Smith was born in Los Angeles, California. Her first film appearance was in the short The Birth of Aphrodite, after a friend of her mother suggested her for the role. This led to supporting roles in other films, including the cult classic B-movies Caged Heat, Phantom of the Paradise, The Swinging Cheerleaders, Revenge of the Cheerleaders, The Pom Pom Girls, The Incredible Melting Man, Laserblast and a cameo role in Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke. Perhaps her most striking role in a major release was in a violent bedroom scene opposite a near unknown Sylvester Stallone in the 1975 version of the Phillip Marlowe classic Farewell My Lovely starring Robert Mitchum. Her starring debut was in the cult horror film Lemora.
Cheryl Smith died in the early morning hours on October 25, 2002 of complications from liver disease and hepatitis after a two-decade struggle with heroin addiction.
