Meet Fred Astaire's Wife, Robyn Smith, The 45-Year Age Gap Turned Into A Long Lasting Love Story
Fred Astaire and Robyn Smith tied the knot in 1980, seven years after they first met. Notably, Robyn pursued a career in a completely different field.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleFred Astaire was an American dancer, actor, and singer, who gained recognition for his iconic partnership with Ginger Rogers. A biopic on his life starring Tom Holland as Astaire and directed by Paul King has been in development since 2021.
The project received a major update on September 25, 2026, with Margaret Qualley joining as his sister, Adele Astaire, and Sabrina Carpenter cast as Ginger Rogers. Amid this, people have been curious to know more about Fred’s personal life, including his wife, Robyn Smith.
Fred Astaire’s wife, Robyn Smith, used to be a jockey in the past
Robyn Smith is an American former professional jockey and licensed pilot who made history in horse racing during the early 1970s. Born on December 14, 1944, in California, Smith entered thoroughbred racing at a time when very few women were competing professionally.
She began her career knocking on doors at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, looking for mounts without money or connections. She broke through after getting an opportunity to ride for Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr., one of the most prominent owners in the sport. Smith quickly became one of the most successful female jockeys in the world.
In 1969, Robyn Smith became the first woman to win a stakes race in the United States. By 1972, she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on July 31, 1972, recognized as the world's most successful woman jockey. That same year, she was the top American-born jockey of either gender at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York, with a winning percentage second only to Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero.
Known for her aggressive and competitive riding style, she was vocal about wanting to be judged as the best jockey, not just the best female jockey. She retired from professional racing in 1975 after amassing over 200 career wins. Following her racing career, Smith pursued aviation.
She developed a passion for flying and began training in 1989 on a Robinson R22 helicopter she purchased. She attended FlightSafety in Dothan, Alabama, in 1991 and earned multiple fixed-wing and rotorcraft ratings, including instrument ratings in both airplanes and helicopters. She also owned and flew a Glasair II aircraft. Later in life, she became involved in managing and protecting intellectual property and image rights for entertainment estates.
Fred Astaire and Robyn Smith met a year after the former saw his wife for the first time
Fred Astaire first noticed Robyn Smith in 1972 when she was making headlines as a jockey. They were introduced on New Year's Day 1973 at Santa Anita Park by mutual friend Alfred Vanderbilt. They stayed in touch but didn't see each other again until 1977, when she was filming a commercial in Los Angeles and invited him to dinner. He was charmed that she asked him out.
After about two and a half years of dating, the duo tied the knot on June 24, 1980, at his Beverly Hills home. While Fred was 81, Robyn was 35. The 45-year age gap shocked Hollywood, but close friends said that Robyn brought happiness to his final years.
Fred was previously married to New York socialite Phyllis Livingston Potter, and they met in the early 1930s. They married on July 12, 1933, the same year he first danced with Ginger Rogers on screen.
Fred and Phyllis had two children, Fred Jr. in 1936 and Ava in 1942, plus her son Peter. Their 21-year marriage ended when Phyllis died of lung cancer on September 13, 1954, at the age of 46. Fred was devastated and stayed a widower for 26 years. On June 12, 1987, Fred was admitted to Century City Hospital with a bad cold that became pneumonia. He passed away on June 22, 1987, at the age of 88, with Robyn by his side.
What are your thoughts about Robyn Smith’s career and her relationship with Fred Astaire? Let us know.
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