Roger Smith, the star of the 1950s series “77 Sunset Strip” and husband to actress Ann-Margret, has died. He was 84.
Smith passed away on Sunday morning at a hospital in Sherman Oaks, according to a representative.
Beginning in 1958, Smith starred alongside Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. on the hourlong ABC series about a pair of private detectives. Smith played the former government agent Jeff Spencer for five seasons, before exiting the drama due to a medical condition.
He was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes severe muscle weakness that worsens after periods of use and activity.
Following the diagnosis and his marriage to actress Ann-Margret, Smith took on a role managing her career. He produced a number of her projects, including “Ann-Margret: From Hollywood With Love,” “Nobody’s Children” and “C.C. & Company.”
In an interview with People ahead of their 50th wedding anniversary in March, Ann-Margret discussed her marriage to Smith. “I knew he would protect me. I knew that I could depend on him. I sensed it completely,” she said.
“We laugh at ourselves. We get into weird situations. If you can’t laugh at yourself you are in trouble. We laugh before everyone else does,” she said.