The Designing Women Cast: Where Are The Sugarbaker Stars Now In 2025?

The enduring charm of Designing Women, a sitcom that masterfully blended Southern wit with sharp political commentary, continues to captivate audiences decades after its final episode. The show’s original run from 1986 to 1993 made household names of its fiery female leads, and as of late 2024 and early 2025, the careers of its surviving stars are experiencing a massive resurgence, while its legacy is being honored with new stage productions.

The latest updates prove that the core cast—Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Annie Potts, and Jean Smart—remains one of the most celebrated ensembles in television history. From Jean Smart's continued dominance at the Emmy Awards to Annie Potts's busy schedule, and the show's controversial past, here is a deep dive into the lives, careers, and legacies of the *Designing Women* cast today.

The Complete Designing Women Cast: Biography & Latest Status

The original cast, along with key supporting and replacement actors, formed the heart of the iconic Atlanta-based interior design firm, Sugarbaker and Associates. This is a comprehensive look at the stars, their characters, and their current status.

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• Dixie Carter (Julia Sugarbaker)
  • Character: Julia Sugarbaker, the sharp-tongued, intellectual, and eloquent sister.
  • Born: May 25, 1939, McLemoresville, Tennessee.
  • Died: April 10, 2010 (Age 70), Houston, Texas.
  • Spouse: Hal Holbrook (m. 1984; until her death).
  • Key Roles Outside DW: Randi King on Family Law, Gloria Hodge on Desperate Housewives (Emmy nomination).
  • Status: Passed away from complications of endometrial cancer. Her final role was on Desperate Housewives.
• Delta Burke (Suzanne Sugarbaker)
  • Character: Suzanne Sugarbaker, the former beauty queen, wealthy, and often self-absorbed sister.
  • Born: July 30, 1956, Orlando, Florida.
  • Spouse: Gerald McRaney (m. 1989).
  • Key Roles Outside DW: Titular role in the sitcom Delta, various stage roles, and appearances in Boston Legal.
  • Net Worth: Estimated to be around $8 million (combined with husband Gerald McRaney).
  • Status: Has maintained a lower public profile in recent years but has made occasional public appearances, focusing on her marriage and health.
• Annie Potts (Mary Jo Shively)
  • Character: Mary Jo Shively, the witty and neurotic single mother/interior designer.
  • Born: October 28, 1952, Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Spouse: James Hayman (m. 1990).
  • Key Roles Outside DW: Janine Melnitz in the Ghostbusters franchise, Iona in Pretty in Pink, and Meemaw in Young Sheldon.
  • Net Worth: Estimated to be in the multi-million dollar range.
  • Status: Highly active, starring in the 2025 reading of the new solo play White Lies and the upcoming Hallmark movie musical The Music Teacher, in addition to her role on the new series Best Medicine.
• Jean Smart (Charlene Frazier Stillfield)
  • Character: Charlene Frazier Stillfield, the naive, sweet, and often gullible office manager.
  • Born: September 13, 1951, Seattle, Washington.
  • Spouse: Richard Gilliland (m. 1987; until his death in 2021).
  • Key Roles Outside DW: Deborah Vance in Hacks, Melanie Bird in Legion, and roles in Watchmen and Mare of Easttown.
  • Net Worth: Estimated to be around $10 million.
  • Status: One of the most critically acclaimed actresses working today, she won the 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Hacks.
• Meshach Taylor (Anthony Bouvier)
  • Character: Anthony Bouvier, the deliveryman who eventually becomes a partner at Sugarbaker’s.
  • Born: April 11, 1947, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Died: June 28, 2014 (Age 67), Altadena, California.
  • Spouse: Bianca Ferguson (m. 1983).
  • Key Roles Outside DW: Hollywood Montrose in the film Mannequin, and recurring roles on Dave's World.
  • Status: Passed away from colorectal cancer.
• Later Cast Members: Jan Hooks, Julia Duffy, & Judith Ivey
  • Jan Hooks (Carlene Frazier Dobber): Charlene's eccentric sister, who replaced Jean Smart. Hooks, a former Saturday Night Live star, died on October 9, 2014, from complications of throat cancer.
  • Julia Duffy (Allison Sugarbaker): Suzanne's sharp-tongued cousin, who replaced Delta Burke. Duffy is best known for Newhart and remains active with recent guest roles.
  • Judith Ivey (B.J. Poteet): A wealthy investor who joined the firm in the final season. Ivey is a two-time Tony Award winner and continues to work extensively in theatre and television.

Jean Smart and Annie Potts: The Emmy-Winning Resurgence

While Designing Women is a classic, the careers of Annie Potts and Jean Smart are anything but nostalgic—they are current, thriving, and setting a new standard for actresses in their 70s. Their recent work has brought them more critical acclaim than ever before, proving that the women of Sugarbaker’s still know how to command a stage.

Jean Smart, who played the sweet and often clueless Charlene Frazier Stillfield, has cemented her status as a television icon. Her role as the legendary stand-up comedian Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series Hacks has earned her multiple Primetime Emmy Awards. In a major update, Smart secured another Emmy win in 2025 for the show, further solidifying her career's incredible second act. Her dramatic roles in Watchmen and Mare of Easttown also showcased her versatility, earning her a reputation as one of the most respected actresses of her generation.

Meanwhile, Annie Potts, the beloved Mary Jo Shively, has been a fixture on network television as the sharp-witted Meemaw Constance Tucker on the hit CBS sitcom Young Sheldon. As that series concludes, Potts has lined up a series of highly anticipated new projects for 2025. This includes starring in the industry reading of the new solo play White Lies and taking on a captivating role in the upcoming series Best Medicine, an adaptation of the British hit Doc Martin. Potts is also set to star in the Hallmark Channel’s movie musical, The Music Teacher, ensuring she remains one of the busiest stars from the original cast.

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The Bitter Feud That Led to Delta Burke’s Firing

For a show built on Southern charm and sisterhood, Designing Women was notorious for its dramatic behind-the-scenes controversies. The most famous and bitter of these centered on Delta Burke and the show's creator, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. The tension between Burke, who played Suzanne Sugarbaker, and the show's producers began to mount publicly during the later seasons.

Burke felt she was being unfairly targeted, believing that scripts were being written to mock her weight and personal problems. The actress publicly compared her time on the show to "going to war" and claimed she was being emotionally abused by the producers. This highly publicized feud escalated to the point where Burke was officially fired from the sitcom in 1991, leading to a significant cast shake-up for the final two seasons.

The firing was a major entertainment news story at the time, shattering the on-screen illusion of the close-knit Sugarbaker family. Burke later spoke out in a rare interview about her "ugly and very sad" exit, detailing the public scrutiny she faced. Despite the drama, both Burke and the show's creator have since expressed regret over the feud, acknowledging the stress and pressure of the show's success.

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The Immortal Legacy of Sugarbaker's and a New Stage Life

The true legacy of Designing Women lies in its groundbreaking approach to female friendship and its willingness to tackle serious issues like AIDS, breast cancer, and political corruption with a signature blend of humor and fiery rhetoric. Dixie Carter’s character, Julia Sugarbaker, became legendary for her powerful, often minute-long, uninterrupted "Julia Sugarbaker's Rants," which are still widely circulated and celebrated today.

In a fresh development that speaks to the show's lasting appeal, creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason has adapted the sitcom into a new stage play. This production, which premiered recently, features a new cast taking on the iconic roles. Tony Award nominee Carmen Cusack stepped into the formidable shoes of Julia Sugarbaker, with Sarah Colonna taking on Mary Jo Shively. The decision to bring the beloved characters to the stage proves that the Southern sass and sharp dialogue of Sugarbaker's and Associates remain timeless.

The stage revival, combined with the continued career success of Jean Smart and Annie Potts, ensures that the spirit of the Designing Women cast remains vibrantly alive in the 2025 entertainment landscape. The show continues to be a benchmark for strong, witty female-led television, influencing a new generation of writers and performers.