There’s a rare kind of actor who can make you laugh for nine seasons on a sitcom and then hold her own alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the big screen — Cobie Smulders has done exactly that. But behind the Hollywood credits lies a story of resilience: she faced an ovarian cancer diagnosis at age 25 while filming How I Met Your Mother.
Born: April 3, 1982, in Vancouver, Canada ·
Known for: Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother, Maria Hill in Marvel ·
Children: 2 daughters ·
Language(s): English, French (conversational) ·
Net worth (est.): $25 million (multiple outlets)
Quick snapshot
- Exact Avengers salary not publicly confirmed (BigWriteHook)
- Net worth estimates vary: $18M–$25M (BigWriteHook)
- Lowest-paid Marvel actor identity unconfirmed (BigWriteHook)
- Dutch proficiency described as conversational, not fluent (BigWriteHook)
- Potential future MCU appearances remain unannounced (BigWriteHook)
- Continuing TV work (Lincoln Lawyer season 2, 2023) (IMDb)
- Advocacy for ovarian cancer awareness ongoing (TODAY)
Seven key facts about Cobie Smulders, one pattern: her career moves between two high-pressure worlds — nine years of weekly sitcom production and a decade-long superhero franchise — while managing a serious health battle in private.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders |
| Date of birth | April 3, 1982 |
| Place of birth | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Known roles | Robin Scherbatsky, Maria Hill |
| Spouse | Taran Killam (m. 2012) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Height | 5’11” (180 cm) |
What happened to Cobie Smulders?
Her diagnosis and recovery
In early 2015, Smulders revealed to TODAY (major U.S. morning show) that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 25 — while she was in the middle of filming How I Met Your Mother. The cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. She underwent multiple surgeries over roughly two years and has been cancer-free since.
“I think even now I’m still processing what it means to have gone through that at such a young age,” Smulders told Marie Claire (women’s lifestyle magazine).
Ovarian cancer at 25
Smulders told Marie Claire (women’s lifestyle magazine) that she was told she might not be able to conceive after the surgeries. She later said the experience “made me a stronger person” in an interview with USA Today (national newspaper). CBS News (broadcast news network) reported in 2016 that she was cancer-free and 34 years old at the time of her disclosure.
Life after cancer
Despite the grim prognosis, Smulders and her husband Taran Killam have two daughters, born in 2012 and 2015. She has used her platform to speak about the importance of early detection and regular checkups.
A cancer diagnosis that during filming was kept entirely private, yet the same woman now says it taught her to draw from deeper emotions as an actor — a trade-off between public silence and artistic growth.
The pattern: Smulders turned a private battle into a source of emotional depth for her performances.
Who does Cobie Smulders play in Spider-Man?
Maria Hill in the MCU
Smulders plays Maria Hill, a high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and close ally of Nick Fury. She first appeared in The Avengers (2012) in a deleted scene, with her full debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
Appearances in Avengers and Spider-Man
Smulders appears as Maria Hill in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), working alongside Nick Fury. She is a supporting character in that film, not a lead. Her role is shared across the MCU’s interconnected universe, not confined to a single franchise.
Role in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’
In Far From Home, Maria Hill assists Nick Fury in recruiting Peter Parker for a mission. The film grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide, making it one of Smulders’ highest-grossing appearances.
Smulders’ MCU appearances span over a decade across six films — from The Avengers (2012) to Secret Invasion (2023) — making her one of the franchise’s longest-running supporting actors on a per-film basis.
The implication: her role in Spider-Man is just one link in a chain that has kept her inside the MCU longer than many headliners.
Was Cobie Smulders in Avengers: Endgame?
Her screen time in Endgame
Yes — she appears in Avengers: Endgame (2019) in a brief cameo during the final Battle of Earth. She was among the heroes who returned after being “dusted” at the end of Avengers: Infinity War.
Resurrection from ‘Infinity War’
Maria Hill was one of many characters turned to dust by Thanos in Infinity War (2018). Her return in Endgame was part of the five-year time-jump reversal.
Role in the Battle of Earth
In the final battle, Maria Hill is seen alongside other S.H.I.E.L.D. and Wakandan forces. It is a minor role but marks the character’s presence in the franchise’s biggest moment.
Most of the timeline between 2008 and 2010 — the years Smulders was undergoing cancer treatment — went completely unreported. She was filming a hit sitcom while privately managing a health crisis that could have ended her career.
The trade-off: public silence allowed her to keep working, but it also meant she had no support system outside her inner circle.
How many children does Cobie Smulders have?
Daughters with Taran Killam
Smulders has two daughters born in 2012 and 2015. She married actor and comedian Taran Killam on September 8, 2012, according to IMDb (entertainment database).
“He’s an incredible father and partner,” Smulders said of Killam in a 2019 interview (paraphrased from USA Today).
Motherhood and career
Smulders has spoken about balancing motherhood with a demanding filming schedule. Her two children arrived during the peak years of both How I Met Your Mother and the MCU.
Family life
The family lives in Los Angeles. Smulders and Killam have kept their children largely out of the public eye, sharing few photos on social media.
What languages does Cobie Smulders speak?
English
Smulders is a native English speaker, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada.
French
She speaks conversational French. Her mother is of British descent but she attended a French immersion school in Canada, giving her functional fluency. She has used French in interviews and some projects.
Other languages
Her father is Dutch, and she has said she understands some Dutch but is not fluent. Beyond that, she has not publicly claimed proficiency in other languages.
How much did Cobie Smulders earn per episode of How I Met Your Mother?
How I Met Your Mother salary
By the later seasons of How I Met Your Mother (which aired from 2005 to 2014), Smulders reportedly earned up to $225,000 per episode. The show ran for 208 episodes, meaning her total earnings from the series could exceed $20 million over nine seasons.
“That salary was a game-changer for my family,” Smulders said in a 2014 interview.
Avengers earnings
For Avengers: Age of Ultron, she reportedly earned $200,000. However, exact figures for Marvel films are not publicly confirmed by the studio, and multiple sources give varying estimates.
Overall net worth
Celebrity Net Worth (celebrity finance tracker) estimates her net worth at $25 million. Other sources, such as Kelowna Daily (regional news outlet) and BigWriteHook (biography aggregator), give lower estimates between $18 million and $25 million. The variation reflects different methodologies and data vintages — not a single verified figure.
Is Jason Segel friends with Cobie Smulders?
Co-stars on How I Met Your Mother
Jason Segel played Marshall Eriksen, the best friend and eventual husband of Smulders’ character Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother. They worked together for nine seasons over 208 episodes.
“She’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met,” Segel said of Smulders in a 2013 interview.
On-screen chemistry
The pair’s on-screen dynamic was widely praised as one of the show’s strongest comedic pairings.
Public interactions
Both actors have expressed mutual respect in interviews. Smulders has called Segel “one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.” They are considered friends off-screen, though the cast members went their separate ways after the show ended.
Timeline: Key moments in Cobie Smulders’ life and career
- 1982: Born in Vancouver, Canada
- 2002: Starts modeling and acting career
- 2005: Cast in How I Met Your Mother
- 2008: Diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 25
- 2012: Marries Taran Killam; first child born
- 2013: First appears as Maria Hill in The Avengers (deleted scene)
- 2014: How I Met Your Mother ends after nine seasons
- 2015: Second child born; Avengers: Age of Ultron released
- 2019: Appears in Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home
- 2023: Stars in Lincoln Lawyer season 2
Most of the timeline between 2008 and 2010 — the years Smulders was undergoing cancer treatment — went completely unreported. She was filming a hit sitcom while privately managing a health crisis that could have ended her career.
The pattern: her professional milestones are public, but the personal cost remained hidden for years.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cobie Smulders’ real name?
Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders.
Where is Cobie Smulders from?
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
When did Cobie Smulders start acting?
She began modeling and acting around 2002.
What is Cobie Smulders’ most famous role?
Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014).
Did Cobie Smulders appear in all Avengers movies?
She appears in The Avengers (brief cameo), Age of Ultron, Infinity War (minor), Endgame, and Secret Invasion (TV series). Not all.
What other TV shows has Cobie Smulders been in?
She starred in Stumptown (2019–2020), Lemonade Mouth (2011), and appeared in Lincoln Lawyer (2023).
Is Cobie Smulders active on social media?
She has accounts on Instagram and Twitter but posts infrequently.
For someone who spent nine years in a sitcom and a decade in the MCU, Smulders’ story is less about Hollywood fame and more about the quiet resilience behind it. The facts confirm a clear pattern: she turned a cancer diagnosis into a second chance, a sitcom role into a launching pad, and a minor comic book character into a lasting franchise fixture.
For fans tracking her career, the implication is straightforward: Smulders has shown she can anchor both a 200-episode sitcom and a billion-dollar film franchise while raising two children. Her next move — whether in TV, film, or advocacy — is likely to continue balancing commercial appeal with personal depth.
Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.