Playboy vet with an illustrious screen career steps out for rare outing in LA… can you guess who?

A former Playboy magazine star stepped out for a rare outing in Los Angeles over the past weekend.

Throughout my illustrious career spanning several decades, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with an array of renowned talents, including the legendary Farrah Fawcett, the versatile Donald Sutherland, the graceful Jaclyn Smith, the enigmatic Kate Jackson, and the hilarious John Belushi.

In the 70s, the charm started gracing our screens, taking up both small and significant parts in series like Fantasy Island and Taxi.

The star is also known for her role in a major soap opera series.

In addition to her work in the entertainment sector, she also got involved with real estate from the 1990s onwards.

Can you guess who it is? 

Martha Smith, aged 72, was recognized as Playboy magazine’s Playmate of the Month in July 1973, which made her quite noteworthy.

She is recognized for starring in movies like Animal House (1978) and series including Charlie’s Angels and The Dukes of Hazzard as well.

On Sunday, June 8, during her recent trip to Los Angeles last weekend, the actress was seen sporting a chic yet casual look, wearing black trousers and a dark green top.

Smith had a middle parting for her golden hair that cascaded below her shoulders in soft, gentle waves, exposing her fringe to rest on her forehead.

Martha added various necklaces to complement her ensemble and wore stylish black sunglasses.

She effortlessly held a spacious, dark Kate Spade handbag, filled with necessary items for her outings during the day.

Smith hails from Cleveland, Ohio, born in October 1952, and eventually earned a degree from Michigan State University.

In July 1973, she was crowned as the Playmate of the Month at the tender age of 20, with Pompeo Posar capturing her iconic centerfold image.

At the time, she opened up to Playboy magazine about her dreams of a career in filmmaking. 

At one point, she shared that she had consulted many individuals, each offering distinct suggestions. Her ambition, as she expressed it, was not merely to pen the screenplay or direct, but rather to immerse herself entirely in the creation and production of a movie.

Although it may seem quite ambitious, I’m determined to make it happen. At the moment, I’m crafting script ideas and collaborating with a group of friends to film some modest projects in and around Detroit.

In about a few years, Smith joined a supporting cast for the 1976 production titled “The Winds of Autumn.” This venture marked the beginning of her professional acting journey, as recorded by IMDb.

Later on, she featured in single episodes of series like Quincy M.E., Charlie’s Angels, and How the West Was Won.

Back in 1978, I had the privilege of bringing Babs Jansen to life in the iconic film, National Lampoon’s Animal House, sharing the screen with legends like John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, and Verna Bloom. What an unforgettable experience!

In a previous chat with OnMilwaukee.com, I couldn’t help but reminisce about snagging the part in that unforgettable John Landis film.

Originally, she tried out for a role on the soap opera General Hospital, but during the performance, she forgot her lines, leaving her deeply disappointed.

However, she then landed a role in Animal House, which also happened to be her first major film. 

Previously, I’d only worked on commercials and minor appearances in television series that lasted for just a few scenes; there was a character, a woman in a bikini, who met her untimely end shortly after her introduction.

Smith went on to say, ‘Over a brief span of time, I was subjected to being chloroformed, stabbed, shot, strangled, and beaten. As the years passed, my mother became more and more worried that this line of work was detrimental to my health and well-being.’

Besides “Animal House,” Director Landis also handled numerous other productions, including “The Blues Brothers” in 1980, “Trading Places” in 1983, and “Coming to America” in 1988.

When dealing with Landis, Martha shared that he’d frequently mail us postcards featuring vintage movie images, boasting phrases like “Creating a timeless film!” and the like, from our motel mailboxes.

His predictions appeared overly optimistic initially, but later proved accurate. His infectious excitement as a director left me in awe.”

Or, if you prefer a more colloquial style:
“He seemed like he was overselling it at first, but boy was he right! I was blown away by his contagious energy as a director.

The actress commented, “On a Landis set, there was never any laxity. It seemed illogical – he always maintained the energy level just shy of frantic.

As a devoted fan, I’d say the rhythm that made those hilarious moments pop so vividly on-screen is primarily due to John’s impeccable timing and infectious enthusiasm.

During the ’80s and ’90s, she remained active in various productions such as Fantasy Island and Blood Ties.

Or simply, She appeared in shows like Fantasy Island and Blood Ties throughout the ’80s and ’90s.

1982 saw Smith stepping into the character of Dr. Sandy Horton on Days of Our Lives, a role he portrayed across 38 episodes.

From 1983 to 1987, I had the honor of embodying the character Francine Desmond on the popular CBS series, Scarecrow and Mrs. King.

Martha’s last credit was the 2018 movie A Futile And Stupid Gesture.  

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2025-06-14 20:34