Fox Network, Showtime, E! Network, VH-1, and Comedy Central. Smith appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as Late Night with David Letterman.