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Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress and singer, she is credited as Ann-Margret. She is known for her roles in ''
Pocketful of Miracles ''Pocketful of Miracles'' is a 1961 American comedy film starring Glenn Ford and Bette Davis, produced and directed by Frank Capra, filmed in Panavision. The screenplay by Hal Kanter and Harry Tugend was based on Robert Riskin's screenplay for t ...
'' (1961), '' State Fair'' (1962), '' Bye Bye Birdie'' (1963), '' Viva Las Vegas'' (1964), '' The Cincinnati Kid'' (1965), '' Carnal Knowledge'' (1971), '' The Train Robbers'' (1973), ''
Tommy Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...
'' (1975), ''
Magic Magic or Magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces * Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic * Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
'' (1978), '' The Villain'' (1979), ''
The Return of the Soldier ''The Return of the Soldier'' is the debut novel of English novelist Rebecca West, first published in 1918. The novel recounts the return of the shell shocked Captain Chris Baldry from the trenches of the First World War from the perspective ...
'' (1982), ''
52 Pick-Up ''52 Pick-Up'' is a 1986 American neo-noir crime film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, and Vanity. It is based on Elmore Leonard's 1974 novel of the same name, and is the second adaptation of it after '' The ...
'' (1986), ''
Newsies ''Newsies'' (released as ''The News Boys'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1992 American musical historical comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by choreographer Kenny Ortega in his film directing debut. Loosely based on ...
'' (1992), '' Grumpy Old Men'' (1993), '' Grumpier Old Men'' (1995), ''
Any Given Sunday ''Any Given Sunday'' is a 1999 American sports drama film directed by Oliver Stone depicting a fictional professional American football team. The film features an ensemble cast, including Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James ...
'' (1999), '' Taxi'' (2004), '' The Break-Up'' (2006) and '' Going in Style'' (2017). She has won five
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
s and been nominated for two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a
Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...
, and six
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
s. In 2010, she won an Emmy for her guest appearance on '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''. Her singing and acting careers span six decades, starting in 1961. Initially, she was billed as a female version of Elvis Presley. She has a sultry, vibrant contralto voice. She had a Top 20 hit song in 1961 and a charting album in 1964, and she scored a disco hit in 1979. She recorded a critically acclaimed gospel album in 2001 and an album of Christmas songs in 2004.


Early life

Ann-Margret Olsson was born in Valsjöbyn, Jämtland County, Sweden, the daughter of Anna Regina (née Aronsson) and Carl Gustav Olsson, a native of Örnsköldsvik. She described Valsjöbyn as a small town of "lumberjacks and farmers high up near the Arctic Circle". Her father had emigrated to the USA but returned to Sweden in 1937 and married Anna Aronsson. After Ann-Margret's birth, Gustav wanted to emigrate again with the family. His wife hesitated and Gustav emigrated alone but was joined by his wife and daughter in 1946. Ann-Margret took her first dance lessons at the Marjorie Young School of Dance, showing natural ability from the start, easily mimicking all the steps. Her parents were supportive, and her mother made all of her costumes by hand. To support the family, Ann-Margret's mother became a funeral parlor receptionist after her husband suffered a severe injury on his job. While a teenager, Ann-Margret appeared on the Morris B. Sachs ''Amateur Hour'', Don McNeill's ''Breakfast Club'', and Ted Mack's ''
Amateur Hour An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club, strip club, or pub, usually taking place at night, in which audience members may perform on stage whether t ...
''. She attended
New Trier High School New Trier High School (, also known as New Trier Township High School or NTHS) is a public four-year high school, with its main campus for sophomores through seniors located in Winnetka, Illinois, United States, and a campus in Northfield, Illinoi ...
in Winnetka, Illinois, and continued to star in theater. In 1959, she enrolled at Northwestern University in nearby Evanston, Illinois, and she was a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. She did not graduate. She was part of a group known as the Suttletones, which went to
the Dunes ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
in Las Vegas, which also headlined Tony Bennett and
Al Hirt Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java" and the accompanying album '' Honey in the Horn'' (1963), and for the them ...
at that time. George Burns heard of her performance, and she auditioned for his annual holiday show, in which she and Burns performed a
softshoe Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm (jazz) tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses on dance; it is widely perfo ...
routine. ''Variety'' proclaimed that "George Burns has a gold mine in Ann-Margret ... she has a definite style of her own, which can easily guide her to star status".


Career


Music

Ann-Margret began recording for
RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...
in 1961. Her first RCA Victor recording was "Lost Love". Her debut album, ''And Here She Is: Ann-Margret'', was recorded in Hollywood, arranged and conducted by Marty Paich. Later albums were produced in Nashville with Chet Atkins on guitar, the Jordanaires (Elvis Presley's backup singers), and the
Anita Kerr Singers Anita Jean Kerr (née Grilli, October 13, 1927 – October 10, 2022) was an American singer, arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, and music producer. She recorded and performed with her vocal harmony groups in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Eur ...
, with liner notes by mentor George Burns. She had a sexy, throaty contralto singing voice, and RCA Victor attempted to capitalize on the 'female Elvis' comparison by having her record a version of " Heartbreak Hotel" and other songs stylistically similar to Presley's. She scored the minor success "
I Just Don't Understand "I Just Don't Understand" is a song written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kent Westberry, released by Swedish-born singer and American citizen Ann-Margret. It charted at No. 17 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in 1961. It was one of the first reco ...
" (from her second LP), which entered the Billboard Top 40 in the third week of August 1961 and stayed six weeks, peaking at number 17. The song was later performed by The Beatles and was recorded during a live performance at the BBC (recorded on July 16, 1963, and broadcast on August 20, 1963). Her only charting album was ''
Beauty and the Beard ''Beauty and the Beard'' is an album by Al Hirt and Ann-Margret released by RCA Victor in 1964. The album was arranged by Marty Paich and produced by Steve Sholes. The album reached No. 84 on the ''Billboard'' Top LPs chart in 1964 and #47 on ...
'' (1964), on which she was accompanied by trumpeter
Al Hirt Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java" and the accompanying album '' Honey in the Horn'' (1963), and for the them ...
. Ann-Margret appeared on '' The Jack Benny Program'' in 1961 (season 11, episode 24). She also sang at the Academy Awards presentation in 1962, singing the Oscar-nominated song "Theme from Bachelor in Paradise." Her contract with RCA Victor ended in 1966. In 1962, Ann-Margret was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she had hits on the dance charts, the most successful being 1979's "Love Rush," which peaked at number eight on the disco/dance charts. In 2001, working with
Art Greenhaw Art Greenhaw (born July 14, 1954) is an American musician, record producer and audio engineer who was awarded the Grammy Award in 2003 for the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album for ''We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Bl ...
, she recorded the album ''God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions''. The album went on to earn a Grammy nomination (forty years since her first) and also a
Dove Award A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Awards ...
nomination for best album of the year in a gospel category. Her album ''Ann-Margret's Christmas Carol Collection'', also produced and arranged by Greenhaw, was recorded in 2004.


Acting


1960s

In 1961, she filmed a screen test at
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
and was signed to a seven-year contract. Ann-Margret made her film debut in a loan-out to United Artists in ''
Pocketful of Miracles ''Pocketful of Miracles'' is a 1961 American comedy film starring Glenn Ford and Bette Davis, produced and directed by Frank Capra, filmed in Panavision. The screenplay by Hal Kanter and Harry Tugend was based on Robert Riskin's screenplay for t ...
'' with Bette Davis. It was a remake of the 1933 movie '' Lady for a Day''. Both versions were directed by
Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s ...
. Then came a 1962 remake of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical '' State Fair'', in which she played the "bad girl" role of Emily opposite Bobby Darin and Pat Boone. She had previously tested for the part of Margie, the "good girl", but she seemed to be too seductive for that role according to the studio bosses, who then decided to make the switch. The two roles represented two sides of her real-life personality – shy and reserved offstage, but wildly exuberant and sensuous onstage. In her autobiography, the actress wrote that she changed "from Little Miss Lollipop to Sexpot-Banshee" once the music began. Her next starring role, as the all-American teenager Kim from Sweet Apple, Ohio, in '' Bye Bye Birdie'' (1963), made her a major star. The premiere at Radio City Music Hall, 16 years after her first visit to the famed theater, was the highest first-week grossing film to date at the Music Hall. '' Life'' put her on the cover for the second time and announced that the "torrid dancing almost replaces the central heating in the theater." She was then asked to sing "
Baby Won't You Please Come Home "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" is a blues song written by Charles Warfield and Clarence Williams in 1919. The song's authorship is disputed; Warfield claims that he was the sole composer of the song. The song has been covered by many musicia ...
" at President John F. Kennedy's private birthday party at the Waldorf-Astoria, one year after Marilyn Monroe's famous "
Happy Birthday Happy Birthday may refer to: * "Happy Birthday", an expression of good will offered on a person's birthday Film, theatre and television * ''Happy Birthday'' (1998 film), a Russian drama by Larisa Sadilova * ''Happy Birthday'', a 2001 film featu ...
". Ann-Margret met Elvis Presley on the MGM soundstage when the two filmed '' Viva Las Vegas'' (1964). She recorded three duets with Presley for the film: "The Lady Loves Me", "You're The Boss", and "Today, Tomorrow, and Forever"; only "The Lady Loves Me" made it into the final film and none of them were commercially released until years after Presley's death, due to concerns by Colonel Tom Parker that Ann-Margret's presence threatened to overshadow Elvis. Ann-Margret introduced Presley to David Winters, whom she recommended as a choreographer for their film. ''Viva Las Vegas'' was Winters' first feature film choreography job and was his first of four movies with Presley, and his first of five films, including ''
Kitten with a Whip ''Kitten with a Whip'' is a 1964 American crime drama film directed by Douglas Heyes, who co-wrote the screenplay with Whit Masterson, a pseudonym for writers Robert Allison “Bob” Wade and H. Bill Miller, who also wrote the novel on which the ...
'' (1964), ''
Bus Riley's Back in Town ''Bus Riley's Back in Town'' is a 1965 American drama film written by William Inge, directed by Harvey Hart, and starring Ann-Margret and Michael Parks. Inge was very unhappy with changes made to his script and had his name removed from the cre ...
'' (1965), ''
Made in Paris ''Made in Paris'' is a 1966 American romantic comedy film starring Louis Jourdan, Ann-Margret, Richard Crenna, Edie Adams, and Chad Everett. The film was written by Stanley Roberts and directed by Boris Sagal. Plot A redheaded American girl fr ...
'' (1966), and '' The Swinger'' (1966), and two TV specials with Ann-Margret. Winters was nominated for the 1970
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography for his CBS Television Special: ''Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love'' (1969). In 1963, Ann-Margret guest-starred in a popular episode of the
animated TV series An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either ...
'' The Flintstones'', voicing Ann-Margrock, an animated version of herself. She sang the ballad "The Littlest Lamb" as a lullaby and the (literally) rocking song, "Ain't Gonna Be a Fool". Decades later, she recorded the theme song, a modified version of the ''Viva Las Vegas'' theme, to the live-action film '' The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas''. While she was working on the film '' Once a Thief'' (1965), she met her future husband Roger Smith, who after his successful run on the private-eye television series '' 77 Sunset Strip'', was performing a live club show at the
Hungry i The hungry i was a nightclub in San Francisco, California, originally located in the North Beach neighborhood. It played a major role in the history of stand-up comedy in the United States. It was launched by Eric "Big Daddy" Nord, who sold i ...
on a bill with Bill Cosby and Don Adams. That meeting began their courtship, which was met with resistance from her parents. Ann-Margret starred in '' The Cincinnati Kid'' in 1965 opposite
Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...
. She also co-starred along with her friend
Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...
in the spy spoof ''
Murderers' Row Murderers' Row were the baseball teams of the New York Yankees in the late 1920s, widely considered some of the best teams in history. The nickname is in particular describing the first six hitters in the 1927 team lineup: Earle Combs, Mark Ko ...
'' (1966). Finally, she starred as the lead character in '' The Swinger'' in 1966 with
Tony Franciosa Anthony George Franciosa (né Papaleo; October 25, 1928 – January 19, 2006) was an American actor most often billed as Tony Franciosa at the height of his career. He began his career on stage and made a breakthrough portraying the brother of t ...
. Her red hair color (she is a "natural brunette") was the idea of
Sydney Guilaroff Sydney Guilaroff (November 2, 1907 – May 28, 1997) was a hair stylist during Hollywood's Golden Age, and the first to receive on-screen credit in films. He worked for more than 40 years at Metro Goldwyn Mayer studios, on more than 1,000 fil ...
, a hairdresser who changed the hair color of other famous actresses such as Lucille Ball. She was offered the title role in '' Cat Ballou'' (1965), but her manager turned it down without telling her. In March 1966, Ann-Margret and entertainers
Chuck Day Charles Wayne "Chuck" Day (August 5, 1942 – March 10, 2008), also known as Bing Day, was an American guitarist and baritone bluesman from the South Side of Chicago. Biography His musical talents began to develop at age 3, and at age 15, ...
and Mickey Jones teamed up for a
USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...
tour to entertain U.S. servicemen in remote parts of Viet Nam and other parts of South-East Asia. Ann-Margret, Day, and Jones reunited in November 2005 for an encore of this tour for veterans and troops at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. During a lull in her film career in July 1967, Ann-Margret gave her first live performance in Las Vegas, with her husband Roger Smith (whom she had married in 1967) taking over as her manager after that engagement. Elvis Presley and his entourage came to see her during the show's five-week run and celebrate backstage. According to Ann-Margret's autobiography, Presley sent her a guitar-shaped floral arrangement for each of her Vegas openings. After the first Vegas run ended, she followed with a CBS television special ''The Ann-Margret Show'', produced and directed by David Winters on December 1, 1968, with guest-stars Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Danny Thomas, and Carol Burnett. Then, she returned to
Saigon , population_density_km2 = 4,292 , population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2 , population_demonym = Saigonese , blank_name = GRP (Nominal) , blank_info = 2019 , blank1_name = – Total , blank1_ ...
as part of Hope's Christmas show. A second CBS television special followed, ''Ann-Margret: From Hollywood With Love'', directed and choreographed by David Winters and produced and distributed by Winters' company Winters-Rosen, with guest-stars
Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...
and Lucille Ball. David Winters and the show were nominated for a Primetime Emmy in Outstanding Choreography.


1970s

In 1970, she returned to films with ''
R. P. M. ''R. P. M.'' is a 1970 American drama film directed by Stanley Kramer, starring Anthony Quinn and Ann-Margret. As the film's poster notes, the title is an initialism for "revolutions per minute", which at the time was a common term for the varia ...
'', where she starred alongside Anthony Quinn, and ''
C.C. and Company ''C.C. and Company'' is a 1970 American biker film directed by Seymour Robbie. It starred Joe Namath as biker C.C. Ryder, Ann-Margret as fashion journalist Ann, and William Smith as Moon, the leader of the fictitious outlaw biker club the "Hea ...
'' with
Joe Namath Joseph William Namath (; ; born May 31, 1943) is a former American football quarterback who played in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the New York Jets. He played college foot ...
as a biker and she portraying a fashion journalist. In 1971, she starred in '' Carnal Knowledge'' by director Mike Nichols, playing the girlfriend of a neglectful, arguably abusive character played by Jack Nicholson. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. On the set of '' The Train Robbers'' in Durango, Mexico, in June 1972, she told Nancy Anderson of
Copley News Service Copley Press was a privately held newspaper business, founded in Illinois, but later based in La Jolla, California. Its flagship paper was ''The San Diego Union-Tribune''. History Founder Ira Clifton Copley launched Copley Press c. 1905, eventu ...
that she had been on the "
grapefruit diet The Grapefruit diet (also known as the Hollywood diet and the 18-Day diet) is a short-term fad diet that has existed in the United States since at least the 1930s. There are variations on the diet, although it generally consists of eating one g ...
" and had lost almost 20 pounds (134 to 115) eating unsweetened citrus. On Sunday, September 10, 1972, while performing at
Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe (; was, Dáʔaw, meaning "the lake") is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lying at , it straddles the state line between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevad ...
, she fell from an elevated platform to the stage and suffered injuries including a broken left arm, cheekbone, and jawbone. She required meticulous facial reconstructive surgery that required wiring her mouth shut and putting her on a liquid diet. Unable to work for ten weeks, she returned to the stage almost back to normal. For her contributions to the film industry, Ann-Margret received a motion pictures star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...
in 1973. Her star is located at 6501 Hollywood Boulevard. Throughout the 1970s, Ann-Margret balanced her live musical performances with a string of dramatic film roles that played against her glamorous image. In 1973, she starred with
John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...
in '' The Train Robbers''. Then came the musical ''
Tommy Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...
'' in 1975, for which she was again nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. In addition, she has been nominated for 10
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
s, winning five, including her Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for ''Tommy.'' On August 17, 1977, Ann-Margret and Roger Smith traveled to Memphis to attend Elvis Presley's funeral. Three months later, she hosted ''Memories of Elvis'' featuring abridged versions of the ''Elvis'' 1968 TV and ''Aloha from Hawaii'' specials. Other notable films she co-starred in during the late 1970s include '' Joseph Andrews'' (1977), ''
The Last Remake of Beau Geste ''The Last Remake of Beau Geste'' is a 1977 American historical comedy film. It stars and was also directed and co-written by Marty Feldman. It is a satire loosely based on the 1924 novel ''Beau Geste'', a frequently-filmed story of brothers a ...
'' (1977), the horror/suspense thriller ''
Magic Magic or Magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces * Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic * Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
'' (1978) with Anthony Hopkins, and she had a cameo role in ''
The Cheap Detective ''The Cheap Detective'' is a 1978 American mystery comedy film written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore. It stars Peter Falk as Lou Peckinpaugh, a parody of Humphrey Bogart. The film is a parody of Bogart films such as ''Casablanca'' ...
'' (1978). Ann-Margret was an early choice of Allan Carr's to play the role of Sandy Dumbrowski in the 1978 film '' Grease''. At 37 years old, she was ultimately determined to be too old to convincingly play the role of a high school student. Olivia Newton-John got the role instead, and the character was renamed "Sandy Olsson" (after Ann-Margret's birth surname) in her honour.


1980s

Ann-Margret starred opposite
Bruce Dern Bruce MacLeish Dern (born June 4, 1936) is an American actor. He has often played supporting villainous characters of unstable natures. He has received several accolades, including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and the Silver B ...
in '' Middle Age Crazy'' (1980). In 1982, she co-starred with
Walter Matthau Walter Matthau (; born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director. He is best known for his film roles in '' A Face in the Crowd'' (1957), ''King Creole'' (1958) and as a coach of a ...
and Dinah Manoff in the
film version A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dia ...
of Neil Simon's play '' I Ought to Be in Pictures''. That same year also saw the release of ''
Lookin' to Get Out ''Lookin’ to Get Out'' is a 1982 American comedy film, directed by Hal Ashby and written by Al Schwartz and Jon Voight, who also stars. The film also stars Ann-Margret and Burt Young. Voight's daughter, Angelina Jolie, then seven years old, m ...
'', filmed two years prior in 1980, in which she co-starred with Jon Voight and played the mother of a five-year-old Angelina Jolie in Jolie's screen debut. To round out 1982, she appeared alongside
Alan Bates Sir Alan Arthur Bates (17 February 1934 – 27 December 2003) was an English actor who came to prominence in the 1960s, when he appeared in films ranging from the popular children's story '' Whistle Down the Wind'' to the " kitchen sink" dram ...
, Glenda Jackson, and Julie Christie in the film adaptation of ''
The Return of the Soldier ''The Return of the Soldier'' is the debut novel of English novelist Rebecca West, first published in 1918. The novel recounts the return of the shell shocked Captain Chris Baldry from the trenches of the First World War from the perspective ...
''. She also starred in the TV movies '' Who Will Love My Children?'' (1983) and a remake of '' A Streetcar Named Desire'' (1984), winning Golden Globe Awards for both performances. After
Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...
won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie in 1983 for her role in ''
The Thorn Birds ''The Thorn Birds'' is a 1977 novel by Australian author Colleen McCullough. Set primarily on Drogheda – a fictional sheep station in the Australian Outback named after Drogheda, Ireland, the story focuses on the Cleary family and spans 1 ...
'', she mentioned Ann-Margret's performance in '' Who Will Love My Children?'', stating at the podium "I would like to pay a personal tribute at this time to a lady who is a wonderful entertainer... I think she gave one of the finest, most beautiful performances I have ever seen...Ann-Margret, you were superb." In '' Twice in a Lifetime'' she portrayed the woman for whom
Gene Hackman Eugene Allen Hackman (born January 30, 1930) is an American retired actor and former novelist. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, Hackman has won two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, one Screen Actors Guild Award, two BAFTAs ...
's character left his wife. The next year she appeared as the wife of Roy Scheider's character in the crime thriller ''
52 Pick-Up ''52 Pick-Up'' is a 1986 American neo-noir crime film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, and Vanity. It is based on Elmore Leonard's 1974 novel of the same name, and is the second adaptation of it after '' The ...
''. In 1987 she co-starred with Elizabeth Ashley (and also with Claudette Colbert, in the last on-screen role of the film legend's career) in the NBC two-part series "
The Two Mrs. Grenvilles ''The Two Mrs. Grenvilles'' is a 1987 television miniseries based on Dominick Dunne's 1985 novel of the same name and dramatizing the sensational killing of William Woodward, Jr. by his wife, Ann Woodward in 1955. Directed by John Erman, the min ...
". It earned Ann-Margret another
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
nomination, this time for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini Series or a Special. In 1989, an illustration of
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954), or simply Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', br ...
appeared on the cover of '' TV Guide'', and although the head was Oprah's, the body was from a 1979 publicity shot of Ann-Margret. The illustration was rendered so tightly in color pencil by freelance artist Chris Notarile that most people thought it was a composite photograph.


1990s and 2000s

In 1991, she starred in the TV film ''
Our Sons ''Our Sons'' is a 1991 American made-for-television drama film starring Julie Andrews and Ann-Margret as two mothers of gay sons, one of whom is dying of AIDS. It was inspired by Micki Dickoff's 1987 documentary, ''Too Little, Too Late'', about ...
'' opposite
Julie Andrews Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...
as mothers of sons who are lovers, one of whom is dying of AIDS. In 1992, she co-starred with Robert Duvall and
Christian Bale Christian Charles Philip Bale (born 30 January 1974) is an English actor. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. He has received various accolades, including ...
in the Disney musical ''
Newsies ''Newsies'' (released as ''The News Boys'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1992 American musical historical comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by choreographer Kenny Ortega in his film directing debut. Loosely based on ...
''. In 1993, Ann-Margret starred in the hit comedy '' Grumpy Old Men'' reuniting with Matthau and
Jack Lemmon John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered equally proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, Lemmon was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in dramedy pictures, leadin ...
. Her character returned for '' Grumpier Old Men'' (1995), the equally successful sequel which this time co-starred
Sophia Loren Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress. She was named by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood ci ...
. Ann-Margret published an autobiography in 1994 titled ''Ann-Margret: My Story'', in which she publicly acknowledged her battle with and ongoing recovery from alcoholism. She played Belle Watling in '' Scarlett'' (1994), a television miniseries loosely based on the 1991 book of the same name written by Alexandra Ripley as a sequel to Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel '' Gone with the Wind''. In 1995, she was chosen by '' Empire'' as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history; she ranked 10th. She also filmed ''
Any Given Sunday ''Any Given Sunday'' is a 1999 American sports drama film directed by Oliver Stone depicting a fictional professional American football team. The film features an ensemble cast, including Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James ...
'' (1999) for director
Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as writer of '' Midnight Express'' (1978), and wrote the gangster film remake '' Sc ...
, portraying the mother of football team owner Cameron Diaz. She filmed a cameo appearance for '' The Limey'' with Tommy Peacock, but her performance was cut from the movie. Ann-Margret also starred in several television films, including '' Queen: The Story of an American Family'' (1993), ''
Following Her Heart ''Following Her Heart'' is a 1994 American made-for-television comedy-drama film directed by actress and filmmaker Lee Grant and written by Merry Helm. The film starred Ann-Margret and George Segal, among others and was first broadcast on NBC on ...
'' (1994), and ''Life of the Party'' (1999), the latter of which she received nominations for an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a
Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...
. She made guest appearances on the television shows '' Touched by an Angel'' in 2000 and three episodes of '' Third Watch'' in 2003. In 2001, she made her first appearance in a stage musical, playing the character of
brothel A brothel, bordello, ranch, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in sexual activity with prostitutes. However, for legal or cultural reasons, establishments often describe themselves as massage parlors, bars, strip clubs, body rub par ...
owner Mona Stangley in a new touring production of '' The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. The production co-starred Gary Sandy and
Ed Dixon Ed Dixon (born September 2, 1948 in Oklahoma) is an American character actor, playwright and composer. Actor Dixon has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including ''No, No, Nanette'', ''The King of Schnorrers'', ''The Three Musketeers'', ''L ...
. She played
Jimmy Fallon James Thomas Fallon (born September 19, 1974) is an American comedian, television host, actor, and writer. He is known for his work in television as a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' and as the host of the late-night talk show ''The Ton ...
's mother in the 2004 comedy '' Taxi'', co-starring Queen Latifah. In 2001, Ann-Margret worked with
Art Greenhaw Art Greenhaw (born July 14, 1954) is an American musician, record producer and audio engineer who was awarded the Grammy Award in 2003 for the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album for ''We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Bl ...
on the album ''God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions''. The project resulted in her second Grammy Award nomination and first Dove Award nomination for Best Album of the Year in a Gospel category. They teamed up again in 2004 for the album ''Ann-Margret's Christmas Carol Collection''. She performed material from the album at two auditorium church services at Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, and broadcast worldwide on the program '' Hour of Power''. In 2006, Ann-Margret had supporting roles in the box-office hits '' The Break-Up'' with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, and '' The Santa Clause 3'' with Tim Allen. She also starred in several independent films, such as '' Memory'' (2006) with
Billy Zane William George Zane Jr. (born February 24, 1966) is an American actor. His breakthrough role was in the 1989 Australian film ''Dead Calm'', a performance that earned him a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promi ...
and
Dennis Hopper Dennis Lee Hopper (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010) was an American actor, filmmaker and photographer. He attended the Actors Studio, made his first television appearance in 1954, and soon after appeared in ''Giant'' (1956). In the next ten years ...
. In 2009, she appeared in the comedy ''
Old Dogs Old Dogs was an American country music supergroup composed of singers Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, Bobby Bare, and Jerry Reed. Signed in 1998 to Atlantic Records, Old Dogs recorded a self-titled studio album for the label that year. The album ...
'' with
John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He came to public attention during the 1970s, appearing on the television sitcom ''Welcome Back, Kotter'' (1975–1979) and starring in the box office successes ''Carrie'' (19 ...
and Robin Williams.


2010–present

Ann-Margret guest-starred in an episode of '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', "
Bedtime Bedtime (also called putting to bed or tucking in) is a ritual part of parenting to help children feel more secure and become accustomed to a more rigid schedule of sleep than they might prefer. The ritual of bedtime is aimed at facilitating the ...
", which first aired on March 31, 2010, on NBC. She received her sixth Emmy nomination for her performance. She also appeared in the Lifetime series, ''
Army Wives ''Army Wives'' is an American drama television series that followed the lives of four army wives, one army husband, and their families. The series premiered on Lifetime on June 3, 2007, and ran for seven seasons, ending on June 9, 2013. The sh ...
'', in the episode "Guns and Roses" (season four, episode five), which originally aired May 9, 2010. On August 29, 2010, she won an Emmy Award for Guest Performance by an Actress for her ''SVU'' performance. It was the first Emmy win of her career, and she received a standing ovation from the Emmy venue audience as she approached the stage to receive her award. On October 14, 2010, Ann-Margret appeared on CBS' '' CSI''. In Fall 2011 she co-starred with
Andy Williams Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hos ...
for a series of concerts at his Moon River Theater in Branson, Missouri. These proved to be Williams' last performances before his death in 2012. In 2014, she began appearing in a recurring role in the Showtime original series '' Ray Donovan''. On October 1, 2018, it was announced that she had joined the second season of the
Syfy Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Lau ...
series '' Happy!'' in a recurring role. In 2018, she guest-starred in '' The Kominsky Method'', portraying Diane, a widow and possible love interest for the recently widowed Norman, played by Alan Arkin.


Personal life

Ann-Margret is the stepmother of the three children of her husband Roger Smith, an actor who later became her manager. She and Smith were married for 50 years from May 8, 1967, until his death on June 4, 2017. Before this, she dated
Eddie Fisher Edwin Jack Fisher (August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor. He was one of the most popular artists during the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show, ''The Eddie Fisher Show''. Actress Eli ...
and was romantically linked to Elvis Presley when they co-starred in the film '' Viva Las Vegas'' in 1964. A keen motorcyclist, Ann-Margret rode a 500 cc Triumph T100C Tiger in ''The Swinger'' (1966) and used the same model, fitted with a nonstandard electric starter, in her stage show and her TV specials. She was featured in Triumph Motorcycles' official advertisements in the 1960s. She suffered three broken ribs and a fractured shoulder when she was thrown off a motorcycle in rural Minnesota in 2000. In a 2012 interview, she stated, "All my life I've had this feeling, deep, deep, deep inside of me... my faith and my feelings.... I mean you go outside and you see flowers. You see the trees. You see all your loved ones, you see... and then you think of Who created it all." She described her relationship with God, and with Jesus Christ as "something which is really important to me. If I thought that I would never see my mother and father again, I couldn't make it. I could not go a step further." On May 14, 2022, she was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in Humane Letters by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.


Portrayal

The 2005 CBS miniseries ''
Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
'' includes the story of her affair with Elvis Presley during the filming of ''Viva Las Vegas''. She was portrayed by actress Rose McGowan. She also provided the voice of a fictionalised version of herself in the 1963 '' Flintstones'' episode "Ann-Margrock Presents".


Filmography


Film


Box office ranking

For two years Ann-Margret was voted by movie exhibitors as being among the most popular actors in the United States: * 1964 – 8th * 1965 – 17th


Television


Discography


Singles


EPs

* ''And Here She Is...Ann-Margret'' (1961) ** Side 1: "I Just Don't Understand"/"I Don't Hurt Anymore" ** Side 2: "Teach Me Tonight"/"Kansas City" * ''More and More American Hits'' (compilation) (1962) ** Side 2: "What Am I Supposed To Do"


Albums

* ''And Here She Is...Ann-Margret'' (1961) * ''On the Way Up'' (1962) * ''The Vivacious One'' (1962) * ''Bachelor's Paradise'' (1963) * ''
Beauty and the Beard ''Beauty and the Beard'' is an album by Al Hirt and Ann-Margret released by RCA Victor in 1964. The album was arranged by Marty Paich and produced by Steve Sholes. The album reached No. 84 on the ''Billboard'' Top LPs chart in 1964 and #47 on ...
'' (1964) (with
Al Hirt Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java" and the accompanying album '' Honey in the Horn'' (1963), and for the them ...
) * ''David Merrick Presents Hits from His Broadway Hits'' (1964) (with
David Merrick David Merrick (born David Lee Margoulis; November 27, 1911 – April 25, 2000) was an American theatrical producer who won a number of Tony Awards. Life and career Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick gradua ...
) * ''Songs from "The Swinger" (And Other Swingin' Songs)'' (1966) * ''The Cowboy and the Lady'' (1969) (with Lee Hazlewood) * ''Ann-Margret'' (1979) * ''God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions'' (2001) * ''Today, Tomorrow and Forever: Box Set'' (2002) (with Elvis Presley) * ''Ann-Margret's Christmas Carol Collection'' (2004) * ''Love Rush'' (reissue of ''Ann-Margret'') (2007) * ''God is Love: The Gospel Sessions 2'' (2011)


Soundtracks

* ''State Fair'' (1962) * ''Bye Bye Birdie'' (1963) * ''The Pleasure Seekers'' (1965) * ''
Tommy Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...
'' (1975) * ''Newsies'' (1992) * ''The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas'' (2000) * ''Viva Las Vegas'' (LP reissue of ''Viva Las Vegas EP'') (2007) (with Elvis Presley)


Theatre productions

* '' Love Letters'', with
Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor, considered a sex symbol and icon of 1970s American popular culture. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as ' ...
* '' The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (2001, touring production)


Orders

* Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (KNO) (December 2, 1988)


Awards and nominations


References


Bibliography

*


External links

General * * * * Ann-Margretat AllMusic
Ann of a Thousand Knights
at
Snopes.com ''Snopes'' , formerly known as the ''Urban Legends Reference Pages'', is a fact-checking website. It has been described as a "well-regarded reference for sorting out myths and rumors" on the Internet. The site has also been seen as a source ...
* at age 16 in 1957. Interviews
Interview with Larry King, January 1, 2001
particularly with regard to the 2001 touring production of '' The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Ann-Margret 1941 births Living people 20th Century Studios contract players 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 20th-century Swedish actresses 20th-century Swedish women singers 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers Actresses from Stockholm American film actresses American stage actresses Best Miniseries or Television Movie Actress Golden Globe winners Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Commanders of the Order of the Polar Star Gold Star Records artists Las Vegas shows MCA Records artists Naturalized citizens of the United States New Star of the Year (Actress) Golden Globe winners New Trier High School alumni Northwestern University School of Communication alumni People from Jämtland People from Wilmette, Illinois Primetime Emmy Award winners RCA Victor artists Swedish emigrants to the United States Swedish female dancers Swedish film actresses Swedish stage actresses USO Entertainer