Actor, Screenwriter, Producer. As a child, he loved to sing and dance, and when the family moved to Nogales, Arizona, he appeared in every theatre production at Nogales High School, where he was president of the school's acting club and was also a star linebacker on the high school football team. While attending the University of Arizona on a football athletic scholarship, he won several amateur show contests as a singer and guitarist. While stationed at Honolulu during his 30 months active service in the Naval Reserve, he met film star James Cagney, who suggested he try for a career acting in Hollywood. In 1956, Smith married Australian actress Victoria Shaw, and the following year, he signed a contract with Columbia Pictures and appeared in such films as 'No Time to Be Young' and 'Operation Madball', and played a small role on the television sitcom 'Father Knows Best', before he was hired to play Lon Chaney Jr. in the Lon Chaney biopic 'Man of a Thousand Faces' (1957). The film led to a long-term contract with Warner Bros. and the co-starring role of Jeff Spencer in the television detective series '77 Sunset Strip'. In 1959, he appeared in Cagney's film 'Never Steal Anything Small'. In 1961, he laded a role in 'Auntie Mame', where he met actress Ann-Margret for the first time. That same year, he left '77 Sunset Strip' after doctors discovered a blood clot in his brain. In 1964, he filed for divorce from his wife and began dating Ann-Margret. He would appear in several plays and also did a nightclub act in Milwaukee. Roger plays a detective in the film 'For Those Who Think Young', before starring in NBC's 'Mr. Roberts' series in 1965, which lasted only one season. It was during this period, he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a muscle disorder, which forced him to retire from acting. On May 8th, 1967, he wed Ann-Margret at the Riviera in Las Vegas and for a time, he managed her career.
Actor, Screenwriter, Producer. As a child, he loved to sing and dance, and when the family moved to Nogales, Arizona, he appeared in every theatre production at Nogales High School, where he was president of the school's acting club and was also a star linebacker on the high school football team. While attending the University of Arizona on a football athletic scholarship, he won several amateur show contests as a singer and guitarist. While stationed at Honolulu during his 30 months active service in the Naval Reserve, he met film star James Cagney, who suggested he try for a career acting in Hollywood. In 1956, Smith married Australian actress Victoria Shaw, and the following year, he signed a contract with Columbia Pictures and appeared in such films as 'No Time to Be Young' and 'Operation Madball', and played a small role on the television sitcom 'Father Knows Best', before he was hired to play Lon Chaney Jr. in the Lon Chaney biopic 'Man of a Thousand Faces' (1957). The film led to a long-term contract with Warner Bros. and the co-starring role of Jeff Spencer in the television detective series '77 Sunset Strip'. In 1959, he appeared in Cagney's film 'Never Steal Anything Small'. In 1961, he laded a role in 'Auntie Mame', where he met actress Ann-Margret for the first time. That same year, he left '77 Sunset Strip' after doctors discovered a blood clot in his brain. In 1964, he filed for divorce from his wife and began dating Ann-Margret. He would appear in several plays and also did a nightclub act in Milwaukee. Roger plays a detective in the film 'For Those Who Think Young', before starring in NBC's 'Mr. Roberts' series in 1965, which lasted only one season. It was during this period, he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a muscle disorder, which forced him to retire from acting. On May 8th, 1967, he wed Ann-Margret at the Riviera in Las Vegas and for a time, he managed her career.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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Roger LaVerne Smith
December 18, 1932 - June 4, 2017
Beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Son
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