Veteran actress Jaclyn Smith, best known for her role as Kelly Garrett on the classic TV series *Charlie’s Angels*, recently opened up about the unconventional nature of her marriage to Dr. Brad Allen. In her new memoir, *I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie*, the 80‑year‑old recounts how the couple lived apart for 17 of their 35 years together, commuting between Los Angeles and Chicago while raising three children.
How a hospital room sparked a lifelong partnership
Smith first met Allen, now 72, in 1991 when he performed heart surgery on her father at a Chicago hospital. “He walked into the room looking like the guys I grew up with—clean‑cut and just collegiate,” Smith told Fox News Digital. “He was just the guy down the street, and he was so good to my parents.”
Two years later, Allen accepted a faculty position at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Rather than relocate, the couple chose to maintain separate residences: Smith stayed in Los Angeles to continue her acting career, while Allen remained in Chicago to fulfill his academic duties. “We commuted for 17 years,” Smith said. “We married after seven years, and when we finally said ‘I do,’ we already knew each other’s families, priorities, and expectations.”
Family first: Parenting shaped their decisions
Both Smith and Allen entered the marriage with children from previous relationships. Smith’s daughter, then 11, served as maid of honor, and her son, then 15, walked her down the aisle, according to People magazine. The couple’s commitment to their children guided the pace of their relationship. “It wasn’t a rush to the altar,” Smith explained. “It had to be a three‑way decision because I already had two children.”
Allen’s support proved vital during Smith’s 2002 breast cancer diagnosis. After a lumpectomy and radiation, she emerged cancer‑free, crediting Allen’s steadfast presence throughout the treatment.
Lessons from earlier marriages
Smith’s memoir also revisits her earlier unions, offering a candid look at the challenges she faced. Her first marriage to actor Roger Davis ended after she discovered his infidelity on their fourth wedding anniversary. A later marriage to actor Dennis Cole dissolved amid allegations of infidelity, and her brief union with British cinematographer Anthony Richmond was strained by his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
These experiences, Smith says, taught her the importance of shared values and the dangers of overlooking red flags. “Love is blind, but attraction is blind,” she noted, emphasizing that lasting relationships require more than chemistry—they need common moral foundations.
Faith, perseverance, and a hopeful outlook
Throughout her life, Smith attributes her resilience to a strong family background and faith. She recalls growing up in the 1950s with a “picket‑fence” ideal and says that, despite setbacks, she remains grateful for the path she walked. “I’m a girl who stuck to things, worked very hard, and gave everything to my family,” she reflected.
Smith’s story underscores a timeless message: commitment, honesty, and faith can sustain a marriage even when geography and career demands pull partners in different directions. Her experience offers a relatable example for families navigating modern challenges while holding fast to traditional values.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
