I’ve always adored Ann-Margret—there’s something so effortlessly warm, gracious, and genuinely classy about her.
With her fiery beauty and undeniable talent, she lit up the screen and stole hearts everywhere she went. She famously dated Elvis Presley and remains one of the rare Hollywood stars who wholeheartedly supported our troops during the Vietnam War.
But despite the glamour of her career and the endless public admiration, Ann-Margret herself believes her greatest accomplishment lies elsewhere…
Maybe it’s my own deep-rooted connection to Sweden, but Ann-Margret holds a special place in my heart. She’s truly one of a kind—her work speaks volumes, but it’s her delightful humor and radiant authenticity that make her unforgettable.
Her beauty, too, is the kind that doesn’t scream for attention. It’s timeless, unpretentious, and real—so refreshing in a world so often defined by artifice.
Even now, she’s still surprising and inspiring. Just last year, as The New York Times reported, the Swedish-American icon released her debut rock album, Born to Be Wild—a bold and brilliant new chapter in an already extraordinary life.
To say Ann-Margret has lived a full life is putting it mildly. The legendary, two-time Oscar nominee—born in the serene north of Sweden—burst onto the Hollywood scene with unforgettable performances in 1960s classics like Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas.
While her electric romance with Elvis Presley remains the stuff of pop culture legend (you can read more about it [here]), the King was never the true love of her life.
The Moment She Met Roger Smith
Though she shared the spotlight with heartthrobs like Eddie Fisher and Elvis, it was Roger Smith who truly captured Ann-Margret’s heart—and kept it.
With his dark good looks and magnetic presence, Roger had already carved out a reputation as a rising star, thanks to standout roles in 77 Sunset Strip and Mister Roberts. A quintessential Hollywood leading man, he was no stranger to female attention—but with Ann-Margret, it was something deeper, something lasting.
But Ann-Margret wasn’t easily impressed.
“Every other woman I met was falling all over me,” Roger once recalled. “But this innocent, fresh-faced beauty only spoke to me when I spoke to her—and the rest of the time, she completely ignored me.”
Their paths first crossed in the whirlwind of 1960s Hollywood, a place where stars collided as often as cameras flashed. Yet it wasn’t until 1965 that their connection deepened into something real.
According to some reports, Roger’s first move was to invite the rising Swedish star to one of his performances at a San Francisco nightclub. But that wasn’t his only play—Roger had another trick up his sleeve, one that would show he was just as determined as he was smitten.
Roger Smith knew he had competition when it came to winning over Ann-Margret’s heart. Plenty of men were vying for her attention—but he had a plan.
He’d discovered that Ann-Margret had a serious love for motorcycles. She wasn’t just a casual rider—she owned several bikes and had an entire wardrobe dedicated to her passion.
“When I first started going out with her, there were a lot of guys hanging around,” Roger once shared. “But they didn’t ride motorcycles. So I figured if I had one, it would help. So I bought one—and we went out riding together. It helped.”
And it worked. By their third date, Ann-Margret knew, deep down, that he was the one.
“I knew he would protect me. I knew that I could depend on him. I sensed it completely,” she told People in 2017.
A Love That Endured
The couple tied the knot in 1967, sealing a love story that would stand the test of time. But their wedding day was far from picture-perfect. In a smoke-filled room at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Ann-Margret found herself overwhelmed with emotion.
“This is not the way I envisioned my wedding,” she later recalled. “I think everyone thought I was pregnant because I was crying through the whole thing. But we did it.”
Despite the less-than-fairytale setting, the marriage blossomed into everything she had dreamed of—and more.
Roger soon stepped away from the spotlight to become her manager. He believed in her completely, often saying she had more “raw talent” than he did. It wasn’t just love—it was unwavering support. He gave up his own acting career to stand by her side, not out of obligation, but out of admiration.
He didn’t just love Ann-Margret—he championed her.
“In Roger, I’ve found all the men I need rolled into one—a father, a friend, a lover, a manager, a businessman,” Ann-Margret told Rex Reed in 1972. “It’s perfect for me. I couldn’t exist without a strong man.”
Roger Smith wasn’t just her partner in love—he became the architect behind her reinvention.
Recognizing that Ann-Margret needed to move beyond the “sex kitten” label that had defined much of her early career, Roger guided her toward deeper, more dynamic roles. His quiet yet strategic influence helped her shed the glossy image Hollywood had projected onto her, allowing her raw talent to shine.
That shift led to a breakthrough performance in Carnal Knowledge (1971), earning her widespread critical acclaim—and a new kind of respect in the industry.
But Roger’s devotion ran deeper than career advice. By standing beside Ann-Margret and championing her growth, he found a version of himself he liked even more.
“When I met Ann-Margret, I felt happy for the first time in my life,” he told New York magazine. “Once I found Ann-Margret, I couldn’t stand to be without her—and, surprisingly, she couldn’t stand to be without me.”
Through Darkness and Danger
Their love was strong—but not without tests.
Throughout their decades-long marriage, Ann-Margret and Roger remained inseparable, sharing triumphs and trials alike. Among their most difficult chapters were Ann-Margret’s battle with substance abuse and a near-fatal accident that could have ended her career—or her life.
During the 1970s, the Viva Las Vegas star struggled privately with addiction to pills and alcohol, overwhelmed by the demands of fame and the blurred lines between fantasy and reality.
Then, in 1972, tragedy struck.
While performing at Lake Tahoe’s Sahara Hotel, Ann-Margret fell 22 feet from a platform during a stage entrance, plummeting into an orchestra pit in front of a horrified audience. The fall shattered nearly every bone in her face. Miraculously, she survived—but the recovery would be grueling, both physically and emotionally.
And through it all, Roger never left her side.
The injuries from her fall were devastating. Ann-Margret required extensive facial reconstructive surgery, her jaw wired shut, and survived on a strict liquid diet during recovery. But in true Ann-Margret fashion, she refused to be sidelined for long.
Just 10 days—and 59 stitches—after the harrowing accident, she made a stunning return to the stage. Clad in leather and riding her signature Harley-Davidson, she roared back under the spotlight in a blaze of defiance and glamor, proving once again that nothing could keep her down.
By her side, as always, was Roger Smith.
In one of the most dramatic moments of their story, Roger sprang into action the night of the accident. He commandeered a plane—some accounts say he stole it—from Burbank, California, and flew through the night to bring her to top surgeons at UCLA Medical Center. His devotion may very well have saved her life.
Roger’s Battle Begins
But fate would soon deal another blow—this time to Roger.
In 1980, Roger Smith was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare and incurable neuromuscular disorder. The illness slowly robbed him of his strength, often leaving him too weak to get out of bed. Cross-country travel became impossible, and the man who had once been the driving force behind Ann-Margret’s career had no choice but to step back.
The disease tested their bond in new ways—personally and professionally. Yet, just as Roger had stood by her, Ann-Margret now stood by him.
Then, a turning point: in 1985, Roger’s illness went into remission.
With her husband regaining some strength, Ann-Margret reignited her career with a return to nightclub performances. Her beloved Las Vegas shows made a comeback—and Roger, always her greatest champion, was right there helping her every step of the way.
For a time, it felt like they had outrun the storm.
As Roger’s health stabilized, the couple dared to dream of expanding their family. It was a final, hopeful attempt to have children of their own.
Before that, Ann-Margret had wholeheartedly embraced the role of stepmother to Roger’s three children from a previous marriage, pouring love and warmth into their blended family. But the dream of having a child together remained unfulfilled.
Despite seeking help from top fertility specialists and doing everything within their power, time was not on their side. Ann-Margret later admitted that being unable to have children was one of the deepest heartbreaks of her life—a quiet sorrow that lingered beneath her dazzling smile.
Saying Goodbye
Ann-Margret and Roger Smith remained inseparable for over five decades—a rare and extraordinary love story by any standard.
In 2017, that story came to its final chapter.
Roger passed away at the age of 84 at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles, the cause of death linked to complications from myasthenia gravis—the disease he had battled with courage and grace for so many years.
For Ann-Margret, it wasn’t just the loss of a husband—it was the loss of her best friend, her partner in everything, the man who had believed in her even when she couldn’t believe in herself.
In Roger’s final years, his health continued to decline—not only from myasthenia gravis, but also from Parkinson’s disease. The once-vibrant actor and manager grew increasingly frail, and Ann-Margret, true to her vows and her heart, stepped away from the spotlight to care for him full-time.
“I kept saying 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.”
Her devotion was unwavering. Through every setback and symptom, Ann-Margret was there—his caregiver, his constant, his anchor.
When Roger passed in 2017, the loss was devastating. The man who had been her partner in life, love, and career for more than 50 years was gone. And yet, Ann-Margret found a way to carry on—grieving, but not defeated.
“When I look back at my life, I am most proud of my marriage,” she told Closer Weekly. “We both wanted it to work. And it did work. We were together night and day. We loved each other, and we were always in each other’s corner.”
A Love Captured in a Single Frame
If you want to understand the depth of their love, look no further than a photo taken on January 1, 1985, in New York.
In the image, the couple radiates effortless glamour and poise at a high-profile event. Roger stands beside Ann-Margret with a calm, steady gaze, while she beams with that unmistakable blend of grace and inner light. It’s a portrait of two people not just in love, but in sync—personally and professionally.
Behind them, lush green curtains give the photo an almost regal feel, underscoring their status as Hollywood royalty. But the image holds something more: a quiet, poignant power. If you look closely, you can see the early signs of Roger’s illness beginning to emerge. There’s a subtle fragility behind his composed expression—an awareness, perhaps, of what lay ahead.
Still, the photograph isn’t defined by sadness. It’s a moment suspended in time, capturing everything that mattered most: loyalty, resilience, partnership, and a love story that stood the test of time.
More than a memory, it’s a tribute—a visual echo of two lives deeply intertwined, and a legacy built not just on fame, but on fierce devotion.
Share this story with someone who believes in lasting love—
and let it serve as a reminder of how Ann-Margret and Roger Smith faced life’s greatest challenges not with bitterness, but with devotion, grace, and unwavering loyalty.
Theirs wasn’t just a Hollywood romance. It was a partnership built on respect, resilience, and a deep, abiding love that never faded. In a world that often moves too fast, their story stands as a beautiful testament to what it means to truly stand by one another.
A timeless love. A lasting legacy.
