Actor Roger Smith, who brought glamour to the TV detective genre as a hip private eye on "77 Sunset Strip," has died. Jack Gilardi, who is the agent of Smith's widow, actress Ann-Margret, said the actor died Sunday morning at a Los Angeles hospital after battling a terminal illness. He survived two serious illnesses to have a second career after "77 Sunset Strip" as the manager of his second wife, Ann-Margret. "77 Sunset Strip" had been created by producer-writer Roy Huggins, who also created "Maverick," and it spawned a host of spinoffs and knockoffs, including "Hawaiian Eye," ''Surfside 6" and "Bourbon Street Beat." Cagney, who was there making a film, suggested that Smith might try for a film career.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 06, 2017 01:17 UTC