I just adore Ann-Margret – she is such a warm, sweet and stylish woman.
Known for her searing beauty and undeniable talent, she has won hearts both on and off screen, famously dating Elvis Presley and being one of the few Hollywood stars to wholeheartedly support our Vietnam troops.
Yet despite her iconic career and universal admiration, she believes her greatest achievement lies elsewhere….
Perhaps it’s my deep connection to Sweden, but I have to say that Ann-Margret is a personal favourite of mine. She is simply incredible and all of her work speaks for itself. With her delightful humour and genuine charm, she continues to fascinate and inspire.
And her ageless beauty is natural and unassuming, unlike many in Hollywood.
As recently as last year, the Swedish-American actress and singer released her debut rock album Born to Be Wild, according to The New York Times.
To say that Ann-Margret has survived everything would be an understatement. The iconic two-time Oscar nominee, who was born in northern Sweden, rose to fame with memorable roles in classic 1960s films like Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas.
You can read about her colourful romance with Elvis Presley here, but the truth is he was never the man of her life.
Meeting Roger Smith
Although she dated stars like Eddie Fisher and Elvis Presley, it was Roger Smith who won Ann-Margret’s heart.
The strikingly handsome dark-haired actor rose to fame thanks to striking roles in films such as ‘77 Sunset Strip’ and ‘Mr Roberts’. As the quintessential Hollywood heartthrob, he is used to conquering women effortlessly.
Swedish actress, singer and dancer Ann Margret, 01.05.1967. (Photo by Avalon/Getty Images)
But Ann-Margret was not an easy woman to conquer.
‘All the other women I met fell all over me,’ he recalled. ‘But this innocent beauty with a fresh face only spoke to me when I spoke to her and ignored me the rest of the time.’
The couple first crossed paths in the 1960s, having naturally met through their Hollywood careers. However, it wasn’t until 1965 that they began seriously dating.
According to some reports, Roger first invited the Swedish star to one of his performances at a San Francisco club. But he had another trick up his sleeve.
He knew that Ann-Margret was an avid motorbike enthusiast. She loved to ride, and she had several motorbikes at home, as well as a whole wardrobe of motorbike gear.
‘When I first started dating her, there were a lot of guys around. But they didn’t ride motorbikes. So I figured if I had one, it would help. So I bought one and we started riding together. It helped,’ he told NEA.
By the third date, Ann-Margret was sure Roger Smith was the man she had always been looking for.
‘I knew he would protect me. I knew I could rely on him. I felt that completely,’ she told People in a 2017 interview.
Tears of sadness
The couple tied the knot in 1967, and their marriage was everything Ann-Margret could have dreamed of. But not many people know that their union started off badly. During the wedding ceremony in Las Vegas, in a ‘cigarette smoke-filled room at the Riviera Hotel,’ the ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ star began to cry.
‘This is not how I imagined my wedding,’ Ann-Margret told People and added: ‘I think everyone thought I was pregnant because I was crying during the whole thing. But we did it.’
Thankfully, the traumatic wedding experience didn’t matter in the end.
Soon Roger Smith took on the role of his wife’s manager. He believed in her, admired her, and sacrificed his own acting career to support her. Roger felt that Ann-Margret had more ‘raw talent’ than he did and wanted to be there for her.
Roger Smith in sunglasses and Ann-Margret in the back seat of a limousine; circa 1970; New York City. (Photo by Art Zelin/Getty Images)
‘Now in Roger I have found all the men I need – father, friend, lover, manager, businessman,’ the actress told Rex Reed in 1972.
‘He’s perfect for me. I can’t exist without a strong man.’
Smith helped Ann-Margret redefine her career and played a key role in steering her away from her ‘sex kitten’ image, realising that she needed to evolve further if she was to stay in Hollywood for the long haul. His strategic decisions allowed Ann-Margret to take on more challenging roles, which eventually led to her breakthrough film Carnal Knowledge in 1971.
By supporting her in what she wanted to do, Roger Smith found that he began to like himself much more. Being with Ann-Margret became more important to him than all his childhood dreams of becoming a famous actor.
‘When I met Ann-Margret, I felt happy for the first time in my life,’ Smith told the New Yorker. ‘Once I found Ann-Margret, I couldn’t live without her anymore, and surprisingly, she couldn’t live without me.’
Substance abuse and trauma
Throughout their long marriage, Ann-Margret and Roger Smith were incredibly close both personally and professionally. They experienced high peaks together, but they also faced serious challenges. For example, Ann-Margret struggled with drug addiction and a trauma that caused her death.
Viva Las Vegas In the 1970s, the star of the film Viva Las Vegas struggled with addiction to pills and alcohol, having difficulty separating fantasy from reality.
In 1972, during a performance in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, she fell from a 22-foot platform, breaking nearly every bone in her face. In front of a shocked audience at the Sahara Hotel, Ann-Margret fell into the orchestra pit, narrowly escaping death.
She underwent facial reconstruction surgery that required her to sew her mouth shut with wire and follow a strict liquid diet to help her recover. But, as if by some miracle, Ann-Margret made a stunning recovery. But just 10 days and 59 stitches after the horrific accident, she made a triumphant return to the stage, riding a gleaming Harley-Davidson motorbike and returning to the spotlight with characteristic zeal.
Her husband, Roger Smith, also played a crucial role in her recovery. When the accident occurred, he flew from Burbank, California in a hijacked plane and rushed her to surgeons at UCLA Medical Centre, ensuring she received immediate care.
Roger Smith’s disease
Ann-Margret and Roger Smith’s marriage took a sharp turn for the worse in 1980 when he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an incurable neuromuscular disease. Because of the disease, Smith was often unable to even get out of bed in the morning. Travelling across the country was out of the question, and the disease affected the couple both personally and professionally. Smith, who had been the organiser of Ann-Margret’s career, was forced to step aside due to his health.
By 1985, Smith’s illness had gone into remission, allowing Ann-Margret to resume her nightclub career. Smith supported her as she returned to the spotlight and helped her revive her popular Las Vegas shows. Things looked rosier for a while.
When Roger Smith’s symptoms subsided, the couple made one last attempt to have children of their own. Before that, Ann-Margret had lovingly accepted the role of stepmother to his three children from a previous marriage.
Unfortunately, Ann-Margret’s biological clock was ticking ever faster, and despite numerous counselling sessions with fertility specialists, they were unable to conceive. They did everything possible, but never had children together – this fact, according to the actress, was one of the biggest disappointments in her life.
Cause of death
Ann-Margret and Roger Smith remained together until his death in 2017.
The beloved actor and manager passed away at the age of 84 at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, from complications related to myasthenia gravis.
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 30: Ann-Margret and Roger Smith attend the world premiere of ‘Going in Style’ at SVA Theatre on March 30, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
He also struggled with Parkinson’s disease for many years before his death. Because of his illness, Ann-Margret had to take time off work to care for him. She showed complete devotion to her partner during his prolonged illness.
I was constantly saying no and no to everything because I was taking care of him. ‘If you’re spouses, if one of you has a broken wing, the other one takes over everything,’ she said.’
Ann-Margret was certainly heartbroken after her husband’s death. However, she managed to find something positive and move on with her life.
‘When I look back on my life, I’m most proud of my marriage,’ Ann-Margret told Closer Weekly. ‘We both wanted it to work out. And it did work out. We were together day and night. We loved each other and always had each other’s backs.’
Photo from New York
To truly appreciate the love story of Ann-Margret and Roger Smith, it is enough to look at a photo taken on 1 January 1985 in New York.
It shows the Hollywood couple, radiating elegance and glamour, captured at a high-profile event where they were both at the height of their careers. But this isn’t just a glamour shot. Roger’s confident gaze and Ann-Margret’s serene presence reflect their deep connection, both personal and professional.
The rich green curtains in the background give the photo a royal look, making it a true portrait of Hollywood royalty. What makes this photo even more powerful is that it shows signs of Roger’s struggle with his illness. Although he has not yet fully mastered his condition, there is a sense of calm awareness of what is to come. Despite this, the shot serves as a beautiful testament to their enduring love.
It’s not just a memory – it’s a moment frozen in time, celebrating their strength, elegance and the legacy they created together.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK STATE – circa 1985: Ann-Margret and Roger Smith circa 1985 in New York City. (Photo: Robin Platzer/Images/Getty Images)
Share this story with someone who appreciates timeless love, and let’s remember how this remarkable couple overcame life’s challenges with grace.
