Ann-Margret

Who Is Ann-Margret?

Ann-Margret, a Swedish-born actress and singer, moved to the United States with her family after World War II. In 1959, she relocated to the West Coast with her singing group, where her career began to take off. Comedian George Burns played a pivotal role in helping her break into the music industry. Soon after, she transitioned into acting, sharing the screen with legendary figures such as Elvis Presley, Jack Nicholson, and John Wayne. Her performance in Carnal Knowledge earned her an Academy Award nomination, further solidifying her status as a Hollywood star.

Early Life of Ann-Margret Olsson

Ann-Margret Olsson was born on April 28, 1941, in Valsjöbyn, Sweden, a small fishing village near the Arctic Circle. Raised in a close-knit family, her parents, Gustav and Anna, decided to move to the United States after World War II. The family settled first in Fox Lake, a suburb of Chicago, and later relocated to Wilmette, Illinois, where they lived in a funeral home where Anna worked.

As a child, Ann-Margret was shy and found it challenging to adapt to the American culture. However, she discovered a passion for singing and dancing, using them as outlets for self-expression. Her early performances included weddings, private gatherings, and church events. By the age of 14, she had participated in numerous school revues and drama productions, and often won local talent competitions.

After completing high school in 1959, Ann-Margret pursued speech studies at Northwestern University. During her first year, she formed a jazz band called The Suttletones with three male classmates. The group gained some recognition, and after her freshman year, she decided to leave school to pursue her passion full-time. Ann-Margret and her band performed in various cabaret clubs across Reno, Las Vegas, and Southern California, marking the beginning of her professional entertainment career.

Breakthrough Opportunity

While performing in the lounge at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, Ann-Margret caught the attention of Hollywood legend George Burns. Impressed by her talent, he invited her to audition, which led to a prestigious 10-night engagement at the Sahara Hotel. At just 18 years old, Ann-Margret received glowing reviews for her performances, opening the door to a flurry of career opportunities. These included a record deal with RCA and a seven-year film contract with 20th Century Fox.

In the early 1960s, Ann-Margret’s rising stardom was featured in Life magazine, which hailed her as Hollywood’s next breakout star. She made her film debut in Pocketful of Miracles (1961) as Bette Davis’ daughter, and released her first album, And Here She Is, Ann-Margret. In 1963, she starred alongside Dick Van Dyke in the film adaptation of the Broadway hit Bye Bye Birdie, further establishing her as both a film and music sensation. That year, she also contributed to the Bye Bye Birdie soundtrack with two albums and five hit singles, and had the honor of performing for President John F. Kennedy at his 46th birthday celebration.

Mainstream Success

In 1964, Ann-Margret gained widespread recognition for her role in Viva Las Vegas, where she played Elvis Presley’s love interest, a connection rumored to extend beyond the screen. She went on to star in several moderately successful films such as Kitten with a Whip and The Pleasure Seekers (both released in 1964). Though commercially successful, many of her early roles emphasized her sex appeal, including her portrayal of Karl Malden’s promiscuous wife who attempts to seduce Steve McQueen in The Cincinnati Kid (1965).

That same year, she began dating Roger Smith, the former star of 77 Sunset Strip, whom she had first met in 1961. They married in May 1967, with Smith also taking on the role of her personal manager. In 1968, Ann-Margret signed a contract with CBS to host a series of television specials featuring prominent guests like Lucille Ball, Danny Thomas, and Jack Benny. During this time, she also continued to perform in Las Vegas, where she earned the nickname “The Queen of Vegas.”

With her husband’s guidance, Ann-Margret sought to move away from her “sex-kitten” persona by pursuing more serious roles. Her efforts paid off when director Mike Nichols cast her as the troubled Bobbie Templeton in 1971’s Carnal Knowledge, opposite Jack Nicholson. Her performance marked a turning point in her career, earning her critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination, solidifying her reputation as a skilled actress.

Accident and Comeback

In November 1972, while performing at a Lake Tahoe casino, Ann-Margret experienced a near-fatal accident. During an elaborate opening sequence, she fell 22 feet from a platform, landing face down. She was rushed for an emergency rescue, slipping into a coma for three days due to severe injuries, including multiple facial fractures. After being transferred to Los Angeles for recovery, tragedy struck again with the loss of her father to cancer. These traumatic events led Ann-Margret to develop a dependency on alcohol, causing her to spiral into depression. However, with the unwavering support of her husband, she embarked on a journey of recovery, both personally and professionally.

Ann-Margret’s resilience paid off when she received positive reviews for her role in the 1973 Western The Train Robbers alongside John Wayne. She continued to shine, earning an Academy Award nomination for her role in Tommy (1975), and delivered a standout performance opposite Anthony Hopkins in Magic (1978). Despite appearing in a few less memorable films towards the end of the decade, such as The Cheap Detective (1978) and The Villain (1979), Ann-Margret remained a prominent figure in Hollywood.

The 1980s marked a new chapter in her career, with a string of Emmy Award nominations for her roles in critically acclaimed TV movies. She shed her glamorous image to deliver a heartfelt performance as a struggling Iowa farm wife in Who Will Love My Children? (1983). The following year, she portrayed Blanche Dubois in the ABC remake of A Streetcar Named Desire (1984), and in 1987, she starred in her first television miniseries, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, further solidifying her enduring talent and resilience.

Later Roles

In the 1990s, Ann-Margret balanced her work between television and film, introducing herself to a new generation with her role in the 1993 comedy hit Grumpy Old Men, followed by the equally successful sequel Grumpier Old Men in 1995. She continued to thrive on television, receiving her fourth Emmy nomination for her role in the 1993 miniseries Queen, where she portrayed a character aging 60 years over the course of the series. In 1998, she earned her fifth Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Pamela Harriman in the Lifetime biopic Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story. The following year, Ann-Margret returned to the big screen with a supporting role as Cameron Diaz’s mother in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday. She also revisited the stage, where she was set to perform as Miss Mona in a national tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which ran in 2001.

Personal Life

Throughout her career, Ann-Margret was romantically linked to several prominent figures, including Eddie Fisher, Hugh O’Brien, Frankie Avalon, Vince Edwards, and Hollywood businessman Burt Sugarman, to whom she was briefly engaged in 1962. She was married to Roger Smith from 1967 until his passing in 2017. The couple raised three children from Smith’s previous marriage.