Who is Ed Smart, and why does his name still surface in news searches years after his daughter’s kidnapping case closed? He is the father of Elizabeth Smart, the Utah teenager abducted from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 and found alive nine months later. Ed Smart’s public role shifted dramatically after that case, from grieving father and advocate to a man whose personal life—his divorce, his coming out as gay, and his professional work—became the subject of intense public curiosity. For a complementary read on the same theme, see Shane Gillis Girlfriend: What We Actually Know About His Dating Life
It covers his career, his marriage to Lois Smart, the divorce, his current partner, and the questions people still ask about his faith and finances. Background on ed smart is documented in Smart electric drive
What the Term “Ed Smart” Actually Refers To—and What It Doesn’t
Ed Smart is not a brand, a company, or a fictional character. He is a real person, born Edward Smart, who became publicly known because of a crime against his daughter. The name “ed smart” in search queries often mixes him with unrelated topics: a credit union certificate product, a smart meter from Con Edison, an early learning center, and even a misspelled reference to the serial killer Ed Gein. Those are separate subjects with no connection to the man himself.
The confusion is understandable. “Smart” is a common surname, and “Ed” is a common first name. But the Ed Smart discussed here is the father of Elizabeth Smart, the man who stood beside his wife Lois at press conferences in 2002 and 2003, pleading for his daughter’s return. He later wrote a book about the experience and became a public speaker on child safety.
One persistent question—”was Ed Gein smart?”—has nothing to do with Ed Smart. Ed Gein was a murderer and grave robber from Wisconsin who died in 1984. The similarity in names leads some search engines to conflate the two. The more useful approach is to treat Ed Smart as a distinct biographical subject, not a keyword cluster. For a complementary read on the same theme, see Glen Powell Girlfriend History: From 2018 Rumors to His 2025 Relationship
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Edward Smart |
| Known for | Father of Elizabeth Smart; public advocate after her abduction |
| Former spouse | Lois Smart (divorced) |
| Public revelation | Came out as gay in 2019 |
| Residence | Utah (historically); current location not publicly confirmed |
How Utah and Mormon Communities Responded to Ed Smart’s Personal Revelations
Ed Smart’s coming out in 2019 landed differently in Utah than it might have elsewhere. The state’s dominant religious culture—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—teaches that same-sex relationships are contrary to God’s commandments. Ed Smart had been a visible Mormon father, and his family’s faith was central to the narrative of Elizabeth’s kidnapping and recovery. When he announced he was gay, many people in his community asked whether he remained a member of the church.
He addressed that question directly in public statements. According to interviews he gave around that time, he said he no longer attended church services and had stepped away from active participation. He did not frame this as a rejection of all belief, but as a personal decision tied to his identity. The church itself did not issue a statement about him specifically. Local reaction ranged from supportive to critical, reflecting broader tensions within Mormon communities over LGBTQ membership.
His divorce from Lois Smart became final before his public announcement. The couple had been married for decades and raised six children together. News reports at the time indicated the divorce was amicable, though neither party shared extensive details. Lois Smart continued to live in Utah and remained involved in advocacy work related to child safety. Ed Smart’s relationship with his children, including Elizabeth, was described by family members as intact but private.
The regional dimension matters because Ed Smart’s story is inseparable from Utah’s cultural landscape. Salt Lake City, where the family lived, has a complex mix of conservative religious values and a growing LGBTQ community. Ed Smart’s experience—a middle-aged Mormon man coming out after a long heterosexual marriage—is not unique, but his public profile made it unusually visible. Some local commentators saw his story as a challenge to stereotypes about faith and sexuality. Others viewed it as a private matter that should have stayed private.
What Ed Smart Did for a Living—and How He Made His Money
Ed Smart worked in real estate for much of his professional life. Public records and news reports from the early 2000s describe him as a real estate agent and broker in the Salt Lake City area. He was not a wealthy celebrity; the family lived a comfortable middle-class life in a large home, but their financial situation was ordinary by suburban standards.
After Elizabeth’s kidnapping, Ed Smart’s professional focus shifted. He became a public speaker and advocate for child safety legislation. He co-authored a book with Lois Smart titled Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope, published in 2003. The book detailed the family’s ordeal and their reliance on faith during the nine months Elizabeth was missing. Book sales and speaking engagements provided some income, though exact figures were never publicly disclosed.
Questions about “how did Ed Smart make his money” often assume a hidden fortune or a dramatic career change. He was a working professional in real estate, then a public advocate, then a private citizen again. No credible source has reported a large inheritance, a business empire, or unusual wealth.
One related search term—”cap ed credit union smart step certificate”—has no connection to Ed Smart. That appears to be a financial product from a credit union, possibly a certificate of deposit with a step-up interest rate. The name similarity is coincidental. The weaker claim here is any attempt to link Ed Smart to that product or to a “smart ed early learning center,” which is an unrelated educational business.
The Timeline: From Elizabeth’s Kidnapping to Ed Smart’s Life Today
Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom on June 5, 2002. She was 14 years old. Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee held her captive for nine months, moving her through Utah and California. She was found on March 12, 2003, in Sandy, Utah, after witnesses recognized Mitchell from a police sketch. Ed Smart was at work when he received the call that his daughter had been found alive.
Mitchell was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to life in prison. Barzee was released in 2018 after serving time under a plea deal. Ed Smart attended the trials and spoke publicly about the need for stronger laws against child abduction. His advocacy work in the years after 2003 included supporting the AMBER Alert system and speaking at conferences on child safety.
In 2019, Ed Smart publicly came out as gay. He was in his early 60s at the time. The announcement came through a Facebook post and subsequent interviews. He said he had known about his sexuality for years but had tried to live according to his faith’s teachings. The decision to come out, he said, was driven by a desire to live authentically. Lois Smart released a statement expressing support for him, though she also acknowledged the pain the divorce caused.
Where is Ed Smart today? That question is harder to answer with precision. He has kept a low public profile since 2019. He has not published another book or launched a public speaking tour. His social media presence is minimal. The most accurate statement is that he lives privately, and his exact location is not a matter of public record.
His age is also a point of confusion. Ed Smart was born in 1955, according to public records cited in news reports. That would make him 69 years old in 2024. Some sources list different birth years, but the 1955 date appears most consistently in credible reporting. He is not, as some search queries suggest, the same person as Henrik Fisker, the automotive designer. The phrase “henrik fisker ed smart partner” appears to be a search-engine artifact combining two unrelated names.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ed and Lois Smart divorce?
Ed Smart publicly stated that he came to terms with being gay after decades of marriage. He said he had tried to live according to LDS teachings but could no longer do so authentically. The divorce was finalized before his 2019 announcement. Neither party has alleged infidelity or abuse. Lois Smart expressed support for Ed after he came out, describing the split as painful but necessary for both of them to live honestly. A reference profile of the subject is maintained on Where Are Elizabeth Smart's Parents Today? – People.com
Who is Ed Smart’s current partner?
Ed Smart has not publicly named a current partner. After coming out in 2019, he said he was open to a relationship but did not announce one. The phrase “ed smart partner” in search results often leads to unverified social media posts. Until Ed Smart himself confirms a relationship, any specific name should be treated as rumor.
Is it fair to question Ed Smart’s faith after he came out as gay?
This question touches on privacy and religious identity. Ed Smart has said he no longer actively participates in the LDS Church, but he has not renounced all belief. Whether someone remains “Mormon” is partly a matter of church records and partly personal identification. Public speculation about his faith status is common, but the more ethical approach is to accept his own statements. He has not asked for a formal removal of his name from church records, according to available information.
Is Ed Smart still married to Lois Smart?
No. Ed and Lois Smart divorced in 2018, before his public coming out. They were married for over 30 years and raised six children together. Lois Smart has not remarried publicly. Ed Smart has not announced a new marriage. The divorce was reported as amicable, and both have spoken respectfully about each other in interviews since the split.
Who is Ed Smart married to now?
Ed Smart is not publicly known to be married to anyone now. After his divorce from Lois Smart, he has not announced a new spouse. Some search queries ask about a “wedding” or a “wife,” but no credible source reports a second marriage. His current relationship status is private.
