hat Happened to This ’60s TV Star Who Paused Her Career to Care for Her Husband of 50 Years?
A brilliant 1960s star gave up her career to take care of her sick spouse, making the ultimate sacrifice out of love. What has happened to the redhead beauty who used to reign Hollywood after all these years?
Despite having a reputation for changing her appearance, a certain redhead star enthralled audiences with her talent, charm, and irresistible beauty during the heyday of the 1960s. She became one of the most recognizable faces of the time, from her early years in Sweden to the glitzy Hollywood stages.
But her path wasn’t just about flash and glamour; it was also about love, resiliency, and sacrifice. The actress, who was raised in a small Swedish village, was surrounded by music. “From when I was 4 years old in Sweden, I would get up and harmonize with my mother to Swedish songs,” she recalled.
“My uncle, who played the accordion, and Mormor, my mother’s mother, shared a home with us. It was an impressive group. The actress went on.
“My first musical memory was of the accordion,” she added, attributing her love of melody to these formative years. There were many lovely tunes, and it was during World War II.
Her family moved to Illinois when she was six years old, and it was there that she developed a passion for performing. In her adolescence, she wowed with her dancing and voice before enrolling at Northwestern University.
She had her sights set on celebrity, though, and academia couldn’t hold her back. When George Burns found her and brought her to Hollywood, it was her big break. She was a sensation by the early 1960s, not merely a growing celebrity.
Her debut in the movie “Pocketful of Miracles” further demonstrated her skill, and her single “I Just Don’t Understand” rose to the top of the charts. Her leading parts in “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Viva Las Vegas” opposite Elvis Presley in the next years cemented her as a box office attraction.
Her on-screen connection with Presley was captivating, but so was their off-screen relationship. According to reports, the two dated and became close friends until his passing. “Everyone is aware of my feelings for him and our long-standing relationship. “It was really, really private,” she said.
The actress was promoted as Hollywood’s hottest young star as her celebrity soared, but there was a drawback to her gorgeous appearance. Critics dismissed her as a cartoon persona and typecast her as a risqué figure.
She looked for parts that would help her develop as an artist since she was determined to show off her flexibility. Her career had stagnated by the late 1960s, therefore she looked for a new beginning on European projects. She did, however, triumphantly return to Hollywood by 1970, juggling her roles in Las Vegas, television, and movies.
The star’s life changed dramatically during her Hollywood triumph when she met charming actor and up-and-coming talent Roger Smith. Before entering the entertainment industry, Smith, who was born in California and grew up in Arizona, had demonstrated promise in both academics and athletics.
After a fortuitous meeting with James Cagney, who urged him to try his hand at Hollywood, he decided to pursue acting. With appearances in movies and television shows, such as his hit series “77 Sunset Strip,” Smith rose to fame.
He was married to Australian actress Victoria Shaw prior to meeting the stunning actress, and the two of them had three kids: Dallas, Jordan, and Tracey. His marriage, however, ended in divorce, and he met the redheaded star soon after.
They clicked right away. “I knew I was going to marry him on the third date,” she stated. “I was confident he would keep me safe. “I was aware that I could rely on him,” the actress said.
She quickly assumed her new role as a stepmother to her actor husband’s small children after they were married in 1967. She proudly reminisced, “I met them when they were 3, 6, and 7,” describing how they grew to be a family.
She disclosed that she had been trying to conceive for 13 years without success, but she also had a strong desire to have her own child. The actress experimented with a number of possibilities throughout the years before giving up.
“The point is, if I am meant to have a child, I will have one,” she remarked, looking back on her journey. I will accept whatever my higher power determines is best for me.
However, the couple’s professional relationship grew as their marriage did. In an effort to change her career and assist her in shedding her risqué image, Smith quit acting to become her manager.
They collaborated to demonstrate her acting abilities, choosing parts that highlighted her nuance. “The critics had an image of me, and they wouldn’t accept any other,” she said. She received constant backing from Smith, and their collaboration paid off as she achieved remarkable success in movies like “Carnal Knowledge.”
“They couldn’t stand to be apart from each other, being on film sets on opposite ends of the country,” remarked one of their friends. Smith was able to support her both personally and professionally by managing her career.
“Now in Roger, I’ve found all the men I need rolled into one — a father, a friend, a lover, a manager, a businessman,” she stated in 1972. “It is ideal for me. Without a strong man, I couldn’t survive.”
Unexpected obstacles, however, put their love story to the test. Myasthenia gravis and Parkinson’s disease were Smith’s initial diagnoses. She put his care ahead of her work as his health deteriorated. “I kept saying, ‘No, no, no,’ to everything because I was taking care of him,” she said.
“If you’re a spouse, if one of you has a broken wing, the other takes over,” said the actress. For years, she dedicated herself to his welfare, exhibiting a quiet strength and commitment that served as the foundation for their union.
She did, however, continue to land roles in television dramas such as “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles” and “Who Will Love My Children?” even as her film career languished.
The actress in question is Ann-Margret, who grieved her late husband’s death in 2017 at the age of 84. The Hollywood star celebrates the life they created together in remembrance of his passing.
“A great love tale, in her opinion, never ends in death. A buddy said, “You carry their spirit with you.” The actress, who is currently in her 80s, resides in the 1968 house in Los Angeles that she and Smith bought.
“When I look back on my life, I am most proud of my marriage,” she said, reflecting proudly on their union. Both of us wanted it to succeed. And it was successful. We spent both day and night together. We were always there for one another because we loved one another.”
Ann-Margret has maintained contact with Smith’s children and their family since his death. “Her stepdaughter Tracey and stepsons Jordan and Dallas all adore her,” a source disclosed. She is devoted to all of their children as a grandmother. She regularly Zooms with them, talks to them, and sees them.
Ann-Margret has learned to live life to the fullest despite the fact that she misses him every day. She made a comeback to acting with a part in “The Kominsky Method” after receiving a personal invitation from Alan Arkin, the series’ lead.
“You must return to your work,” he remarked. I told him, ‘You were correct,’ at the very end,” the icon said. She also keeps up with a close-knit circle of acquaintances, many of whom she has collaborated with over the course of her career, and reconnected with old friends.
They have come together to establish a casual walking group. “There may be three of us on Monday. There could be fifteen another day. Every weekend, we take a walk at a different location. “I can’t wait to go,” she said.
The redhead put out an album called “Born to Be Wild,” which included a selection of her favorite 1960s tunes. “It’s been like a hundred years since I released an album! “I thoroughly enjoyed working on the project,” she remarked.
Ann-Margret is still regarded as a symbol of grace and tenacity today. “I’m in the house we purchased in 1968. I’m gazing out over the pool while the sun shines. Actually, I’m really happy,” she said. She carries her greatest love’s spirit with her wherever she goes, even if he is no longer with her.
