Jean Smart Reflects On Her Late Husband’s Sudden Passing
In an emotional interview on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?, Jean Smart opened up about the devastating loss of her husband, Richard Gilliland, in March 2021. The 72-year-old actress shares sons Forrest and Connor with Richard, who passed away unexpectedly from a heart condition.
Describing the shock of her husband’s death as “the worst,” Jean shared, “Because it was such a shock. It was so unexpected. And, you know, I thought he had COVID or something. The places I took him to, to get him tested. Didn’t do anything except a COVID test.”
She revisited one of those testing centers after his death to question their procedures.
“I said, ‘Let me ask you something.’ I said if I brought my 71-year-old husband in here, who was complaining of pain when you take deep breaths, and I said, ‘What would you do for him?’ He said, ‘Well, [the] first thing we do is an EKG.’ I said, ‘He died last week. Why didn’t you do that?'” she recounted.
During the interview, Jean acknowledges that the death of a loved one is something you never truly get over. When asked if she’s found a way to put it into perspective and move on, she responded, “Yes, just this year. It’s been three years, which sometimes I cannot even believe.”
She notes that losing a spouse is profoundly different from losing a parent or sibling.
“I’ve lost a sibling. That’s a different, whole different experience. Losing your mate of 35 years. I mean, literally half my life I lived with him is just kind of indescribable. And it just you go through this period of thinking it’s just not real. It’s just this isn’t real. You know? This just doesn’t make any sense,” she stated.
Jean has also taken her own health more seriously following her husband’s passing. In February 2023, she underwent a heart procedure, followed by an appendectomy that summer. Speaking to PEOPLE in September 2023, she revealed how Richard’s death prompted her to make significant changes.
“It just made more sense for me to get smarter about my health decisions. I’m the one running the show now, completely on my own, and if something happens to me, what happens to my kids?” she stated.
