- Barbara Smits is the late ex-wife of actor, Jimmy Smits.
- She was born on November 27, 1955.
- Barbara was married to actor Jimmy Smits.
- Smits and Jimmy were together since high school.
- Barbara Smits had two children.
Barbara Smits was the late ex-wife of actor Jimmy Smits, best known for his roles as attorney Victor Sifuentes in the 1980s-1990s legal drama L.A. Law and NYPD Detective Bobby Simone in the 1990s police drama NYPD Blue.
Smits previously worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension-New York City (CCE-NYC).
She has worked for the corporation for 29 years. She was 54 years old at the time of her death.
Barbara had been gone for more than ten years.
Consider the woman’s life: her work, her marriage to her actor husband, their divorce, and her children.
Also, find out how her family remembers her.
Table of Contents
Barbara Smits was a member of Cornell’s Extension Faculty
On November 27, 1955, Barbara Snitts was born. Cornelis and Emilia Smits’ previous daughter-in-law attended Ithaca College (enrolled in 1981).
Barbara, as previously stated, worked at Cornell Cooperative Extension-New York City.
In 1982, Smit moved to New York City to work for the 4-H Program.
She later advanced to the position of executive staff assistant for the Environmental Issues Program Area.
Jimmy Smits’ ex-wife became the executive director of CCE-assistant NYC in 2004. The Barbara Smits Service Award was established in her honor.
Barbara Smits was married to Jimmy Smits, an actor
Smits and Jimmy have been dating since high school. Barbara’s ex-husband, Jimmy, had been doing Shakespeare and other classics when they had their first kid.
He had also left the football squad at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn to join the theatre.
Jimmy Smits at the arrivals for the NETFLIX premiere of THE GET DOWN on August 11, 2016, at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, New York. Steven Ferdman/Everett Collection Photographed
Barbara’s husband received his big break in acting when he played Attorney Sifuentes in the first five seasons of L.A. Law.
He also appeared in several other famous shows, including The West Wing, Pee-Playhouse, wee’s Sons of Anarchy, and Dexter. Jimmy also made a brief appearance in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
The Brooklyn-born actor’s career took off with his portrayal as Detective Bobby Simone on ABC’s NYPD BLUE, which he appeared in from 1994 to 1998.
He received HOLA honors for his portrayal of Bobby Simone. He also won an Emmy for best supporting actor in 1990. Jimmy is also a two-time ALMA Award winner.
Smits and Jimmy married on June 10, 1980, and stayed married until 1987.
What Caused Barbara and Jimmy’s Divorce?
Smits’ husband, who was still on the hit NBC television series ‘L.A. Law filed divorce papers in Los Angeles Superior Court in October 1987.
Barbara’s ex-husband subsequently stated that the cause was irreconcilable disagreements. According to the court petition, they had been living apart since March 15, 1986.
The processes, according to the Brooklyn College alumnus and his publicist, were ‘amicable under the circumstances.’ Barbara was living in Brooklyn, New York, with her two children at the time of the divorce filing.
Barbara Smits was the mother of two children
Barbara and Jimmy had two children during their marriage: Taina, born in 1975, and Joaquin, born in 1978. (b. 1983).
Taina was 13 at the time of the divorce, and Joaquin was three. According to the documents submitted, the actor did not seek custody of the two children.
Taiana, her daughter, teaches theatre arts at Glasgow Middle School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is now in her forties. Taina is married to Bo Beasley and has a daughter of her own named Tyler.
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Barbara’s Husband Allegedly Fought With Police During The Divorce
Following Jimmy’s divorce appeal, he was scheduled for arraignment in November 1987, along with a girlfriend, Wanda DeJesus (1986 to present).
Authorities arrested him on charges resulting from an alleged altercation with police who had arrived at his West Los Angeles house after a local lady reported domestic violence.
Three cops responded to reports of a woman yelling for aid from Smits’ house.
When the cops arrived at the scene, Barbara’s ex and DeJesus allegedly attacked them.
Because of contradicting witness accounts, the court first decided to dismiss the charges.
Despite this, they later pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of disturbing the peace.
De Jesus was sentenced to 18 months of probation, 75 hours of community service, and a $250 fine, while Smits was sentenced to a $150 fine, 18 months of unsupervised probation, and 50 hours of community service.
The Death of Barbara Smits
Barbara Smits, the ex-wife of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died on April 16, 2010, from pneumonia complications.
Taina, her daughter, never fails to mention and honor her mother.
Whether it’s Barbara’s birthday or Mother’s Day, Jimmy’s daughter never fails to express her affection for her late mother.
Taina acknowledges that knowing her mother isn’t physically present often makes her days sad.
