Anna Nicole Smith was an American actress, model and television personality who first rose to fame for modeling in Playboy magazine and winning Playmate of the Year in 1993. She is most remembered for her highly publicized legal battle over the estate of her late husband, billionaire J. Howard Marshall, and for her tragic passing in February 2007.
Born Vickie Lynn Hogan on Nov. 28, 1967, she took on the stage name Anna Nicole as she began to court fame. Her last name, Smith, was taken from her first husband, Billy Smith, whom she was married to from 1985 to 1993.
Anna Nicole’s biggest controversy was the accusation that she had only married her late husband, Marshall, for his money. This resulted in a huge legal dispute between her and Marshall’s family over who should inherit his vast fortune after his death. Anna Nicole claimed that Marshall had promised her half of his estate but that his family interfered, so the will was never changed.
The case made it all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled in her favor. However, another suit was filed and then brought before the Supreme Court once more, and this time, Anna Nicole lost her case.
Another case that brought more publicity to Anna Nicole and her family was the paternity case of her daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, who was only five months old when Anna Nicole passed. Dannielynn enjoyed a childhood away from the limelight, a conscious decision made by her father.
In 2023, Danielynn grew up to become a beautiful young lady, the spitting image of her mother, thanks to the guidance of his loving father, Larry Birkhead – she was able to survive her life-changing surgery when she was young. Read on to learn more about Danielynn’s growth!
Anna Nicole Smith (1993), (Ron Davis/Archive Photos via Getty Images)
Anna Nicole revealed she was pregnant in 2006. At least four men, including Birkhead and attorney Howard K. Stern, argued they were the father. A paternity test ordered by the courts showed Larry to be the biological father.
Speaking to Fox News in 2020, Larry revealed that he and Anna Nicole tried their best to keep their relationship very private.
“To the world, it was a mystery… I couldn’t talk about our relationship, and there [weren’t] a lot of pictures of us and footage of us as a couple. She was supposed to be this kind of available sex goddess. That was her persona that she was supposed to be available and the object of everyone’s desire. It worked against me in so many ways.”
Sadly, Anna Nicole passed due to a drug overdose in 2007, Larry gained full custody of their daughter, Dannielynn, and retreated to Louisville, Kentucky, to keep her safe from the prying eyes of the media.
Since Anna Nicole’s passing when Dannielynn was only five months old, Larry did his level best to give her a normal childhood.
In 2008, Dannielynn encountered a health condition that was only treatable through surgery. Dannielynn suffered from Strabismus or Lazy Eye. The National Health Institute says that it is a common childhood disorder that causes deviation on the person’s eye. If left untreated, it could affect the vision permanently and have irreversible effects to the patient. At the time, Larry was skeptical on having Dannielynn undergoing surgery. He told People Magazine in 2008 that:
“I’m going to do everything to make sure that it’s corrected, but having lost Anna and [her son] Daniel and my dad – my dad just came out of a simple surgery and he died – it’s just tough for me to think about surgeries with [Dannielynn].”
Dannielynn Birkhead, Larry Birkhead (2019), (Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)
Dannielyn’s younger years passed almost in obscurity as Larry kept their life private, even on social media. However, in recent years, he has given rare glimpses into their lives and thrilled fans by revealing just how much Dannielynn has taken after her mother.
One event the father-daughter pair are always sure to attend is the Kentucky Derby.
“Since I did meet her mom there, it started off just kind of me taking her back and showing her around… And then it came to kind of people look for my daughter there because I really don’t let her do any public events. And so, in all honesty, the Kentucky Derby is kind of the growth chart for Dannielynn,” he told Fox News.
At the event in 2023, Dannielynn attended with her father and looked like the spitting image of her mom. The day before the derby, she wore a top that featured photos of her mom’s Guess campaign as well as her mother’s jewelry. With makeup on, it was clear the young Dannielynn was taking after her mother. For the derby the next day, Dannielynn looked resplendent in a sunflower-themed gown and more of her mother’s jewelry.
On June 1, 2023, Larry shared photos of him and Dannielynn as she finished the 11th grade and will soon prepare to enter her senior year of high school. The snaps showed Larry in the driver’s seat of a car as Dannielynn sat behind him, holding back laughter as she showed photos of her dad on her phone. The caption read:
“Nothing like trying to have a serious conversation with your kid and instead you get trolled with the worst pics of you ever taken on their cell phone. I can’t be the only parent with this issue!”
Larry Birkhead, Janet Jackson, and Dannielynn Birkhead (2022), (Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)
In July 2016, Larry graced “The Steve Harvey Show” and talked about the challenges he faced as a single parent raising Dannielyn. While he described that their daily life as an “adventure,” he also admitted that he struggled at times – wishing that there was someone by his side to help him. Larry opened up about the difficulty of raising a daughter, especially because she has to do things and keep up what a mother would usually do.
“There were days on the playground where she would say that she wants her mom back. It’s tough for her to visit the grave,” he told Harvey.
Anna Nicole’s memory was kept alive by Larry. In Nicole’s 15th death anniversary, Larry honored her with a tribute post, as reported by People Magazine.
“She was truly one of a kind. She struggled for love and acceptance. Just when she found a little piece of one or the other, life seemed sabotaged,” he wrote.
Larry shared a black-and-white photograph of them when Anna Nicole was still alive.
“Your love is alive still to this day, in the form of a truly one of a kind teenager with her Mom’s smile, beauty and courage. Thanks to Anna’s fans for helping keep her memory alive. We love you Anna Nicole,” he furthered.
In a 2016 Today interview, Larry became candid and confessed that there were still times that he still looks back on the death of Anna Nicole.
“There’s things left unanswered, things that I didn’t get to say to her,” he said. “There’s days that if I stop and think about it, and you ask me about it, you will see a tear, but every other minute of the day you will see a smile. That’s just how it goes.”
