Vickie Lynn Hogan, known professionally as Anna Nicole Smith, navigated a public life that transitioned from modeling for Playboy to a high-profile legal battle over the estate of a billionaire. Born in Houston in 1967, she developed a multifaceted career as an actor, television personality, and spokesperson before her death in Hollywood in 2007.
Early Life and Modeling
Raised in Mexia, Texas, by her mother and family, Smith attended Mexia High School before leaving in 1984. She began a career as a dancer and eventually appeared as a Playboy magazine centerfold in May 1992 under the name Vickie Smith. In 1993, she was named Playmate of the Year. Her profile grew when she replaced Claudia Schiffer as the face of Guess Jeans, appearing in black-and-white campaigns that drew visual comparisons to Jayne Mansfield. She also worked with H&M and appeared in publications such as Marie Claire and GQ.
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Smith made her feature film debut in the 1994 production The Hudsucker Proxy, playing the role of Za-Za. That same year, she appeared as Tanya Peters in Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult. Her subsequent film credits include the thriller To the Limit in 1995 and the direct-to-video release Skyscraper in 1996. From 2002 to 2004, she starred in her own E! reality program, The Anna Nicole Show, which featured her personal assistant, attorney Howard K. Stern, and her son, Daniel Wayne Smith. Her final film role, as Lucy in Illegal Aliens, was released posthumously in 2007.
Marriage and Estate Litigation
In 1994, Smith married J. Howard Marshall, a 89-year-old petroleum tycoon. Following Marshall's death in 1995, a lengthy legal dispute emerged regarding his estate, which held a significant interest in Koch, Inc. Smith fought her stepson, E. Pierce Marshall, after being left out of the will. The case involved conflicting judgments from a Texas probate court and a California bankruptcy court. In 2006, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in her favor, addressing the scope of federal court jurisdiction over state probate matters.
Endorsements and Final Years
In 2003, Smith became the primary spokeswoman for the weight loss supplement TrimSpa. Her involvement with the company later resulted in a class-action lawsuit filed in February 2007, alleging that marketing claims regarding the product were misleading. Smith died from combined drug intoxication in Hollywood, Florida, in 2007. She is buried at Lakeview Memorial Gardens and Mausoleums.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Houston, Texas
- Died: 2007, Hollywood, Florida
- 1993 Playmate of the Year
- Spouse: J. Howard Marshall (m. 1994–1995)
- Television program: The Anna Nicole Show (2002–2004)
- Son: Daniel Wayne Smith (1986–2006)
- Final film: Illegal Aliens (2007)
- Burial place: Lakeview Memorial Gardens and Mausoleums
Questions readers ask
What was the result of the litigation regarding J. Howard Marshall's estate?
The case reached the Supreme Court of the United States in 2006, where the court ruled in Smith's favor regarding federal court jurisdiction.
What was the cause of Anna Nicole Smith's death?
She died from combined drug intoxication in 2007.
Achievements
- Worked as actor, dancer and Playboy Playmate
