Ann-Margret is such a kind, elegant, and lovely woman, and I adore her.
Famously dating Elvis Presley and being one of the few Hollywood celebrities who genuinely backed our Vietnam warriors, she won hearts both on and off film with her fiery beauty and unquestionable brilliance.
But even with her illustrious career and widespread acclaim, she feels that her greatest accomplishment is somewhere else.
Maybe it’s my strong Swedish ties, but I have to admit that Ann-Margret is my particular favorite. Her work speaks for itself, and she is just amazing. She never fails to enthrall and inspire with her real charm and charming humor.
And, in contrast to many in Hollywood, her ageless beauty comes naturally and without pretense.
According to The New York Times, the Swedish-American singer and actress only published her first rock album, Born to Be Wild, last year.
It’s an understatement to say that Ann-Margret has seen it all. Born in northern Sweden, the legendary two-time Oscar contender established her name with unforgettable performances in the 1960s blockbusters Viva Las Vegas and Bye Bye Birdie.
In actuality, Elvis Presley was never the love of her life, despite what you may read about her explosive relationship with him here.
Getting to know Roger Smith
Despite dating celebrities like Elvis Presley and Eddie Fisher, Ann-Margret’s true love was Roger Smith.
The remarkably attractive, dark-haired actor had established himself with notable parts in popular films such as Mr. Roberts and 77 Sunset Strip. Being a stereotypical Hollywood hottie, he was accustomed to seducing ladies with ease.
Ann-Margret, however, was not readily convinced.
He recalled that “every other woman I met was falling all over me.” “However, this naive, youthful beauty ignored me the majority of the time and only spoke to me when I spoke to her.”
Naturally, the pair met through their Hollywood careers and first came into contact in the 1960s. They didn’t start dating seriously, though, until 1965.
According to some accounts, Roger first asked the Swedish celebrity to attend one of his shows at a bar in San Francisco. He did, however, have another secret.
He was aware that Ann-Margret had a strong interest in motorcycles. She had multiple bikes at home and a whole wardrobe of motorbike accessories since she liked riding.
A number of males were hovering around when I first started dating her. However, they were not motorcyclists. I reasoned that having one would be beneficial. We went out ridning together after I bought one. It was beneficial,” he told NEA.
Ann-Margret was convinced that Roger Smith was the man she had been looking for at the end of their third date.
“I was confident he would keep me safe. I was confident in his dependability. In 2017, she told People, “I felt it all.”
Sad tears
The couple married in 1967, and Ann-Margret could not have asked for a better marriage. However, few are aware that their union had a rough beginning. The Bye Bye Birdie star began to cry during their wedding ceremony in a “cigarette-smoke-filled room at the Riviera Hotel” in Las Vegas
“I think everyone thought I was pregnant because I was crying through the entire thing,” Ann-Margret told People, adding, “This is not the way I envisioned my wedding.” However, we succeeded.
Fortunately, the awful wedding experience turned out to be irrelevant.
Roger Smith soon assumed the position of manager for his wife. He supported her by sacrificing his own acting career because he admired and believed in her. Roger wanted to be around Ann-Margret because he thought she had more “raw talent” than he did.
In 1972, the actress told Rex Reed, “Now in Roger, I’ve found all the men I need rolled into one — a father, a friend, a lover, a manager, a businessman.”
It’s ideal for me. I would not be able to survive without a powerful man.
Smith was instrumental in helping Ann-Margret rethink her career and move past the “sex kitten” reputation, realizing that she needed to change in order to have a lasting impact in Hollywood. Because of his calculated choices, Ann-Margret was able to take on increasingly challenging roles, which eventually resulted in her breakthrough performance in 1971’s Carnal Knowledge.
Roger Smith discovered that he loved himself lot more once he helped her achieve her goals. More important to him than all his boyhood aspirations of being a well-known actor was his relationship with Ann-Margret.
Smith told New York, “I felt happy for the first time in my life when I met Ann-Margret.” “I couldn’t bear to be without Ann-Margret once I found her, and, surprisingly, neither could she.”
Substance misuse and harm
Both personally and professionally, Ann-Margret and Roger Smith remained quite close during their lengthy marriage. Together, they had many good points, but they also encountered many difficulties. Ann-Margret, for instance, battled substance misuse and a life-altering injury.
The star of Viva Las Vegas The Viva Las Vegas star battled with alcohol and drug addiction in the 1970s, making it hard to distinguish between truth and illusion.
She broke almost every bone in her face in 1972 after a terrible fall from a 22-foot platform while performing in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Ann-Margret barely avoided death when she fell into an orchestra pit in front of a startled audience at the Sahara Hotel.
After undergoing facial reconstruction surgery, she needed to have her mouth wired shut and follow a liquid-only diet to aid in her recuperation. However, Ann-Margret recovered remarkably, as if by some miracle. She triumphantly returned to the stage with her sparkling Harley-Davidson motorcycle, roaring back to the spotlight with her signature flare, just ten days and fifty-nine stitches after the horrible accident.
Roger Smith, her spouse, was also instrumental in her recuperation. He drove her to UCLA Medical Center surgeons in a stolen aircraft from Burbank, California, where he made sure she got emergency care after the accident.
Roger Smith’s condition
When Roger Smith was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an incurable neuromuscular condition, in 1980, Ann-Margret’s marriage to him took a drastic turn. Smith frequently couldn’t even get out of bed in the mornings due to the illness. The illness had an impact on the couple’s personal and professional lives, and it was impossible to travel across the nation. Smith, who was in charge of overseeing Ann-Margret’s career, was forced to take a backseat because of his health.
Smith’s illness was in remission by 1985, which gave Ann-Margret the opportunity to resume her nightclub career. Smith helped bring her back into the public eye and revitalize her well-liked Las Vegas performances. It appeared better for a time.
After Roger Smith’s symptoms subsided, the couple tried one last time to conceive. His three children from a previous marriage were under Ann-Margret’s loving care prior to then.
Unfortunately, Ann-Margret’s biological clock was running faster, and they couldn’t conceive even after speaking with a lot of fertility specialists. The actress has stated that one of the biggest disappointments in her life is that despite their best efforts, they were never able to have children together.
Reason for death
Roger Smith and Ann-Margret were together until his passing in 2017.
The adored manager and actor died of myasthenia gravis-related problems at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, at the age of 84.
He had also battled Parkinson’s illness for several years before to his passing. Because of his illness, Ann-Margret had to take time off work to tend to him. Throughout her partner’s protracted sickness, she shown complete devotion to him.
I was taking care of him, so I kept saying no to everything. If you’re married, the other person takes over if one of you is ill,” she remarked.
Naturally, Ann-Margret was devastated by her husband’s death. Nevertheless, she found something constructive and was able to move on with her life.
“My marriage is what I am most proud of when I look back on my life,” Ann-Margret told Closer Weekly. 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.
That picture from New York
Simply glance at a photograph taken in New York on January 1, 1985, to get a true sense of Ann-Margret and Roger Smith’s love story.
It featured the Hollywood couple at the pinnacle of their careers, exuding style and charm at a high-profile event. However, this picture is more than a glitzy snapshot. Their strong relationship, both personally and professionally, is reflected in Roger’s calm demeanor and Ann-Margret’s steady gaze.
The picture is a true portrayal of Hollywood aristocracy because of the lush green curtains in the backdrop, which give it a royal vibe. The fact that you can see the symptoms of Roger’s illness battle adds to the picture’s impact. Even though his illness hasn’t completely taken control yet, there is a subdued sense of what lies ahead. In spite of everything, the picture is a stunning illustration of their unwavering love.
It’s a moment captured in time that honors their power, grace, and the legacy they created together, not just a recollection.
