The actress went on to star in several movies and shows afterward, but she wanted a family. She also wanted to be married and in love before having children. However, her quest to find Prince Charming was not easy.
Jaclyn Smith at a perfume counter; circa 1970 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
She was married three times before finding Mr. Right, but her romantic history led her to the best love of her life. Before her rise to stardom on the ABC hit series, she married actor Roger Davis. Their marriage spanned from 1968 to 1975.
Smith met her second husband the same year “Charlie’s Angels” premiered when Dennis Cole made a guest appearance on the show. They got married in 1978 and separated in 1981. However, the actress was determined to find love.
Jaclyn Smith marries Dennis Cole (1949-2009) on October 29, 1978 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
In 1981, she married Tony Richmond, a prominent filmmaker, and it seemed that she had finally found the right person to start her family. They had two children together: Gaston in 1982 and Spencer Margaret in 1985.
Jaclyn Smith and husband Tony Richmond during Jaclyn Smith Sighting in London – August 10, 1981 in London, Great Britain. | Source: Getty Images
Being a mother became her main focus. It was a million times more important than being an actress or having any kind of career for her. In 2017, the actress told People:
“The love that you have for your children, it’s like, ‘Oh my God. But this is even bigger — there are no words.”
Unfortunately, her relationship with their father didn’t last long, as they decided to separate in 1989. However, it turns out that the fourth time is the charm, as she found the fantastic Dr. Brad Allen and married him in 1997 after a meeting that could’ve been in a movie.
The cardiothoracic surgeon had operated on and saved her father, and Smith’s mother urged him to speak to Smith once the surgery was done. He later escorted her to the hospital parking garage so she wouldn’t be alone.
They fell in love because she saw “a purity of heart” in Allen, as the actress told Closer Weekly in 2014. Now, the couple will be celebrating their 27th anniversary on October 11, and their love hasn’t faded one bit, proving that everyone can find the right person. You have to try as many times as possible.
Brad Allen, the Best Stepfather, and Support Through Cancer
Smith’s role as a mother is the most important one of her life; she is also a grandmother now. However, finding the right man meant marrying someone who could be there for her children, even if he wasn’t their biological father.
Allen was perfect. He became the children’s stepfather, loving Gaston and Spencer as his own. However, something scary would test their love for each other in 2002, and it could’ve been the end of their relationship.
Beverly Hills,Ca Jacqueline Smith Leaving The Rear Exit Of The Methodist Church Where She Just Got Married To Dr. Brent Allen. | Source: Getty Images
The actress cares about her health and has regular appointments with doctors every year. Therefore, she went for a routine checkup in 2002, and a doctor told her they needed to perform a biopsy on some of her breast tissue.
That happens often. A biopsy doesn’t always mean trouble, and Smith was sure nothing would come of it. A few days later, she had a bunch of errands to run before a big trip to New York with Spencer, so she never expected the results.
When she entered the doctor’s office, the actress recalled being asked if she “was alone.” Smith said that, in hindsight, that should’ve been the first indication that something was wrong. Afterward, the physician finally revealed her diagnosis.
The actress had cancer in her left breast. Fortunately, it was small, and they had found it early enough because she took annual mammograms. However, having cancer can still be terrifying, and Smith “panicked.”
Jaclyn Smith at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 09, 2024, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
She was also in a daze, not listening or registering what the doctor was telling her. That’s how big of a shock the news was. Smith recalled:
“The word ‘cancer’ is what stood out. That’s a word I didn’t even like to say. It was very surreal. I couldn’t get a grip on it. I think my first words were, “Will I be here for my children?'”
All the actress could think of was the trip to New York with her daughter, who was planning to study dance with Alvin Ailey. She was still in high school at the time. Her brother is four years older, but Smith was worried about them.
Luckily, the physician revealed that her prognosis was entirely favorable, and they could take a conservative approach to the treatment. However, that’s not what Smith wanted. She asked him for a mastectomy almost immediately:
“I said right then, ‘Just take my breast off. I don’t want to deal with it.’ I just wanted to get it over with.”
The actress later admitted that she was in her “right mind” back then. She was guided only by fear, which was too hard to control. Smith met with a surgeon that same day. After calming down, Smith went to her car and called her loved ones.
Both Allen and the actress’s mother refused to believe the news of her cancer right away. However, they quickly joined her in Los Angeles after realizing it was severe. The worst part for Smith was how little she knew about breast cancer.
She was afraid of the dark and in such a panic that she couldn’t sleep that night. She was alone at the time and cried every day at breakfast during the first few days after the news. “I went to a dark place. But then I read and educated myself,” Smith explained.
Fortunately, the actress was not alone. Aside from having her loved ones as support, she also found guidance in her friends, including co-star Kate Jackson from her “Charlie’s Angels” days. The actress had dealt with breast cancer as well.
