A dazzling star of the 1960s made the ultimate sacrifice for love, stepping back from her career to care for her ailing husband. Now, years later, what became of the redheaded beauty who once ruled Hollywood?
Her journey, however, was more than just a tale of glitz and glamour — it was also a story of sacrifice, love, and resilience. Born in a small Swedish village, the actress grew up 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 remembered.
The Swedish actress circa 1963. | Source: Getty Images
“We lived in the same house with Mormor, my mother’s mother, and my uncle, who played the accordion. It was quite a group!” the actress continued.
She also credited these early years for her love of melody, saying, “My first musical memory was of the accordion. It was during World War II, and there were a lot of beautiful songs.”
The TV star photographed in 1963. | Source: Getty Images
But academia couldn’t hold her — her sights were set on stardom. Her big break came when George Burns discovered her and introduced her to Hollywood. By the early 1960s, she was not just a rising star but a sensation.
The Swedish actress and Elvis Presley filming “Viva Las Vegas” in 1964. | Source: Getty Images
While her chemistry with Presley lit up the screen, it was their off-screen bond that also captured attention. The two reportedly dated and remained close friends until his death. “Everyone knows how I felt about him and the friendship that we had all these years. It was very, very private,” she revealed.
The TV star and Elvis Presley on the set of “Viva Las Vegas” in 1964. | Source: Getty Images
The Swedish actress circa 1965. | Source: Getty Images
Determined to prove her versatility, she sought roles that would allow her to grow as an artist. By the late 1960s, her career had slowed, and she turned to European projects for a fresh start. However, by 1970, she made a triumphant return to Hollywood, balancing film, television, and Las Vegas performances.
The TV star and Roger Smith at the Academy Awards ceremony on April 13, 1965, in Santa Monica, California. | Source: Getty Images
He pursued acting after a chance encounter with James Cagney, who encouraged him to try his luck in Hollywood. With roles in television and films, including his popular series “77 Sunset Strip,” Smith became a household name.
Roger Smith and his wife photographed at a champagne dinner in 1966. | Source: Getty Images
The actress and Roger Smith circa 1966. | Source: Getty Images
Their connection was instant. “I knew I was going to marry him on the third date,” she said. “I knew he would protect me. I knew that I could depend on him,” the actress revealed.
It wasn’t long before they tied the knot in 1967, with her stepping into her new role as a stepmother to her actor husband’s young children. “I met them when they were 3, 6, and 7,” she fondly recalled, speaking of how they became a family.
The Swedish-born actress and Roger Smith cutting their wedding cake after their wedding ceremony at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, on May 8, 1967. | Source: Getty Images
Reflecting on her journey, she said, “The point is, if I am meant to have a child, I will have one. Whatever my higher power feels is right for me, I will accept.”
The “Bye Bye Birdie” star and Roger Smith photographed at John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 11, 1969, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Nonetheless, as the couple’s marriage blossomed, so did their professional partnership. Smith left acting and became her manager, determined to reshape her career and help her shed her risqué image.
The actress and Roger Smith at a party in 1969. | Source: Getty Images
The TV star and Roger Smith at the 25th Primetime Emmy Awards on May 20, 1973, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
“They couldn’t stand to be apart from each other, being on film sets on opposite ends of the country,” a friend once said. Managing her career allowed Smith to remain by her side, both personally and professionally.
“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 said in 1972. “It’s perfect for me. I couldn’t exist without a strong man.”
The famous actress and Roger Smith at the premiere of “Joseph Andrews” on March 9, 1977, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Their love story, however, was tested by unforeseen challenges. Smith was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and later Parkinson’s disease. As his health worsened, she began to prioritize his care over her career. “I kept saying, ‘No, no, no,’ to everything because I was taking care of him,” she explained.
The Swedish actress and Roger Smith photographed at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 6, 1981, in California. | Source: Getty Images
However, while her film career slowed, she continued to land roles in various television dramas, including “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles” and “Who Will Love My Children?”
The TV star and Roger Smith during the Professional Dance Society’s Gypsy Awards Luncheon in Beverly Hills, California, in 1991. | Source: Getty Images
This actress is none other than Ann-Margret, who deeply mourned her late husband after he passed away in 2017 at the age of 84. In light of his death, the Hollywood star chose to honor his memory by cherishing the life they built together.
Ann-Margret and Roger Smith at the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on August 29, 2010, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Ann-Margret onstage at the screening of “Bye Bye Birdie” during the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 15 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
She reflected on their union with pride, saying, “When I look back at my life, I am most proud of my marriage. We both wanted it to work. And it did work. We were together night and day. We loved each other and were always in each other’s corner.”
Ann-Margret at the Women’s Image Network Awards on February 21, 2024, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Ann-Margret after being honored with the Living Legend Tribute at the Women’s Image Network Awards on February 21, 2024, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Although she misses him every single day, Ann-Margret has found ways to embrace life again. She returned to acting with a role in “The Kominsky Method” following a personal invite from the star of the series actor Alan Arkin.
Alan Arkin and Ann-Margret at the Gala Screening of “The Kominsky Method” on November 10, 2018, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Together, they’ve formed an informal walking group. “On Monday, there might be three of us. Another day, there might be 15. We go to a different place every weekend to walk. I’m excited to go,” she shared.
The blonde released an album, “Born to Be Wild,” as well, a collection of her favorite songs from the 1960s. “I had a ball doing it!” she said of the project.
