She was part of a mid-20th-century circle of artists that included Jackson Pollock and Barnett Newman, the Times reported. Her daughters, Kiki Smith and Seton Smith, both artists, survive her. Her daughter, Beatrice, predeceased her in 1988.

A native of Bozeman, MT, Ms. Smith was raised in Washington state and began theatre studies as a teenager. Her three Broadway appearances were in musicals of the 1940s — Oklahoma! (she played Gertie Cummings), Inside USA and Where's Charley? She had a brief career in movies.

She married Tony Smith in 1943 in Hollywood. Tennessee Williams was best man, and she and Williams remained friends until his death. The Times reported that her family said she helped inspire aspects of the character Blanche DuBois in Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire.

Her career included singing opera in Europe and acting in avant garde theatre after the death of her husband.