Brooke Smith was born May 22, 1967, in New York City. She is the daughter of Gene Smith and publicist Lois Smith, who's worked with Robert Redford, Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, and others. Brooke Smith graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and once shared an apartment with singer Jeff Buckley before he recorded Grace.
Brooke Smith has appeared in numerous films, including The Moderns (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991, as Catherine Martin), The Night We Never Met (1993), Mr. Wonderful (1993), Vanya on 42nd Street (1994), Last Summer in the Hamptons (1995), Trees Lounge (1996), Kansas City (1996), The Broken Giant (1998), Remembering Sex (1998), Random Hearts (1999), Eventual Wife (2000), Series 7: The Contenders (2001), For Earth Below (2002), Bad Company (2002), Melinda and Melinda (2004), Shooting Vegetarians (2005), In Her Shoes (2005), and The Namesake (2006).
Her TV appearances most famously include her portrayal of Dr. Erica Hahn in five episodes of Grey's Anatomy, the character she will now play full time as of the fifth episode of Season Four.
She also portrayed of Dr. Kate Switzer on Crossing Jordan (Smith appeared in 13 of the episodes of the sixth season, but was always credited as a guest star), and memorably appeared on Six Feet Under as one of Claire Fisher's art teachers, and most recently on Weeds.
In addition to stage work, her other interests include: filmmaking, she has directed a short film and a feature length documentary, journalism, she has had published interviews with actors Steve Buscemi, Ed Harris and Fred Ward and she has traveled extensively. Brooke is 5'10" and is married with one daughter.
