Ann-Margret fans excited to see her at Planet Comicon KC, a rare convention appearance
Fans will have a rare chance to see and meet Hollywood legend Ann-Margret next month at Planet Comicon Kansas City.
The Harley-loving actress, who will be the subject of an upcoming biopic starring Lindsay Lohan, doesn’t make many appearances at fan conventions.
Her Kansas City appearance is her first convention outside California, Planet Comicon organizers said. She will appear all three days, March 21 to 23, at the Kansas City Convention Center.
“OK, this is another guest announcement that has me quite excited,” Chris Jackson, Planet Comicon Kansas City’s founder and CEO, wrote on the event’s Facebook page.
“Ann-Margret has not ever attended a pop culture show outside of CA and has made almost no autograph appearances for many years (many!!).
“She is one of those legendary Hollywood figures who, frankly, I would never have expected to meet ... I am so happy that I can provide an opportunity for PCKC fans to meet her.”
Judging from fan response on Facebook, Planet Comicon has hit a home run.
“Bye Bye Birdie has been my favorite movie since I was about 7 years old. I am ecstatic about this!”
“Never in my lifetime have I ever expected or even thought about getting a chance to meet her. Super excited.”
“Greatest eyes in Hollywood.”
Born in Sweden, the 83-year-old actress began her road to idol status in the 1960s with a breakout role in “Bye Bye Birdie” in 1963.
The next year she starred in the movie many consider her most famous — “Viva Las Vegas” with Elvis Presley. She was one of Presley’s few female co-stars to share a top billing with him.
Travis Kelce forged a six degrees of separation relationship with the movie when he croaked a bit of the title song, “Viva, Las Vegas,” after the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII in Vegas last year.
Six decades of her work in movies and TV include “Carnal Knowledge,” “The Cincinnati Kid,” “Tommy,” “Grumpy Old Men,” “Any Given Sunday,” “The Santa Claus 3: The Escape Clause,” “Ray Donovan” and “The Kominsky Method.”
Vanity Fair called her “unstoppable” in 2023 after she released the album “Born to Be Wild,” singing standards with The Who’s Pete Townshend, Joe Perry of Aerosmith and others.
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She posed for the album cover on a 1960s Triumph motorcycle. The lifelong motorcycle enthusiast showed Vanity Fair her lavender-colored Harley-Davidson decorated with white daisies on the fenders. She even named her cat Harley.
“I love speed, not the drug,” she told People last year, confirming that “of course” she still rides.
So maybe fans should expect to see Lohan astride a Harley?
“I really want to play Ann-Margret, and we’re trying to find a writer for that story,” Lohan told Bustle early last year. “She’s a triple threat, and she’s an amazing woman on top of that. So I just really want to do her justice and help tell a great story for her.”
In November the “Mean Girls” star talked about the project on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”
“Are you working on that? I know she gave her blessing for you to star in it,” Cohen said.
“We’re working on the story,” said Lohan. “It’s exciting.”
Mentioning Ann-Margret’s well-known dancing skills, Cohen hinted that Lohan would be dancing her behind off.
“I know, it’s gonna be pretty intense,” Lohan said. “It has to be the way she wants it to be, so I really want it to be special in that way.”
Ann-Margret began the new year with an appearance at the Hollywood Show fan convention in Los Angeles in January.
After her Kansas City appearance next month, she’s scheduled to appear at Steel City Con in Pennsylvania.
Planet Comicon Kansas City is the region’s largest comic book and pop culture convention. Guests already announced include:
- David Tennant (“Doctor Who”)
- Christina Ricci (“Addams Family,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Yellowjackets”)
- Andy Serkis (“Lord of the Rings,” “Planet of the Apes”)
- Mario Lopez (“Saved By the Bell,” “Pacific Blue”)
- Tori Spelling (“Beverly Hills 90210,” “Scream 2”)
- Christopher Lloyd (“Back to the Future,” “Addams Family,” “Taxi”)
- Matthew Lillard (“Scream,” “Scooby-Doo,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s”)
- Carla Gugino (“Watchmen,” “Sin City”)
- Mike Colter (“Marvel’s Luke Cage,” “The Defenders”)
Tickets for adults range from $42 for a day pass to $98 for three days, with cheaper prices for ages 13 and younger.
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 6:20 AM.
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