Stella Stevens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stella Stevens
Stevens in 1961
Born	Estelle Caro Eggleston (1938-10-01)October 1, 1938 Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	February 17, 2023(2023-02-17) (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Memphis State University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1959–2010
Spouse(s)	Noble Stephens ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1957)​
Partner(s)	Bob Kulick (1983–2020; his death)
Children	Andrew Stevens

Stella Stevens (born Estelle Caro Eggleston; October 1, 1938 – February 17, 2023) was an American actress and model. She was known for her roles in many movies and TV shows.

Stella started acting in 1959. She appeared in films like Say One for Me and TV shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Bonanza. In 1960, she won a Golden Globe Award for "New Star of the Year."

She starred in popular films like Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) with Elvis Presley, The Nutty Professor (1963) with Jerry Lewis, and The Poseidon Adventure (1972). Later, she focused more on TV roles. She appeared in shows like The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, and Murder, She Wrote. Stella Stevens also worked as a film producer, director, and writer.

Early Life and Career Start

Stella Stevens was born Estelle Caro Eggleston on October 1, 1938, in Yazoo City, Mississippi. When she was four years old, her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. She went to school in Memphis and graduated from high school in 1955.

At age 16, she married Noble Herman Stephens in 1954. Their son, Herman Andrew Stephens, was born in 1955. Stella and Noble later divorced in 1957.

While studying at Memphis State University, Stella became very interested in acting and modeling. She was noticed in a school play called Bus Stop. This performance helped her start her acting career.

Film Roles and Success

Stella Stevens with Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor (1963)

Stella Stevens made her first movie, Say One for Me, in 1959. She had a small role as a chorus girl. After this, she won the part of Appassionata Von Climax in the musical Li'l Abner (1959). In 1960, she won a Golden Globe Award for "New Star of the Year" for her role in Say One for Me.

In 1961, she starred with Bobby Darin in Too Late Blues. The next year, 1962, she appeared with Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls!.

In 1963, Stella starred in two successful comedy films. She played Stella Purdy, a student and love interest, in The Nutty Professor with comedian Jerry Lewis. She also appeared in The Courtship of Eddie's Father.

Later, she starred with Dean Martin in the spy movie The Silencers (1966). In 1970, she received good reviews for her role in The Ballad of Cable Hogue. A film critic, Roger Greenspun, said she was "at last in a role good enough for her." In 1972, she was in the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure, playing Linda Rogo.

Even though she continued to act in movies, Stella Stevens started to focus more on television roles.

Television Appearances

Stella Stevens and Hugh O'Brian in General Electric Theater, 1961

Stella Stevens was in many popular TV shows in the 1960s. These included Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1960), General Electric Theater (1960, 1961), and Bonanza (1960). In Bonanza, she played a character who could not hear or speak.

From the early 1970s, she worked regularly on TV series and movies made for television. She appeared in shows like Banacek (1973) and Police Story (1975). She was also in the pilot episodes for Wonder Woman (1975), The Love Boat (1977), and Hart to Hart (1979). In 1979, she acted alongside her son, Andrew Stevens, in an episode of The Oregon Trail.

Throughout the 1980s, she continued to appear in many series. These included Newhart (1983), Fantasy Island (1983), Murder, She Wrote (1985), and Magnum, P.I. (1986). She also had a role in 34 episodes of the show Flamingo Road (1981–82).

In the 1990s, Stella Stevens continued her TV work. She was in shows like Highlander: The Series (1995) and General Hospital (1996, 1999). She also appeared in the miniseries In Cold Blood (1996).

Other Creative Work

In the 1960s, Stella Stevens was one of the most photographed women in the world. She was also part of a singing group called The Skip-Jacks. This group sang the theme songs for famous TV shows like The Flintstones and The Patty Duke Show.

Stella also performed in stage plays. She directed two feature films: The Ranch (1989) and The American Heroine (1979). In 1999, she helped write a novel called Razzle Dazzle.

Personal Life and Later Years

Stella Stevens was married to Noble Herman Stephens from 1954 to 1957. Their son, Andrew, was born in 1955.

In 1983, Stella began a long-term relationship with rock guitarist Bob Kulick. They were together until his death in 2020. In 2016, Stella moved to a care facility in Los Angeles because she had Alzheimer's disease.

Death

Stella Stevens passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease in Los Angeles on February 17, 2023. She was 84 years old.

Filmography

Films

Television

As director

• The American Heroine (1979)
• The Ranch (1989)

Images for kids

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  Stella Stevens in 2009

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  Poster for the film Girls, Girls, Girls (1962)

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  The Nutty Professor movie poster

See also

In Spanish: Stella Stevens para niños