Eileen Fulton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eileen Fulton
Fulton in 1965
Born	Margaret Elizabeth McLarty (1933-09-13) September 13, 1933 (age 91) Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	Greensboro College
Occupation	Actress singer author
Years active	1960–present
Spouse(s)	Bill Cochrane ​ ​ (m. 1957, divorced)​ Danny Fortunato ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1980)​ Rick McMorrow ​ ​ (m. 1989, divorced)​

Eileen Fulton (born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty; September 13, 1933) is an American actress, singer, and author. She is best known for her role as Lisa Grimaldi on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. She played this character for almost 50 years, from 1960 until the show ended in 2010. Eileen also starred in Our Private World (1965), a special TV show that came from As the World Turns. She won an Editor's Award in 1991 and a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 for her work. Eileen Fulton has also acted in plays, including the famous Broadway show Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. She has performed as a singer in New York and Los Angeles. She has written two books about her life and several mystery novels.

Early Life and Dreams

Eileen Fulton was born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 13, 1933. Her father was a Methodist minister, meaning he led a church. Her family moved often because of her father's job. They lived in many towns in North Carolina, like Mount Holly and Winston-Salem.

When she was only two years old, Eileen sang the song "Shortnin' Bread" during a church service. This showed her love for performing early on! When she was in third grade, she told her parents, "When I grow up and become a movie star, I'm going to get you a house of your own."

She went to Greensboro College to study music and drama. While in college, she performed in plays like Candide. After college, her father found her a job with a church choir. But Eileen wanted to move to New York City to follow her acting dreams.

Becoming a Star

Starting Her Acting Journey

Eileen Fulton started her acting career in a play called The Lost Colony in North Carolina. In 1956, she moved to New York City. She studied acting with famous teachers like Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg. To support herself, she worked different jobs. She sold hats at Macy's and worked as a model. She even appeared on the covers of magazines. Around this time, she started using the stage name Eileen Fulton. Her first movie role was in Girl of the Night (1960).

Life as Lisa Grimaldi

On May 18, 1960, Eileen was cast as Lisa Miller on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. This was a huge moment for her career. She was the first actress to play the character of Lisa. In the early years of the show, Lisa married Dr. Bob Hughes. Lisa's character became very popular and had many exciting storylines. She was married eight times during her time on the show!

Beyond As the World Turns

In the 1960s, Eileen also performed in many theater plays. She acted in Abe Lincoln in Illinois. She also took over a role in the original Broadway show Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She even performed Off-Broadway in The Fantasticks. Eileen was incredibly busy! She would act live on As the World Turns in the afternoon. Then, she would quickly travel to the theater for her matinee play performance. After that, she would be back on stage for an evening play.

In 1965, the writers of As the World Turns created a new TV show just for her character, Lisa. It was called Our Private World. This show lasted for a few months before it was canceled. Eileen took some time off before returning to As the World Turns in 1966. She was so popular that CBS hired a bodyguard to protect her from overly excited fans!

The "Granny Clause" and Books

In the late 1960s, Eileen made a special request for her contract. Her character's son on the show grew up very quickly. Eileen asked that her character, Lisa, never become a grandmother. She worried that if Lisa became a grandmother, the writers might make her character less important. This special request became known as the "granny clause."

In 1970, Eileen wrote her first book about her life, called How My World Turns. She also released her first music album. She took a few breaks from As the World Turns over the years. Other actresses sometimes played Lisa during her absences. Fans were very protective of her character. In 1986, when Lisa's daughter-in-law had a miscarriage on the show, Eileen received many angry letters. Fans thought the "granny clause" was still in effect, even though it wasn't. She even needed a bodyguard again!

In the late 1980s, Eileen started writing mystery novels. She wrote six books in a series, including Take One for Murder and Death of a Golden Girl. In 1988, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She also received the Editor's Award at the Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1991. In 1995, she wrote her second autobiography, As My World Still Turns, to celebrate her 35 years on the show. She was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998.

Later Career and Awards

Eileen also wrote a fiction novel called Soap Opera. It was inspired by her experiences on As the World Turns. In the early 2000s, she often performed as a singer in New York and Los Angeles. Her most famous song to perform was "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from the musical Sunset Boulevard. She would sing it while showing pictures from her years on As the World Turns.

In 2000, As the World Turns celebrated Eileen and her co-star Don Hastings' 40th anniversaries on the show. In 2004, they both received special Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Awards. Eileen also acted in a few movies during this time, like The Signs of the Cross (2005).

In December 2009, it was announced that As the World Turns would be ending. In May 2010, the show aired a special episode to celebrate Eileen's 50th year. Younger actors on the show re-enacted famous scenes of Lisa. Eileen stayed with the show until its very last episode on September 17, 2010.

After As the World Turns ended, Eileen continued to perform her singing act. She also acted in a play called My Fair Lady in 2011.

Personal Life

Eileen Fulton has helped students by setting up scholarships. She created a music scholarship at Brevard College in North Carolina to honor her father. She also started a Fine Arts Scholarship at her and her mother's college, Greensboro College. Greensboro College also gave her an honorary doctorate degree.

Eileen was married three times. She married Bill Cochrane in 1957. She later married record producer Danny Fortunato in 1970. Her third marriage was to landscape architect Rick McMorrow in 1989.

Film and Television Roles

Film

Television

Awards and Recognition