Ann-Margret’s Devastating Loss: How Her Husband’s Death Shattered Her

I just love Ann-Margret—she’s such a warm, sweet, and classy woman.

Famous for her stunning looks and incredible talent, she won hearts both on and off the screen. She dated Elvis Presley and was one of the few Hollywood stars who really supported the Vietnam troops.

Even with her legendary career and public admiration, she thinks her greatest achievement is something different…

Maybe it’s my deep connection to Sweden, but I have to say Ann-Margret is a personal favorite. She’s amazing, and her work speaks for itself. With her charming humor and genuine personality, she keeps on captivating and inspiring people.

Her timeless beauty is natural and down-to-earth, unlike many in Hollywood.

Just last year, the Swedish-American actress and singer released her debut rock album, *Born to Be Wild*, according to *The New York Times*.

Saying Ann-Margret has done it all is an understatement. The iconic two-time Oscar nominee, born in Sweden, made her mark with memorable roles in 1960s classics like *Bye Bye Birdie* and *Viva Las Vegas*.

You can read about her exciting romance with Elvis Presley elsewhere, but he was never the love of her life.

**Meeting Roger Smith**
Even though she dated stars like Eddie Fisher and Elvis Presley, it was Roger Smith who truly won Ann-Margret’s heart.

The handsome, dark-haired actor was well-known for his roles in hits like *77 Sunset Strip* and *Mister Roberts*. As a typical Hollywood heartthrob, he was used to charming women easily.

But Ann-Margret was different.

“Every other woman I met was falling all over me,” he remembered. “But this innocent, fresh-faced beauty only talked to me when I spoke to her and mostly ignored me.”

The couple first met in the 1960s through their Hollywood careers, but they didn’t start dating seriously until 1965.

Some reports say that Roger invited the Swedish star to one of his shows at a San Francisco club. But he had another idea to win her over.

He knew Ann-Margret loved motorcycles and had a collection of bikes and motorcycle gear.

“When I first started dating her, there were a lot of guys around, but none of them rode motorcycles. So I figured if I had one, it might help. So I bought one, and we went riding together. It worked,” he told NEA.

By their third date, Ann-Margret was sure that Roger Smith was the man she had always wanted.

“I knew he would protect me. I knew I could depend on him. I felt it completely,” she told *People* in 2017.

**Tears of sadness**
The couple got married in 1967, and their marriage was everything Ann-Margret had dreamed of. However, their wedding didn’t start off well. During the 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 the way I envisioned my wedding,” Ann-Margret told *People*. She added, “I think everyone thought I was pregnant because I was crying throughout the whole thing. But we did it.”

Fortunately, the rough start didn’t matter in the end.

Soon after, Roger Smith became his wife’s manager. He believed in her, admired her, and gave up his own acting career to support her. Roger felt that Ann-Margret had more “raw talent” than he did, and he wanted to be close to her.

“Now with Roger, I’ve found everything I need in one person—a father, a friend, a lover, a manager, and a businessman,” the actress told Rex Reed in 1972.

“It’s perfect for me. I couldn’t exist without a strong man.”

Roger Smith played a crucial role in helping Ann-Margret reshape her career. He guided her away from the “sex kitten” image and encouraged her to take on more complex roles. This support led to her standout performance in *Carnal Knowledge* in 1971.

By backing Ann-Margret’s ambitions, Roger found he liked himself much better. Being with her meant more to him than his childhood dream of becoming a famous actor.

“When I met Ann-Margret, I felt happy for the first time in my life,” Smith told *New York*. “Once I found Ann-Margret, I couldn’t stand to be without her, and surprisingly, she couldn’t stand to be without me.”

**Substance abuse & injury**
Throughout their long marriage, Ann-Margret and Roger Smith were very close, both personally and professionally. They enjoyed many highs but also faced significant challenges. For instance, Ann-Margret struggled with substance abuse and a serious injury.

During parts of the 1970s, the *Viva Las Vegas* star battled an addiction to pills and alcohol, finding it hard to separate fantasy from reality.

In 1972, Ann-Margret suffered a severe accident while performing in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. She fell from a 22-foot platform and broke nearly every bone in her face after falling into an orchestra pit in front of a stunned audience at the Sahara Hotel.

She needed facial reconstructive surgery, with her mouth wired shut and a strict liquid diet to help her heal. Miraculously, Ann-Margret made a remarkable recovery. Just 10 days after the accident and with 59 stitches, she made a triumphant return to the stage, riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle and dazzling the crowd with her signature style.

Her husband, Roger Smith, played a crucial role in her recovery. When the accident occurred, he piloted a plane from Burbank, California, to get her to surgeons at UCLA Medical Center quickly, ensuring she received prompt care.

**Roger Smith’s Illness**
Ann-Margret’s marriage took a dramatic turn in 1980 when Roger Smith was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a serious neuromuscular disease with no cure. The illness often left Smith unable to get out of bed and made traveling across the country impossible. It affected their lives both personally and professionally, as Smith had to step back from managing Ann-Margret’s career due to his health.

By 1985, Smith’s condition went into remission, allowing Ann-Margret to revive her nightclub career. Smith supported her return to the spotlight, helping her bring back her popular Las Vegas shows. For a while, things seemed to be improving.

When Roger Smith’s symptoms improved, the couple made one last effort to have children of their own. Before this, Ann-Margret had lovingly taken on the role of stepmother to his three children from a previous marriage.

Unfortunately, time was running out for Ann-Margret, and despite consulting many fertility experts, they were unable to conceive. They did everything they could, but never had children together—a fact Ann-Margret has said is one of her greatest disappointments.

**Cause of Death**
Ann-Margret and Roger Smith stayed together until his death in 2017.

The beloved actor and manager passed away at age 84 at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles, due to complications related to myasthenia gravis.

Before his death, he had also struggled with Parkinson’s disease for many years.

Roger’s condition required Ann-Margret to take a break from her work to care for him. She was fully devoted to her partner throughout his long illness.

“I kept saying no to everything because I was taking care of him,” Ann-Margret said. “If you’re a spouse and one of you has a broken wing, the other takes over.”

After Roger’s passing, Ann-Margret was heartbroken. Despite her grief, she found a way to see the positive side and move forward with her life.

“When I look back at my life, I am most proud of my marriage,” Ann-Margret told *Closer Weekly*. “We both wanted it to work. And it did work. We were together day and night. We loved each other and were always in each other’s corner.”

**That New York Photo**
To truly appreciate the love story of Ann-Margret and Roger Smith, look at a photo taken on January 1, 1985, in New York.

The photo captures the Hollywood couple radiating elegance and charm at a high-profile event, showing them at the peak of their careers. But this image is more than just a glamorous snapshot. Roger’s steady gaze and Ann-Margret’s calm presence reflect their deep bond, both personally and professionally.

The rich green curtains in the background add a royal touch to the photo, making it a true portrait of Hollywood royalty. What makes this picture even more poignant is the subtle hint of Roger’s illness. Though not yet fully overwhelmed by his condition, there is a quiet awareness of the challenges ahead. Despite this, the image stands as a beautiful testament to their enduring love.

It’s more than just a memory—it’s a moment frozen in time that celebrates their strength, elegance, and the legacy they built together.