Jaclyn Smith's 35-Year Marriage: A Long-Distance Love Story

Jaclyn Smith, the iconic star of "Charlie's Angels," has revealed that her 35-year marriage to Dr. Brad Allen was sustained through 17 years of long-distance living. The actress shared these details about her enduring relationship in her new memoir, "I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie."

Smith met Allen in 1991 when he performed heart surgery on her father. Their romantic relationship began about two years later. Allen accepted a position at the University of Illinois in Chicago, while Smith remained in Los Angeles. This geographical separation lasted for 17 years before Allen eventually moved to Los Angeles in 2009.

In her memoir, the 80-year-old actress reflected on the unconventional path to her current marriage. "It's true, the greatest love comes when you're least looking for it," Smith told Fox News Digital. She recounted Allen's calm demeanor as he entered her father's hospital room, noting his clean-cut, collegiate appearance. "He looked like just the guy down the street. And he was so good to my parents."

Having experienced three previous divorces, Smith approached her relationship with Allen with caution, especially as a mother to two children. "When I met Brad, I had two children," she explained. "It was no longer me going, 'OK, my heart's beating out of my chest, and I'm going to get married right away.' It had to be a three-way decision."

Smith and Allen married in 1997. She described their decision to commute for nearly two decades as a deliberate choice that allowed them to build a strong foundation. "When we got married, we really knew one another. We knew each other's families. We knew our priorities. We knew what we expected in life. And that is important in any relationship."

Allen provided support for Smith when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. She is now cancer-free after undergoing a lumpectomy and radiation.

The memoir also touches on Smith's previous marriages. Her first husband, actor Roger Davis, proposed after only two dates. Smith recounted discovering Davis' infidelity shortly thereafter, leading to their divorce.

She later married actor Dennis Cole in 1978. Their marriage ended in 1981 after Smith found evidence of infidelity. "I knew my marriage wasn't everything I dreamed," Smith wrote. "I knew there were problems from day one. I think I have a line in the book about love masquerading as foundation, attraction as permanence."

Smith's third marriage was to British cinematographer Anthony B. Richmond, with whom she had two children, Gaston Anthony and Spencer Margaret. She wrote that the marriage was strained by Richmond's struggles with alcohol and drugs, ultimately leading to their divorce. "I needed to do the best I could for my children, to protect them from the ravages I knew could come from substance abuse."

Smith reflected on her career and personal journey, stating, "You know, in writing this book, I learned that I'm really strong. I had a great beginning. I had the best parents in the world, but I had marriages that didn't make it. Your heart gets broken here and there. You have successes along the way. And I worked hard to be there for my children more than anything."