Born Mary Alice Smith in Indianola, Mississippi, Alice is the daughter of Ozelar (née Jurnakin) and Sam Smith.[6] Alice showed an early and natural ability for acting, and began her stage career in her hometown.[7] Her family moved from Mississippi to Chicago when she was two years old. Mary Alice graduated from Chicago Teacher's College, now known as Chicago State University, and taught at an elementary school.[8] She returned to acting in the mid-1960s, through community theater, and appeared
