Deborah Smith Ford
Deborah Smith Ford (born July 10, 1950) is an award-winning American actress, writer and
author known for her acting film roles in Bully, [1] Pose Down,Phoenix Falling and in
multimedia in the commercial, Citracal.
Early life
Deborah Smith Ford was born Deborah Jean Smith in Sodus, New York to parents Richard
and Betty Jane Smith. They lived on an apple farm in Wolcott, New York.
Ford is the oldest child. She has seven siblings, one, on her mother's side, with whom she
grew up with in Daytona Beach, Florida, named Jacqueline. Ford's father was a Chemical
Engineer. From her paternal side, in upstate New York, are siblings: Matthew, Terry, Vicki,
Pamela, Rod and Danny. All the siblings, except the youngest, Danny, reunited at a wedding
in 2005 and continue to keep in touch.
When very young Ford visited New York City with her mother, a part time dancer,
comparable to that of The Rockettes, and it was then that Ford was introduced, accidentally,
to television. NBC's Today Show's host in the early to mid-50s was Dave Garroway and
Barbara Walters. Featured that day was the chimp, J. Fred Muggs. Ford was pulled from the
audience to "play" with the chimp behind glass. Ford's maternal grandmother, Rebina
Patterson Pike, saw the show from further upstate New York and was surprised to see her
granddaughter on television.
From that day on Ford was interested in the biz, but behind the camera. That early TV
experience would later influence some of her life decisions, eventually making the move to in
front of the camera instead.
In the 1960s Ford lived in Florida with her mother and stepdad through her high school years.
She continued her interest in the biz, eventually becoming involved in modeling, theater, film
and television.
Career
At 19 Ford moved from her parents' home to her own, in Bradenton, Florida. It was then that
she studied Dental Assisting, attended college, volunteered at the local hospital and
participated at the community theater. Later she studied modeling, film and television in Fort
Myers, Miami and Orlando, Florida.
In 1988 Ford graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South
Florida. In addition, she studied Communications and Acting.
Since the early 1990s, to present day, Ford continues to study and work in the areas of
entertainment. She kept active as a lifestyle model in Southwest Florida, and was cast in
multiple roles in film and television projects. Her foot in the door was landing the
commercial, Citracal in 2005. Since then she has been in multiple commercials, plus feature
and independent films.
Ford began writing, on a national level, online for Examiner.com and The Hot Zone in 2009
and with Pup Buds in 2011.
Ford is also an author of children's books.[2] The umbrella title is Allie's Adventures Around
the World, and the first published book, by Trafford Publishing Company, is The Little Apple
(2009). She is writing two more books for the series, one for young readers to grade 3 and
one for older readers as well.
In 2010 Ford co-wrote a song and spoke the books introduction for its upcoming CD, also
named The Little Apple. She worked with Lesley Staples (one of the Calendar Girls) on that
project. Jimmie Ray and Cyndi Cantrell are the musicians behind the CD. Jimmie Ray is the
singer, and his wife, Cyndi, is the narrator. Ford originally illustrated the book in the 80s
when she first wrote it as a college project. The book's illustrator now is Susi Galloway.
The Little Apple is about life on a farm, something Ford experienced for a few years while
living in Wolcott, New York and on her great uncle's farm in Caledonia, New York. The
book is written as told and seen through the eyes of a child. The upcoming books are about
Allie moving from the farm and traveling with her parents around the world experiencing a
variety of adventures, meeting friends - some human and some not.
Recent film and television work
One of Ford's latest film projects has been that of Hide (2011) where she portrays flight
attendent, Carol Anne Quigley.
Ford was cast in and worked with Linda Webb in the reality show, Fraud Dog, that airs
Octoboer 2011. Magic City is a TV series that Ford is a part of as well, filming is in 2011, to
premiere on the network Starz in 2012.
Personal life
Ford married Alton A. Ford, DVM in 1974. They have two daughters, Courtney and Leah.
Both daughters, when younger, went on film and TV sets with Mom, Dad too. Courtney went
on to study and become a Biomedical Engineer, Veterinarian and Teacher, but not all at once.
She is married to Kyle Baldwin. Youngest daughter, Leah, is a Forensic Scientist and mother
of three, married to Israel David Groveman, a musician, actor, director, and photographer.
Ford has an uncanny resemblance to that of actress Carrie-Anne Moss and has often been
mistaken as her, so much so that she has been interviewed by MatrixFans.net.[3] When Ford
is wearing sunglasses she is especially mistaken as Moss' character, Trinity, from the
MATRIX films.[4]
According to family lineage, on her father's side, Ford is related to the eight president of the
United States, Martin Van Buren.
Awards and recognition
2011 Sunburst Media Award
2011 The Reel Awards News Hound Award
2010 Sunburst Media Award
2007 The Reel Awards Best Actress Award
2007 The Reel Awards Television Performance Award for the role of Farmer Ford in Citracal
TV commercial
2005 International World Tribute Award
2006 Cloney Award
2006 Director's Rising Star Award
2000 Crystal Reel Best Female Print Model Award