February 17, 2023 10:58am Stella Stevens Stella Stevens, the actress best known for her roles in The Nutty Professor and The Poseidon Adventure and starring Basically, everybody was helping me to teach me to make a film back then. Girls! In an interview in 1994, Stevens said that she worried that she didnt succeed in bringing out the best in her directors and that her ambitions changed. She was 84. Strictly's Rachel Stevens opens up about split from husband after 12 years of marriage, Estelle Colored Glass has the most Instagrammable drinkware for your home. Stella Stevens, who starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! She was 84. She also directed several films, the documentary An American Heroine, which never got distribution, and The Ranch. She retired in 2010. Girls! with Elvis Presley, which she only agreed to do because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift movie if she did it. Born Estelle Caro Eggleston in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1938, she married at 16 and gave birth to her first and only child, actor/producer Andrew Stevens in 1955 when she was 17, and divorced two years later. Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and 70s comedies perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewis's affection in The Nutty Professor, has died. Stevens' talents excelled not only through acting alongside superstars that included the King of Rock 'n Roll, but also in comedy, directing, producing, and writing. And if you ask me, I do believe thats why the film still holds up after all those years. Girls! Reportedly, Stevens came to regret her association with Playboy, finding the sexpot label confining. He was a writer-director, and thats who I liked to work witha writer-director. ABC7 Chicago 24/7 Stream LOS ANGELES -- Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and 70s comedies perhaps best known for playing the object of Hollywood actress Stella Stevens, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! Jerry Lewis and Stella Stevens stared in The Nutty Professor in 1963 Credit: Rex Features But they split in 1956 in acrimonious circumstances and did not Jerry Lewis. She also directed several films, the documentary An American Heroine, which never got distribution, and The Ranch. She retired in 2010. WebSteve Lawrence (* 8. Along with her son, Stevens is survived by three grandchildren. Her son told the Hollywood Reporter she had been in a hospice for some time with Alzheimer's disease. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Average Retirement Savings By Age: Are You Normal? Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and 70s comedies perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewiss affection in The Nutty Professor, has died. Stevens worked steadily in television in the 1970s and 80s, appearing in the pilots for Wonder Woman, Hart to Hart and The Love Boat and in series like Night Court, Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.. So thats three classics [laughs]. Soon after, she won the New Star Golden Globe, was named Playboys Playmate of the Month and got a contract with Paramount Pictures, leading to film work and Girls! The funnyman had a total of seven children and a rumored love child. It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. Titles The Nutty Professor. Hollywood casting agent Marvin Paige, film-wise my partner in crime for many years, had introduced me to Ms. Stevens in 2006 when this interview was conducted at her Beverly Hills home. Girls! She was 84. And when he was 81, I worked with him one more time on an episode of the TV series Hec Ramsey [1972]. All Rights Reserved. Fortunately for me, it was only six days work. Stevens also produced and directed The American Heroine in 1979 and The Ranch in 1989, but as usual her natural sexual appeal caused issues as most wanted to focus on her appearance over her instructions. But even on TV, I had a classic role in the series Bonanza [1959-1973], playing a silent mute, in a segment called Silent Thunder [1960], which was directed by Robert Altman. Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and '70s comedies perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewis' affection in The Nutty Professor, has died, aged 84. In 1963, she played one of her most iconic roles as the love interest Stella Purdy in Jerry Lewiss science fiction comedy The Nutty Professor. Actress Stella Stevens appears at a Sterns Department Store in New York on Jan. 8, 1968. Melvin Franks Lil Abner (1959) paved the way for her next films such as John Cassavetes Too Late Blues co-starring Bobby Darin, Man-Trap (both 1961) with Jeffrey Hunter and David Janssen, and then came Girls! Plan your weekend with our picks for the best events, restaurant and movie reviews, TV shows and more. and with Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor, has died at the age of 84, family Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Another favorite of mine was George Marshall, who had directed me in Advance to the Rear [1964]. She was 84. Girls! I said then that I never wanted to quit. She was an amazing animal lover, horse wrangler, rock and roller, so ahead of her time and so much more than a sex symbol which her adoring fans admired her for and understood. You then appeared with Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor (1963). In one of her most memorable roles, 1963 sci-fi comedy The Nutty Professor, Stevens played a student of Jerry Lewis' socially awkward university lecturer. On set, Stevens also felt bored as all she was expected to do was stand around and look beautiful, and she was constantly yelled at by director Norman Taurog. Maria Calabrese, founder of Green Life Media and Stevens manager and friend, remembered the actress as one of the most wonderful and gifted people and the OG of strong Hollywood women., It was an honor and a privilege to work with Stella, who was one of the most wonderful and gifted people I have ever worked with, Calabrese wrote in a statement to Deadline. Girls! Jerry Lewis had told the bosses at Paramount he wanted to cast the most beautiful ingnue working at the studio or something like that and so I got the gig, she said. Stella Stevens had a son with her ex-husband, Noble. For me, it all started when I did Lil Abner [1959]. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Stella grew up quickly and married electrician Noble Herman Stephens in 1954 when she was just sixteen years old. She was 84. Titles The Nutty Professor. Photo Girls! Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and 70s comedies perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewiss affection in The Nutty The competition is tough, young people replace older generations of actors, and even they have to wait and see what their chances will be like in the near future. Girls! Jerry Lewis and Stella Stevens in The Nutty Professor (1996) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens. He pondered and said, Dont knock success, Stella. And the film with Montgomery Clift I was promised to do, that turned out to be Too Late Blueswith Bobby Darin [and directed by John Cassavetes]. (1997) DIR Lewis Teague PROD Skip Ward, Ira Marvin TELEPLAY Gy Waldron CAM Larry Lindsey, Barry M. Wilson ED Russell Livingstone MUS Steve Wariner CAST Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach, Denver Pyle, James Best, Ben Jones, Stella Stevens (Josephine Max), THE CHRISTMAS LIST (1997) DIR Charles Jarrot PROD James Shavick, Rosanne Milliken TELEPLAY Marie Weiss CAM Henry Chan ED Mark Lemmon, Garry M.B. Beyond the Dash Home; Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and 70s comedies perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewiss affection in The Nutty Professor, has died. Jerry Lewis and Stella Stevens in. in 1963. Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift. For two seasons in the early 80s, she starred in the primetime soap Flamingo Road and later had recurring roles in Santa Barbara and General Hospital. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Marc J. Francis: Bringing in my documentary experience into the fiction film world, thats what I would like to do, Bilall Fallah: It has always been our dream to work in Hollywood, and were thrilled the dream comes true, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. Girls! There was never enough we could do for him. Although she played a minor part, she nevertheless won the Golden Globe award for New Star Of The Year-Female, which then led to bigger roles. South ED Larry Lester MUS Pete Rugolo CAST Raymond Burr, Ted Shackelford, James Canning, Jeannie Fitzsimmons, John McIntire, Peter Haskell, Stella Stevens (Verna Stewart), FRIENDSHIPS, SECRETS AND LIES (1979) DIR Marlene Laird, Ann Zane Shanks PROD Jacqueline Babbin TELEPLAY Joanna Crawford (novel by Babs H. Deal) CAM Michael D. Margulies ED Diane Adler MUS Angela Morley CAST Cathryn Damon, Shelley Fabares, Sondra Locke, Tina Louise, Paula Prentiss, Stella Stevens (Edyth), Loretta Swit, Fran Bennett, MAKE ME AN OFFER (1980) DIR Jerry Paris PROD Carter DeHaven TELEPLAY Pamela Chais CAM Donald M. Morgan ED John F. Link, Tom Stevens MUS Ralph Burns CAST Susan Blakely, Patrick ONeal, John Rubinstein, Bruce Bauer, Carole Cook, Stella Stevens (Deidre Price), Walter Brooke, CHILDREN OF DIVORCE (1980) DIR TELEPLAY Joanna Lee PROD Charles B. Fitzsimmons CAM Harry J. (AP Photo, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Its very simple. A Golden Globe winner as Most Promising Newcomer for her screen debut in Frank Tashlins 1959 romantic comedy Say One For Mealong with Tuesday Weld, Angie Dickinson, and Janet Munroactress Stella Stevens (b. "I wanted to be like my favorite actresses: Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. If he wanted you in his film, he would tell you everything you wanted to hear. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Around this time, Stevens found difficulty in being taken seriously after being labeled as a sexpot. Her given roles tended to appease this stereotype by exposing her beauty and often required the removal of her clothing at some point. Stella Stevens had a son with her ex-husband, Noble. Girls! Stella Stevens, who starred alongside Elvis Presley in Girls! She was 84. Girls!, Dean Martin in How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life, Bobby Darin in Too Late Blues, Chuck Conners in Synanon and Glenn Ford in The Courtship of Eddies Father, ADvance to the Rear and Rage. Girls! My favorite was Vincente Minnelli. Stella Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and '70s comedies who is perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewis affection in The Nutty Professor, has died. Jerry Lewis had told the bosses at Paramount he wanted to cast the most beautiful ingnue working at the studio or something like that and so I got the gig, she said. Stella Stevens on why Jerry Lewis snubbed her (Dean!) WebJerry Lewis and Stella Stevens at an event for The Nutty Professor (1996) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens. She was 84. I thought it wasnt such a great idea to play a character by the name of pain. 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