Ann-Margret’s First TV Role Was Alongside A Modern Stone Age Family

She’s a cultural icon in a dozen different ways, a triple threat as a talented singer, dancer, and actor. Former partner to Elvis, five-time Golden Globe winner. But before it all, she had to start somewhere, and for Ann-Margret, her debut on scripted television came on The Flintstones.

83-year-old Ann-Margret boasts a career that spans over six decades, which began in 1961. Her first film role was that of Louise in Pocketful of Miracles, which earned her the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. Television was a totally different, prehistoric beast for the stunning Swedish star.

The glamorous Ann-Margret made her TV debut on ‘The Flintstones’

Everyone gets their start somewhere. For Ann-Margret, her time on TV just happened to begin in the Stone Age. She can be seen in a 1961 episode of The Jack Benny Program and an episode of The Andy Williams Special the following year. But in both cases, she is credited as “Herself.”

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It would take 1963 for Ann-Margret to work with a scripted line in a television show that has its own special plots for each episode. In this case, The Flintstones episode titled “Ann-Margrock Presents” saw Ann-Margret do some voice acting as the titular Ann-Margrock.

It turns out, however, this collaboration represented a pretty unique, meaningful moment in the successful trajectory of both The Flintstones and Ann-Margret’s career.

Two stars that had to cross

The Flintstones actually made quite the splash when it became the very first animated TV show to earn an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Series. Ultimately, the ABC show did not secure the win, but it still generated headlines and interest from stars. In fact, it became a vehicle for talent, not too different from what SNL would be for comedians.

So, The Flintstones ended up as quite the career goal for anyone wanting to immortalize their names. But for its fourth season premiere, the show was already eyeing a rising star named Ann-Margret to give The Flintstones an extra pop for the coming season.

Naturally, they also utilized her many talents, having her not just know the scripted material well but also sing not once but twice. At a definitive point in her rise to stardom, Ann-Margret made her mark on the Stone Age and the Flintstones became a desirable note nice and early in her TV filmography.