Full Name: Richard Morris Gilliland
Date of Birth: January 23, 1950
Date of Death: March 18, 2021 (Age 71)
Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas
Known For: Husband of Jean Smart, Designing Women actor
Occupation: Television and Film Actor
Net Worth: $4 million
Height: 5’10” / 177 cm
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Who Was Richard Gilliland?
Richard Gilliland was an American actor who spent more than three decades working steadily in television and film. He’s probably best remembered for playing J.D. Shackleford on Designing Women, the CBS sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1993. Off screen, he was married to actress Jean Smart for 34 years — a partnership that lasted until his death in March 2021.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Gilliland built a career that most actors would envy. He wasn’t a household name in the way his wife became, but he worked consistently across genres, popping up in dramas, comedies, and crime procedurals for decades. His credits include The Waltons, Party of Five, Criminal Minds, Dexter, Heartland, and Grey’s Anatomy.
When Jean Smart won her first Emmy for Hacks in September 2021, she dedicated the award to Richard. He’d passed away just six months earlier, and the moment reminded millions of viewers that behind one of television’s most celebrated actresses was a man she’d loved for more than half her life.
Early Life
Richard Morris Gilliland was born on January 23, 1950, in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area during the 1950s and ’60s, a time when the region was still more cattle ranches than corporate campuses. Details about his parents and siblings haven’t been widely publicized — Gilliland was never the type to broadcast his personal history in interviews.
What is clear is that he caught the acting bug early enough to pursue it seriously. He trained as an actor and made his way to Los Angeles, where he started picking up television roles in the mid-1970s. By the time he was in his late twenties, he’d already begun appearing in episodic TV, laying the groundwork for what would become a long and reliable career in Hollywood.
Career
Gilliland’s first notable television credit came on The Waltons, where he appeared in a recurring capacity. Through the late ’70s and early ’80s, he took guest spots and small roles across network TV, building the kind of résumé that casting directors respect even if audiences don’t always notice. He was a working actor in the truest sense — showing up, doing the job well, and moving on to the next one.
His biggest role arrived in 1986 when he was cast as J.D. Shackleford on Designing Women. The show, created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, became a hit on CBS and ran for seven seasons. Gilliland appeared throughout the series as a recurring love interest, and it was on this set that he met Jean Smart. The role gave him his widest exposure, and fans of the show still associate him with the character decades later.
After Designing Women wrapped in 1993, Gilliland kept working without interruption. He guest-starred on Party of Five in the mid-’90s, then moved through a string of well-known shows in the 2000s and 2010s. His credits during this period included Criminal Minds, Dexter, Heartland, and Grey’s Anatomy. He also appeared in the film Love Letters. None of these were starring roles, but taken together, they paint the picture of an actor who never stopped finding work — and who directors trusted enough to keep calling back.
Relationship with Jean Smart
Richard Gilliland and Jean Smart met in 1986 on the set of Designing Women. Smart played Charlene Frazier Stillfield, one of the show’s four leads, and Gilliland was cast as her on-screen love interest. The chemistry wasn’t just for the cameras. They started dating during production, and by June 1987, they were married.
The couple had two children together. Their son, Connor Douglas Gilliland, was born in 1989. Twenty years later, in 2009, they adopted their daughter, Bonnie Kathleen Gilliland, from China. Friends and colleagues described them as one of the more grounded couples in an industry not exactly known for long marriages. They stayed together for 34 years — no separations, no tabloid scandals, no public drama.
Smart has spoken openly about how much Richard meant to her. When she accepted her first Primetime Emmy Award for Hacks in September 2021, she choked up while dedicating the win to her late husband. She went on to win two more Emmys for the same role in 2022 and 2023, but that first acceptance speech — raw and grief-stricken — is the one people remember. It was a reminder that her extraordinary late-career success came during the most painful period of her life.
His Death
Richard Gilliland died on March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. He was 71 years old. His death followed a brief illness, though the family did not disclose specific details publicly. Smart and their children were by his side.
The news hit the entertainment community hard. Co-stars and colleagues shared their memories of Gilliland as a warm, low-key presence on set — someone who didn’t chase the spotlight but who made every production better just by being there. For Jean Smart, the loss was devastating. She returned to work on Hacks shortly after his passing, later telling interviewers that staying busy was the only way she knew how to cope. Their son Connor was 31 at the time, and their daughter Bonnie was 12.
Net Worth
At the time of his death, Richard Gilliland had an estimated net worth of around $4 million. That figure reflects a career spanning more than 40 years in television and film. While he was never the highest-paid actor on any given project, decades of steady work add up — especially in an industry where residuals from long-running shows continue to generate income years after original broadcast.
His wife, Jean Smart, has a considerably higher net worth thanks to her lead roles in Hacks, Watchmen, Mare of Easttown, and other high-profile projects. But Gilliland’s career was never about competing with his spouse. He worked because he loved acting, and $4 million over a lifetime in Hollywood speaks to consistency more than anything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Richard Gilliland die?
Richard Gilliland died on March 18, 2021, in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 71 years old. His family chose not to disclose the specific cause of death publicly.
How long were Richard Gilliland and Jean Smart married?
They were married for 34 years. The couple wed in June 1987 after meeting on the set of Designing Women the year before. Their marriage lasted until Gilliland’s death in 2021.
Did Richard Gilliland and Jean Smart have children?
Yes, they had two children. Their son, Connor Douglas Gilliland, was born in 1989. In 2009, they adopted a daughter, Bonnie Kathleen Gilliland, from China.
What was Richard Gilliland’s most famous role?
His best-known role was J.D. Shackleford on Designing Women (1986–1993). He appeared as a recurring character throughout the CBS sitcom’s seven-season run and met his future wife, Jean Smart, on the show’s set.
Related Celebrities
Learn more about the people closest to Richard Gilliland:
- Jean Smart — Emmy-winning actress and Richard’s wife of 34 years
- Connor Douglas Gilliland — Richard and Jean’s son, born in 1989
