Jaclyn Smith and her husband had long-distance marriage for almost 20 years
Jaclyn Smith and her husband, Brad Allen, lived apart for 17 years before finally sharing a home.
Jaclyn Smith and her husband, Brad Allen, spent almost two decades living in separate states before finally moving in together.
The couple met in Los Angeles in 1991 when he helped perform heart surgery on her father, Jack Smith, but he moved to Chicago for work in 1993, where he lived for 17 years.
Actress Jaclyn stayed in Los Angeles so her children, Gaston and Spencer, could remain close to their father, filmmaker Anthony B. Richmond.
The Charlie’s Angels star, who married Brad in 1997, told the new issue of PEOPLE magazine: “When you have only a weekend, you really make it count.
“I could go there, he could come here. He did most of the commuting, because I had two kids, and I couldn’t move them from their dad. We made it work.”
The pair had to wait until 2009 to finally live together, and Jaclyn, who was supported by Brad during her 2002 breast cancer diagnosis, is glad to no longer be in a long-distance relationship.
Jaclyn, who is cancer-free, said: “Now that we’re together, it’s just like bliss, because we did [long distance] for so long.
“God, I can’t imagine not having him here now. I can’t. It just makes life easier and better. For a girl that just believed in marriage and kids, I finally got that.”
The Bourne Identity alum and Anthony met on the set of the horror-crime movie Nightkill, and they dated and got engaged shortly after filming on the 1980 movie wrapped.
Just a year after tying the knot in 1981, Jaclyn and Anthony welcomed their son Gaston, followed by their daughter Spencer in 1985.
She described that time as a “very beautiful period” of her life.
Jaclyn added: “I never thought I’d have children, and he gave me these beautiful kids. He was devoted to me, and we worked well together.”
But after eight years of marriage, she and Anthony divorced in 1989 because of his addiction to alcohol and drugs.
The Windmills of the Gods actress said: “I think it would’ve worked, but I couldn’t cope with the alcohol and drugs. The messiness of alcohol and when people abused it turned me off.”
But Jaclyn has the utmost respect for Anthony for overcoming addiction and getting sober.
She said: “My hat’s off to him. He’s doing great. I still respect him. Thank goodness he saw the light. It can really destroy.”
The Shear Genius host was married to actors Roger Davis, 87, from 1968 until 1975 and the late Dennis Cole from 1978 until 1981, but she says the relationships do not “qualify as marriages in my heart of hearts,” although Jaclyn “learned from them” after both men were unfaithful.
Jaclyn says she “finally got it right” with Brad, adding: “I got a great husband, great marriage, and the most fantastic stepfather I could ever dream of.”
