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Born: Ann-Margret Olson
The red haired swedish born singer started her Hollywood career in quiet roles that usually went unnoticed.
She was discovered by the legendary George Burns (1896-1996), when she was just a cabaret singer, and was often typecast as a singing sexpot. In the early 1970s she suffered a very bad fall that nearly ended her Hollywood career, but she fought back to be cast as a sexy older woman type. Twice nominated for an Academy Award: for Carnal Knowledge (1971), and Tommy (1975).

 

Trivia

(1995) Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#10).

Survived a dramatic 22-foot fall from a stage in a Lake Tahoe, Nevada concert in 1972.

Was a cheerleader at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

Attended Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).

The bond of friendship Ann-Margret forged with Elvis Presley in their first pairing in Viva Las Vegas (1964) was apparent, and kept alive, by Elvis's life-long habit of sending a bouquet of flowers to all of A-M's future stage-show appearances, until he died in 1977.

19 August 2000: She suffered three broken ribs and a fractured shoulder when she was thrown off a motorcycle she was driving in rural Minnesota, US.

Discovered by actor/comedian George Burns when he heard her sing in a campus musical at Northwestern University and hired her to be a part of his Las Vegas act in November 1960.

Appeared on a network TV show featuring up-and-coming talent, and lost to a man who played "Lady of Spain" by blowing onto a leaf.

Appeared on the cartoon show "Flintstones, The" (1960) as "Ann-Margrock".

Height 5' 5"

Spouse Roger Smith (I) (8 May 1967 - present)

According to AM's autobiography, she and Elvis hit it off almost immediately when they first met. They had a lot in common, both in their public images, and their private personalities. In fact, the very contrast between "wild in public" and "shy in person" was one of their most notable similarities. They shared a deep belief in God. They were both very close to their families. For both stars, their fame came overwhelmingly fast, and a tight-knit family was both a comfort and a safety net. Oh, yeah, and they both kind of liked music a little bit, too! Although the British press reported them engaged, AM and Elvis soon went their separate ways. They remained friends afterwards, attending each other's concerts in Vegas, whenever they were in town. (Ann-Margret and her husband Roger Smith were among the very few celebrities who attended Elvis' funeral.) In 1971, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "Carnal Knowledge", and in 1975 for Best Actress for "Tommy". Between theatrical films, TV movies, and her night club act, AM has kept herself quite busy. Among her most recent successes was the lead role in the Lifetime Channel movie, Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story, a role as Cinderella in the fantasy mini-series 10th Kingdom, as well as an appearance in the film, Any Given Sunday, a notable guest role on the popular TV series Touched By An Angel, and an appearance with friend Burt Reynolds in The Final Hit. She also has just finished touring in the musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", which is her first stage role!

Filmography

• 10th Kingdom, The" (2000) (mini) TV Series .... Queen Cinderella
• Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" (2000) (mini) TV Series Patsy's Mother
• 10th Kingdom: The Making of an Epic, The (2000) Cinderella
• Last Producer, The (2000) Not Released Yet
• Any Given Sunday (1999) .... Margaret Pagniacci
• Happy Face Murders (1999) (TV) .... Lorraine
• Limey, The (1999) (uncredited) (scenes deleted)
• Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story (1998) (TV) .... Pamela Harriman ... aka Life of the Party: Pamela Harriman (1998) (TV)
• "Four Corners" (1998/I) TV Series .... Amanda Wyatt
• Blue Rodeo (1996) (TV) .... Maggie Yearwood
• Seduced by Madness (1996) (TV) .... Diane Borchardt... aka Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story (1996) (TV)
• Grumpier Old Men (1995) .... Ariel Gustafson... aka Grumpy Old Men 2 (1995)
• Following Her Heart (1994) (TV) .... Lena
• "Scarlett" (1994) (mini) TV Series .... Belle Watling
• Nobody's Children (1994) (TV) .... Carol Stevens
• "Queen" (1993) (mini) TV Series .... Sally Jackson... aka "Alex Haley's Queen" (1993) (mini)
• Grumpy Old Men (1993) .... Ariel Truax
• Newsies (1992) .... Medda Larkson... aka Newsboys (1992)
• Our Sons (1991) (TV) .... Luanne Barnes... aka Too Little, Too Late (1991) (TV)
• New Life, A (1988) .... Jackie
• Two Mrs. Grenvilles, The (1987) (TV) .... Ann Arden
• Tiger's Tale, A (1987) .... Rose
• 52 Pick-Up (1986) .... Barbara Mitchell
• That's Dancing! (1985) (archive footage)
• Twice in a Lifetime (1985) .... Audrey Minelli
• Streetcar Named Desire, A (1984) (TV) .... Blanche DuBois
• Who Will Love My Children? (1983) (TV) .... Lucile Fray
• I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) .... Stephanie
• Lookin' to Get Out (1982) .... Patti Warner
• Return of the Soldier, The (1982) .... Jenny Baldry
• Middle Age Crazy (1980) .... Sue Ann... aka Heartfarm (1980)
• Villain, The (1979) .... Charming Jones... aka Cactus Jack (1979)
• Cheap Detective, The (1978) .... Jezebel Dezire... aka Snacka om deckare, alltså! (1978)
• Magic (1978) .... Peggy Ann Snow
• Last Remake of Beau Geste, The (1977) .... Flavia Geste
• Joseph Andrews (1977) .... Lady Booby
• Tommy (1975) .... Nora Walker Hobbs... aka Tommy by 'The Who' (1975) (USA: ... aka Who's Tommy, The (1975)
• Folies bourgeoises (1975) .... Charlie Minerva... aka Pazzi borghesi (1975) (Italy)... aka Twist, The (1975)... aka Verrückten Reichen, Die (1976) (West Germany)
• Funerale a Los Angeles (1973) .... Nancy Robson... aka Outside Man, The (1973)... aka Un homme est mort (1973) (France)
• Train Robbers, The (1973) .... Mrs. Lilly Lowe
• Carnal Knowledge (1971) .... Bobbie
• C.C. and Company (1970) .... Ann McCalley... aka Chrome Hearts (1970) (video title)
• R.P.M. (1970) .... Rhoda
• Profeta, Il (1968) .... Maggie... aka Mr. Kinky (1968)... aka Prophet, The (1968)
• Rebus (1968) .... Singer... aka Crimen también juega, El (1969) (Spain: dubbed version)... aka Heißes Spiel für harte Männer (1968) (West Germany)
• Sette uomini e un cervello (1967) ... aka Criminal Affair (1967) (USA) ... aka Criminal Symphony (1967) ... aka Seven Men and One Brain (1967)
• Tigre, Il (1967) .... Carolina ... aka Tiger and the Pussycat, The (1967)
• Murderers' Row (1966) .... Suzie Solaris
• Made in Paris (1966) .... Maggie Scott
• Stagecoach (1966) .... Dallas
• Swinger, The (1966) .... Kelly Olsson
• Cincinnati Kid, The (1965) .... Melba
• Once a Thief (1965) .... Kristine Pedak ... aka Tueurs de San Francisco, Les (1965) (France)
• Bus Riley's Back in Town (1965) .... Laurel
• Made In Paris (1965) (uncredited) .... Herself (wardrobe test footage)
• Viva Las Vegas (1964) .... Rusty Martin ... aka Love in Las Vegas (1964)
• Kitten with a Whip (1964) .... Jody Dvorak
• Pleasure Seekers, The (1964) .... Fran Hobson
• Bye Bye Birdie (1963) .... Kim McAfee
• State Fair (1962) .... Emily Porter
• Pocketful of Miracles (1961) .... Louise

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