Share

Anna Nicole Smith biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

Best Known For

Anna Nicole Smith gained early fame as a model for Guess and Playboy magazine, and later became known for her marriage to 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II.


Videos see all videos

Photos see all photos

Related Photo Galleries

Anna Nicole Smith is included in these related galleries.

Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now
Anna Nicole Smith - The Early Years watch more videos (3)

Synopsis

Born on November 28, 1967, in Mexia, Texas, Anna Nicole Smith rose to fame as a model. She was named Playboy's Playmate of the Year in 1993. In 1994, she wed 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II, who soon died. Smith spent years fighting for a share of her late husband's estate. She starred in her own reality show from 2002 to 2004. Smith died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007.

Quotes

"I've always liked attention. I didn't get very much growing up, and I always wanted to be, you know, noticed."

– Anna Nicole Smith

"Marrying into money was not a good thing for me."

– Anna Nicole Smith

"It's very expensive to be me. It's terrible the things I have to do to be me."

– Anna Nicole Smith

"I want to be the new Marilyn Monroe."

– Anna Nicole Smith

"I grew up poor. I had no money ... and for me to come up and to have all of this fame and fortune, it's just—it is a Cinderella story to me."

– Anna Nicole Smith

Early Life

Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan on November 28, 1967, in Mexia, Texas. A high school dropout, Smith's dramatic life began quietly in the small Texas town of Mexia. She had a difficult childhood, growing up without her father who left the family when she was only a baby. As a teenager, Smith worked at a local fried chicken restaurant. There she met cook Billy Smith, and the pair married when she was only 17 years old. The couple had a son named Daniel in 1984, but the marriage later broke up. Not content with small-town life, Smith dreamed of becoming the next Marilyn Monroe.

Before her big break, Anna Nicole Smith worked numerous jobs, including as a Wal-Mart employee and a dancer. She left her son in the care of her mother, Virgie Arthur, to work in Houston at a strip club. In 1991, Smith met Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II while working at a club. She soon had her own reversal of fortune.

Popular Pin-Up and Personality

After mailing in photos of herself naked to Playboy in 1992, Smith got to pose for Hugh Hefner's famed adult magazine. She also appeared in ads for the Guess fashion brand later that same year. In the print advertisements, Smith showed off her impressive curves, looking very much like her beloved icon, Marilyn Monroe.

Smith reached a career milestone the following year, joining a select group of beauty who have been named "Playmate of the Year" by Playboy magazine. She parlayed her celebrity into some small film roles. In 1994, Smith appeared in the Leslie Nielsen comedy Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult and The Hudsucker Proxy with Tim Robbins and Paul Newman.

With her sexy image, Smith attracted a lot of interest from celebrity magazines and tabloids. The public seemed to have an insatiable interest in the ups and downs of the life of this seemingly bubbly blonde. Smith didn't seem to mind the media scrutiny. According to the Washington Post, she once said, "I love the paparazzi. They take pictures, and I just smile away. I've always liked attention. I didn't get very much growing up, and I always wanted to be, you know, noticed."

Fight for Fortune

Smith married Marshall in 1994. At the time, she was 26 and he was 89. The tremendous age difference between the couple surprised many, and Smith endured allegations of only being after Marshall's sizeable fortune. According to People magazine, the bride took off for Greece without her groom shortly after the wedding. The pair also weren't living together in Marshall's final days either. Their unusual union ended with Marshall's death in 1995. Smith claimed that Marshall had promised a share of his estate, but he had not put her in his will.

ADVERTISEMENT
183547 183547
profile id: 183547
profile name: Anna Nicole Smith
profile occupation:
related profile id: 183547
related profile name: Anna Nicole Smith
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/S/Anna-Nicole-Smith-183547-1-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/anna-nicole-smith-183547
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups
    • Marilyn Mimics

      As the ultimate symbol of old Hollywood glamour, there's no actress who's been more imitated than Marilyn Monroe. Since her death, countless young celebrities have tried to emulate the legendary starlet, with her signature short blond hair, red lips, and effortless sex appeal. Some pull it off well, some might not, but what's certain is that stars will keep trying to mimic Marilyn.

      View group

      Marilyn Mimics 9 people in this group

    • Name Changers

      In entertainment, where the line between fiction and reality is often blurry, names are a crucial part of a celebrity's image. Stage names are often chosen to make an actor or musician's name easier to pronounce or remember, or simply to make it sounds more attractive. Here are famous celebrities who have changed their names.

      View group

      Name Changers 236 people in this group

    • Weight Loss Winners

      It's hard to face weight gain—but it's even harder to face it when the whole world is commenting on your expanding waistline. Here are a group of stars who got in shape despite the scrutiny of the press. Their efforts serve as an inspiration to the millions out there trying to live a healthier lifestyle.

      View group

      Weight Loss Winners 26 people in this group

    See all related groups


    ADVERTISEMENT

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!