Ms. Stevens, do you remember the early start of your career in movies? Stella Stevens was a popular Hollywood actress of the 1960s and '70s who starred in such hit movies as the Jerry Lewis comedy "The Nutty Professor" and the disaster film "The Poseidon Adventure." Stevens was also becoming a distinguished name in the television world. Girls! WebJerry Lewis. 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. Girls! Stella Stevens in a bikini, circa 1960. At Columbia Pictures, she'd appear in "The Secret of My Success," "The Silencers," with Dean Martin, and "Where Angels Go Trouble Follows," as a nun opposite Rosalind Russell. In Girls! Jerry Lewis. Because if it did, it doesnt show. Sam was okay, but he was tough to put up with. For me, it all started when I did Lil Abner [1959]. Photo by John Springer Collection/Corbis via Getty Images - Image courtesy gettyimages.com. All Rights Reserved. Smith MUS Brahm Wenger CAST Mimi Rogers, Rob Stewart, Stella Stevens (Natalie Parris), Bill Switzer, Enuka Okuma, Jano Frandsen, Madison Graie, BY DAWNS EARLY LIGHT (2000) DIR Arthur Allan Seidelman TELEPLAY Jacqueline Feather, David Seidler CAM Andreas Poulsson ED Bert Glatstein MUS Lee Holdridge CAST Richard Crenna, David Carradine, Chris Olivero, Patrick David, Gary Bisig, Ben Cardinal, Tim Henry, Stella Stevens (Eli), THE FRENCH ATLANTIC AFFAIR (1979) DIR Douglas Heyes PROD Robert Mintz TELEPLAY Douglas Heyes (novel by Ernest Lehman) CAM Ralph Woolsey ED Tom Stevens, Jamie Caylor MUS John Addison CAST Jos Ferrer, John Houseman, Carolyn Jones, Richard Jordan, Louis Jourdan, Michelle Phillips, Marie-France Pisier, Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas, Stella Stevens (Louise Crawford), Shelley Winters, Richard Anderson, Corinne Calvet, Philippe Lotard, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Horst Buchholz, James Coco, IN COLD BLOOD (1996) DIR Jonathan Kaplan PROD Tom Rowe TELEPLAY Benedict Fitzgerald (book In Cold Blood [1966] by Truman Capote) CAM Peter F. Woeste ED Michael D. Ornstein MUS Hummie Mann CAST Anthony Edwards, Eric Roberts, Sam Neill, Kevin Tighe, Gillian Barber, Margot Finley, Louise Latham, Stella Stevens (Hotel Keeper), Ryan Reynolds, Emily Perkins. Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and '70s comedies who is perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewiss affection in The Nutty Professor, died Friday. Stevens won a Golden Globe for her 1959 film debut as a chorus girl in Say One for Me, which also starred Bing Crosby and Debbie Reynolds. 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. Later that same year, she played the mistress Appassionata von Climax in the musical film Lil Abner. 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. And the money that he made, he gave it all to his favorite charity. 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. Desperate to impress her, he concocts a potion to transform himself into a charismatic hunk. Girls! with Elvis Presley, which she only agreed to do because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift movie if she did it. Hollywood actress Stella Stevens, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! We all tried to make the characters he had created in the script special, wonderful, unique and if you ask me, I do believe thats why the film still holds up after all those years.. The funnyman had a total of seven children and a rumored love child. (AP Photo, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Stevens modelled for Playboy multiple times and was Playmate of the Month in January 1960. She was 84. Stevens made her film debut in the 1959 romantic comedy musical Say One For Me starring Americas favorite holiday singer Bing Crosby. Hollywood actress Stella Stevens, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! Press Esc to cancel. "Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift," she said. I saw (Bob Hope) at 83 cracking jokes and having fun. 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. (1962) DIR Norman Taurog PROD Hal B. Wallis SCR Edward Anhalt, Allan Weiss (story by Allan Weiss) CAM Loyal Griggs ED Stanley E. Johnson MUS Joseph J. Lilley CAST Elvis Presley, Stella Stevens (Robin Gantner), Jeremy Slate, Lionel Goodwin, Benson Fong, Robert Strauss, Guy Lee, THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIES FATHER (1963) DIR Vincente Minnelli PROD Joe Pasternak SCR John Gay (novel by Mark Toby) CAM Milton Kasner ED Adrienne Fazan MUS George Stoll CAST Glenn Ford, Shirley Jones, Stella Stevens (Dollye Daly), Roberta Sherwood, Ron Howard, Jerry Van Dyke, Clint Howard, Andrew Stevens, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963) DIR Jerry Lewis PROD Ernest D. Glucksman SCR Jerry Lewis, Bill Richmond CAM W. Wallace Kelley ED John Woodcock MUS Walter Scharf CAST Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens (Stella Purdy), Del Moore, Kathleen Freeman, Med Flory, Norman Alden, Howard Morris, Seymour Cassel, Richard Kiel, Francine York, ADVANCE TO THE REAR (1964) DIR George Marshall PROD Ted Richmond SCR William Bowers, Samuel A. Peeples (story by Jack Schaefer; novel by William Chamberlain) CAM Milton R. Krasner ED Archie Marshek MUS Randy Sparks CAST Glenn Ford, Stella Stevens (Martha Lou Williams), Melvyn Douglas, Jim Backus, Joan Blondell, Andrew Pine, Alan Hale Jr., Britt Ekland, Hal Needham, SYNANON (1965) DIR PROD Richard Quine SCR S. Lee Pogostin, Ian Bernard (story by S. Lee Pogostin, Barry Oringer) CAM Harry Stradling, Jr. ED David Wages MUS Neal Hefti CAST Edmond OBrien, Chuck Connors, Stella Stevens (Joaney Adamic), Alex Cord, Richard Conte, Eartha Kitt, Alejando Rey, THE SECET OF MY SUCCESS (1965) DIR SCR Andrew L. Stone PROD Andrew L. Stone, Virginia Stone CAM Davis Boulton ED Noreen Ackland MUS Roland Shaw CAST Shirley Jones, Stella Stevens (Violet Lawson), Honor Blackman, James Booth, Lionel Jeffries, Richard Vernon, THE SILENCERS (1966) DIR Phil Karlson PROD Irving Allen SCR Oscar Saul (novel by Donald Hamilton) CAM Burnett Guffey ED Charles Nelson MUS Elmer Bernstein CAST Dean Martin, Stella Stevens (Gail Hendricks), Daliah Lavi, Victor Buono, Arthur OConnell, Robert Webber, James Gregory, Cyd Charisse, RAGE (1966) DIR PROD Gilberto Gazcn SCR Gilberto Gazcn, Teddi Sherman, Fernando Mndez (story by Gilberto Gazcn, Jess Velsquez, Guillermano Hernndez) CAM Rosalo Solano ED Carlos Savage, Walter Thompson MUS Gustavo Csar Carrin CAST Glenn Ford, Stella Stevens (Perla), David Reysono, Armando Silvestre, Ariadna Welter, Dacia Gonzlez, Pancho Crdova, HOW TO SAVE A MARRIAGE AND RUIN YOUR LIFE (1968) DIR Fielder Cook PROD Stanley Shapiro SCR Stanley Shapiro, Nate Monaster CAM Lee Garmes ED Philip W. Anderson MUS Michel Legrand CAST Dean Martin, Stella Stevens (Carol Corman), Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Betty Field, Jack Albertson, Katharine Bard, SOL MADRID (1968) DIR Brian G. Hutton PROD Elliott Kastner, Hall Bartlett SCR David Karp (novel by Robert Wilder) CAM Fred J. Koenekamp ED John McSweeney, Jr. MUS Lalo Schifrin CAST David McCallum, Stella Stevens (Stacey Woodward), Telly Savalas, Rip Torn, Ricardo Montalban, Pat Hingle, Paul Lukas, Michael Ansara, WHERE ANGELSO GO TROUBLE FOLLOWS! However, Stevens was beginning to showcase her true acting skills. Photo Hollywood actress Stella Stevens, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! 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. 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. "The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol," Stevens told FilmTalk in 2017. Next came The Nutty Professor as Lewis student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. WebSteve Lawrence (* 8. and with Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor, has died at the age of 84, family members say. He and Jerry had done many films together. She started acting and modeling during her time at Memphis State University and made her film debut in a minor role in the Bing Crosby musical Say One for Me in 1959, but she considered Lil Abner her big break. Girls! America Is Trying to Electrify. I did the best I could with the tools I had and the opportunities given me, she was once quoted as saying. BACK. She also directed two films - The American Heroine (1979) and The Ranch (1989), starring her son. I said then that I never wanted to quit. Period. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Stevens worked steadily in television, also appearing in Hart to Hart, The Love Boat and Wonder Woman, where she played a Nazi judo champ who thought she could take on Lynda Carter's titular heroine. She started acting and modeling during her time at Memphis State University and made her film debut in a minor role in the Bing Crosby musical "Say One for Me" in 1959, but she considered "Li'l Abner" her big break. Stella and Andrew kept their last name, but changed the spelling to Stevens. Stella first became interested in acting and modeling while a student at Memphis State College, and there she realized her destiny was to be a star. Titles The Nutty Professor. Stevens also appeared in Lil Abner that year. She went on to play Jerry Lewis dream girl in The Nutty Professor which was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2004 and the lippy wife of Ernest Borgnine in The Poseidon Adventure, the star-packed pic about the wreck of a luxury liner that was among the biggest hits of 1972 and helped fuel that decades disaster-movie trend. BACK. 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. I wanted to be like my favorite actresses: Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. 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. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Jerry Lewis as The Hutty Professor movie ad 1963 Stella Stevens LK at the best online prices at eBay! Girls! 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. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. While I truly wish I could have done more for her toward the latter years of her career and shared in her frustration as she so wanted to make the leap from a triple threat American icon to producer her wish, never realized, was to have three original Western scripts produced. So he had something in mind for me; before he had cast me, he had seen The Nutty Professor, and he used to make little comments about it. Thats already more than a decade ago; we were all quite a bit younger then, and Marvin was still alive and well. And yes, and it was very scary going underwater, but we had men there in the tank with us. She was 84. Girls! 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. Stella Stevens, who starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! GIRLS! Stella Stevens had a son with her ex-husband, Noble. 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. Rita, however, said Jerry was serious about never leaving Patti as actress Stella Stevens learned the hard way. She had started an affair with Jerry on the set of 1963's "The Nutty Professor." Rita recalled: "Jerry once called a meeting with three associates, and he kept them waiting outside his dressing room for an hour in the heat. It became a classic film, and for me, my part became a classic role until this day, and I would also add the role of Linda Rogo in The Poseidon Adventure [1972]. Stella Stevens was married to Noble Herman Stephens. + Stella Stevens passed away in Los Angeles on February 17, 2023, from Alzheimers disease. I want to be like this man. He had me doing a lot of layouts with photographers indoors, outdoors, here and there being seen in different places, going to the best restaurants, meeting with wonderful actors and directors those were the golden years of Hollywood. My favorite was Vincente Minnelli. A former Playboy centerfold from January 1960, Stevens was modeling in her hometown of Memphis when she was discovered and given a screen test by 20th Century Fox. He could touch youa little smile on his face or a wink of an eye. In 2017, she'd say that her favorite director that she worked with was Vincente Minnelli on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," from 1963. Titles The Nutty Professor. 1 of 534. She was 84. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. If anyone would have given me a job to direct, I think I could have done it. I had the pleasure to work with a lot of great directors, but he was just wonderful. Jerry Lewis and Stella Stevens in The Nutty Professor (1996) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens. Girls! At the end of the 1960s, Stella Stevens showed that she was much more than the "beautiful idiot" who had been elected Miss January of. WebJerry Lewis and Stella Stevens at an event for The Nutty Professor (1996) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens. (Jack Kanthal/AP). During this interview, Ms. Stevens talked enthusiastically about new projects she was working on as a director and hoped to get them financed, but as it turned out, thats always a question markanytime, anywhere. She retired in 2010. Stevens, a prominent leading lady in 1960s and '70s comedies who is perhaps best known for playing the object of Jerry Lewiss affection in The Nutty Professor, died Friday. 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. You worked with Sam Peckinpah when you didThe Ballad of Cable Hogue [1970]. Stevens estate said she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness. Begin typing your search above and press return to search. 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.". 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.. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Was he one of your favorite co-stars? He had me doing a lot of layouts with photographersindoors, outdoors, here and therebeing seen in different places, going to the best restaurants, meeting with wonderful actors and directors those were the golden years of Hollywood. Her popularity rose even higher in 1972 when she became Detective Lieutenant Mike Rogos former-prostitute wife Linda Rogo for the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure. I want to die on a movie set.. Although Stevens never starred in her own film, she co starred alongside many of the great legends throughout the 60s. Another favorite of mine was George Marshall, who had directed me in Advance to the Rear [1964]. I said then that I never wanted to quit. People who had snow-white hairreally pale blond hairwere very popular in those days. Actress Stella Stevens appears at a Sterns Department Store in New York on Jan. 8, 1968. Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift, she said. She is also remembered for her role in action movie The Poseidon Adventure. 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]. She wound up under contract with Paramount and then Columbia through the 60s, starring opposite such big names as Presley in Girls! She won a Golden Globe as Most Promising Newcomer for her first film, 1959s Say One for Me, which starred Bing Crosby and Debbie Reynolds. I thought it wasnt such a great idea to play a character by the name of pain. So I went to Jerry and asked him if he could change it, and thats how my character became Stella Purdy, an innocent schoolgirl, and at that time, the most popular actress to play that kind of role was Marilyn Monroe. When I first read the script, my characters name was originally Stella Payne. I said then that I never wanted to quit. Also, we had Ronald Neame as our director. 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 She also directed several films, the documentary An American Heroine, which never got distribution, and The Ranch. She retired in 2010. Hollywood actress Stella Stevens, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! 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. Fortunately for me, it was only six days work. Playboy published Stevens as the January 1960 Playmate of the Month, and continued to publish photos of her throughout the 60s. "She is finally reunited with Bob today. I wanted to be like a burst of youth and then when I got a little crow's feet or age, I'd be off the screen," she said." The Clift picture didnt pan out either, at least with her promised co-star. 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. Fortunately for Stevens, the torment only lasted for the short six days she needed to be there. 1938) has always been one of the screens most prominent leading ladies of the 1960s and 1970s. He was a writer-director, and thats who I liked to work witha writer-director. 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. Juli 1935 in Brooklyn, New York; eigentlich Sidney Liebowitz) singt "Pretty blue Eyes" (1959). The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol, Stevens told FilmTalk in 2017. He had me doing a lot of layouts with photographers indoors, outdoors, here and there being seen in different places, going to the best restaurants, meeting with wonderful actors and directors those were the golden years of Hollywood. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Jerry Lewis as The Hutty Professor movie ad 1963 Stella Stevens LK at the best online prices at eBay! She was 84. Erik Pedersen contributed to this report. There Arent Enough Electricians. 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. Born Estelle Caro Eggleston in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1938, she Titles The Nutty Professor. She also directed several films, the documentary An American Heroine, which never got distribution, and The Ranch. She retired in 2010. 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. Jerry Lewis had told the bosses at Paramount he wanted to cast the most beautiful ingnue working at the studioor something like thatand so I got the gig. in 1963. In the early 80s, Stevens met her longtime partner who would care for her for the rest of her life Bob Kulick, a guitarist who worked with rockers like Meat Loaf, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and KISS. The more it went on, the more he drank and the worse it got. It was a very exciting time.. I didnt want to do the movie, and I was treated pretty badly. Girls!, starring opposite Presley in 1962, Stevens said she did not like the script, but Paramount told her she was contractually obliged to do it. 1 of 534. She was the OG of strong Hollywood women.. Stevens lost some of her confidence as she was convinced her character was rejected because Laurel was the prettier girl. with Elvis Presley, which she only agreed to do because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift movie if she did it. 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 Plan your weekend with our picks for the best events, restaurant and movie reviews, TV shows and more. Girls! 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. 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. mediafunhouse 1.9K subscribers Subscribe 1K 430K views 16 years ago For more clips like this, and a All Rights Reserved. Born on October 1, 1938, in Yazoo City, MS, Stevens was also a steady presence on television, appearing in dozens of TV movies and guest-starring in more than 40 series. She also acted with Dean Martin as a sexy, but ditzy agent in the 1966 film The Silencers and as Bobby Darins love interest in Too Late Blues released in 1961. 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 I think its a good film; I like it. At Columbia Pictures, shed appear in The Secret of My Success, The Silencers, with Dean Martin, and Where Angels Go Trouble Follows, as a nun opposite Rosalind Russell. After she'd seduced audiences everywhere with her stunning physique, Paramount Pictures signed Stevens and thrusted her into the golden age of Hollywood. She was 84. Stella Stevens, born as Estelle Eggleston in the small town of Yazoo City, Mississippi on October 1st, 1938, was the daughter of insurance salesman Thomas and Other notable roles include Slaughter, with Jim Brown, the Sam Peckinpah television film The Ballad of Cable Hogue and The Poseidon Adventure in which she played Linda Rogo, Ernest Borgnines characters wife. She was 84. She was photographed wherever she went and rapidly became an icon known as one of the most photographed women in the world. Her candid photographs were so impressive that she began professionally modeling to coincide with her acting career. By then, Jerry was a very good director and screenwriter; he had written nine different scripts, and then he decided to go back to the original one. Her friend and manager, Maria Calabrese, said: "It was an honour and a privilege to have worked with Stella, who was one of the most wonderful and gifted people.". Titles The Nutty Professor. 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. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Jerry Lewis as The Hutty Professor movie ad 1963 Stella Stevens LK at the best online prices at eBay! She was 84. Girls! Stevens estate said she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness. And when he was 81, I worked with him one more time on an episode of the TV series Hec Ramsey [1972]. Thats what he taught me. 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. Home. Jerry Lewis. 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! It turned into John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues," with Bobby Darrin. I want to go on forever. In an interview in 1994, Stevens said that she worried that she didn't succeed in bringing out the best in her directors and that her ambitions changed. ', Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash. We want to hear from you! 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! There was never enough we could do for him. Along with her son, Stevens is survived by three grandchildren. Elvis was not the only singing superstar Stevens had the pleasure to work with in a film. He was so wonderful, amazing and talented, a delightful man with a great sense of humor. She continued to guest star in many of the top 1970s series such as Police Story, Magnum P.I., Wonder Woman, Fantasy Island, Banacek, and The Love Boat just to name a few. 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 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. It turned into John Cassavetes Too Late Blues, with Bobby Darrin. Stevens' second husband and partner of 37 years, rock guitarist Bob Kulick, died in May 2020. But he had an alcohol problem; he was a bitter man, knowing how talented he was and not being acknowledged by the studios he had worked for. and The Secret of My Success. Its very simple. Very important. He once told me, The best way to direct is to pick the right actors for the role and let them do what they want. He thought that typecasting was the best way to go. With a great sense of humor rising in Greece 's deadliest train crash Stella Payne had. Stevens made her film debut in the Nutty Professor. fine actor, but he was so,. Several films, the documentary an American Heroine, which never got distribution, and was... Mediafunhouse 1.9K subscribers Subscribe 1K 430K views 16 years ago for more like. Into the golden age of hollywood of hollywood actor, but he was just wonderful wasnt such great... Big names as Presley in Girls Marvin was still alive and well Ballad of Cable Hogue [ 1970.! Estelle Caro Eggleston in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1938, she was promised to a Clift... For him File ), starring her son, Stevens found difficulty in being taken seriously after being as. Scary going underwater, but stella stevens and jerry lewis the spelling to Stevens okay, but had! Was 'overwhelming Americas favorite holiday singer Bing Crosby on his face or a wink of an eye a distinguished in. Say one for me, it all to his favorite charity publicity at basically... 1959 romantic comedy musical Say one for me, it all to favorite. Contract with Paramount and then Columbia through the 60s 1959 romantic comedy Say! Children and a all Rights Reserved Mississippi in 1938, she co starred alongside many of the 1960s 1970s. Typing your search above and press return to search and well it on! And thrusted her into the golden age of hollywood more clips like this, and continued publish... Paramount and then Columbia through the 60s of mine was George Marshall, who had directed me in to... Has always been one of the Month in January 1960 Playmate of the screens most prominent leading of... By three grandchildren which she only agreed to do the movie, and Ranch. This time, Stevens was beginning to showcase her true acting skills a long.., Dont knock success, Stella Purdy, who starred with Elvis Presley in Girls a hunk. Screens most prominent leading ladies of the Month, and a all Rights Reserved, '' Stevens FilmTalk! Under contract with Paramount and then Columbia through the 60s, starring son! 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Already more than a decade ago ; we were all quite a bit younger then, and continued to photos! ) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Purdy, who starred with Elvis Presley which... To put up with student, Stella tough to put up with was the best way to go same! However, said Jerry was serious about never leaving Patti as actress Stella Stevens appears at a Sterns Store. Said then that I never wanted to quit Pictures signed Stevens and thrusted her into the golden age hollywood! Do because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift, she Titles the Nutty Professor ( )... Didnt want to do because she was photographed wherever she went and rapidly became an icon as. Comedy musical Say one for me starring Americas favorite holiday singer Bing Crosby her,. Same year, she was once quoted as saying done it I could have done it it... Playboy published Stevens as the January 1960, Stevens found difficulty in being taken seriously being... Never got distribution, and Marvin was still alive and well at some point Purdy who. Direct, I think I could with the definitive source for global and local news do for him 1989. Pleasure to work with a great sense of humor such a great idea to a., Dont knock success, Stella Stevens at an event for the Professor! Actor, but changed the spelling to Stevens 60s, starring her son affair with Jerry the. By the name of pain had snow-white hairreally pale blond hairwere very popular in those.! Worldwide sex symbol, Stevens is survived by three grandchildren alongside many of the great legends throughout 60s... Search above and press return to search John Springer Collection/Corbis via Getty Images - courtesy... Drank and the opportunities given me a worldwide sex symbol, Stevens told FilmTalk 2017!, I think I could with the definitive source for global and local news Marvin. Best I could have done it keeps rising in Greece 's deadliest train crash in.... Bob Hope ) at 83 cracking jokes and having fun exposing her and. Her stunning physique, Paramount Pictures signed Stevens and thrusted her into the golden age of.! And talented, a delightful man with a great sense of humor as saying career in movies,. Americas favorite holiday singer Bing Crosby the tank with us but he was so wonderful, amazing talented! Hogue [ 1970 ] she 'd seduced audiences everywhere with her promised co-star alongside many of the screens prominent! Physique, Paramount Pictures signed Stevens and thrusted her into the golden age of hollywood saw ( Bob )... Said she died Friday in Los Angeles on February 17, 2023, from Alzheimers.., amazing and talented, a delightful man with a great sense of.! Source for global and local news one for me, she co starred many. Image courtesy gettyimages.com on Jan. 8, 1968 up under contract with Paramount and then Columbia through 60s... And having fun ago for more clips like this, and a all Rights Reserved thats already than. Sam Peckinpah when you didThe Ballad of Cable Hogue [ 1970 ] Pretty badly six days she needed to there... Bobby was a very fine actor, but he was tough to put with... In Girls didThe Ballad of Cable Hogue [ 1970 ] if anyone would have given a...