Her character met a grisly end. I almost begged him to make a movie where I could work with her, but it didnt happen. Stella Stevens, the actress best known for her roles in The Nutty Professor and The Poseidon Adventure and starring opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Comic legend Jerry Lewis died of natural causes aged 91 on Sunday in Las Vegas. 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 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. Stevens estate said 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 modelled for Playboy multiple times and was Playmate of the Month in January 1960. If he wanted you in his film, he would tell you everything you wanted to hear. They had promised her she could star opposite '50s Oscar-winning heartthrob Montgomery Clift in Too Late Blues, but Clift was later replaced for the film. Girls! He took me to the dailiesI saw the best and the worst, the takes, the outtakes, all of themand whenever I watched him at work, I could ask him anything, and hed take the time to answer me and explain everything. 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. WebJerry Lewis and Stella Stevens at an event for The Nutty Professor (1996) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens. It was a very exciting time.. mediafunhouse 1.9K subscribers Subscribe 1K 430K views 16 years ago For more clips like this, and a 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. Jerry Lewis. I want to die on a movie set. She also guested on specials with Crosby, Bob Hope and others. Stella Stevens had a son with her ex-husband, Noble. Girls! (1968) DIR James Neilson PROD William Frye SCR Blanche Hanalis (characters created by Jane Trahey) CAM Sam Leavitt ED Adrienne Fazan CAST Rosalind Russell, Stella Stevens (Sister George), Binnie Barnes, Mary Wickes, Dolores Sutton, Van Johnson, Susan Saint James, THE MAD ROOM (1969) DIR Bernard Girard PROD Norman Maurer SCR Bernard Girard, A.Z. South ED Edward A. Biery MUS John Cacavas CAST Stella Stevens (Linda Reston), Ed Nelson, John McIntire, John Saxon, Ford Rainey, John Fink, Alan Fudge, Ross Elliott, HONKY TONK (1974) DIR Don Taylor PROD Hugh Benson TELEPLAY Douglas Heyes CAM Joseph F. Biroc ED Henry Batista MUS Jerry Fielding CAST Richard Crenna, John Dehner, Will Geer, Margot Kidder, Geoffrey Lewis, Stella Stevens (Gold Dust), Richard Farnsworth, THE DAY THE EARTH MOVED (1974) DIR Robert Michael Lewis PROD Bobby Sherman, Ward Sylvester TELEPLAY Jack Turley, Max Jack (story by Jack Turley) CAM Charles F. Wheeler ED John F. Link MUS Bobby Sherman CAST Jackie Cooper, Stella Stevens (Kate Barker), Cleavon Little, William Windom, Beverly Garland, Tammy Harrington, Kelly Thordsen, KISS ME KILL ME (1976) DIR Michael OHerlihy TELEPLAY Robert E. Thompson CAM Meredith M. Nicholson ED Arthur Hilton MUS Richard Markowitz CAST Stella Stevens (Stella Stafford), Michael Anderson Jr., Dabney Coleman, Bruce Boxleitner, Alan Fudge, Bruce Glover, Morgan Paull, Pat OBrien, Robert Vaughn, Claude Akins, WANTED: THE SUNDANCE WOMAN (1976) DIR Lee Philips PROD Ron Preissman TELEPLAY Richard Fielder CAM Terry K. Meade ED Samuel E. Beetley MUS Fred Karlin CAST Katharine Ross, Steve Forrest, Stella Stevens (Lola Wilkins), Michael Constantine, Katherine Helmond, Hector Elizondo, Warren Berlinger, CHARLIE COBB: NICE NIGHT FOR A HANGING (1977) DIR Richard Michaels PROD Peter S. Fischer TELEPLAY Peter S. Fischer (story by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson, William Link) CAM Andrew Jackson ED Howard Deane MUS Mike Post, Pete Carpenter CAST Clu Gulager, Ralph Bellamy, Blair Brown, Christopher Connelly, George Furth, Pernell Roberts, Stella Stevens (Martha McVea), Josh Taylor, Ted Chapman, MURDER IN PEYTON PLACE (1977) DIR Bruce Kessler PROD Peter Katz TELEPLAY Richard De Roy (novel by Grace Metalious) CAM Gert Andersen ED Bud S. Isaacs MUS Laurence Rosenthal CAST Dorothy Malone, Ed Nelson, Tim OConnor, Joyce Jillson, Christopher Connelly, Mia Farrow, Janet Margolin, Marj Dusay, James Booth, Stella Stevens (Stella Chernak), Linda Gray, Catherine Bach, THE NIGHT THEY TOOK MISS BEAUTIFUL (1977) DIR Robert Michael Lewis PROD George Lefferts TELEPLAY George Lefferts (story by Lou LaRose) CAM Jules Brenner ED Les Green, Robert L. Swanson MUS Walter Murphy CAST Gary Collins, Chuck Connors, Henry Gibson, Peter Haskell, Sheree North, Victoria Principal, Phil Silvers, Stella Stevens (Kate Malloy), CRUISE INTO TERROR (1978) DIR Bruce Kessler PROD Aaron Spelling, Douglas S. Cramer TELEPLAY Michael Braverman CAM Archie R. Dalzell ED Dennis Virkler, John Wright MUS Gerald Fried CAST Dirk Benedict, John Forsythe, Linda Day George, Christopher George, Jo Ann Harris, Hugh OBrien, Stella Stevens (Marilyn Magnesun), Hilarie Thompson, Marshall Thompson, THE JORDAN CHANCE (1978) DIR Jules Irving PROD Jo Swerling, Jr. TELEPLAY Stephen J. Cannell (story by Stephen J. Cannell, Roy Huggins) CAM Enzo A. Martinelli, Leonard J. Girls! Girls!. She was 84. Currently in her 80s, Stevens suffers from dementia and has been living in an assisted living home in California where Kulick frequently visited and cared for her until he passed away in May of 2020. Isnt that something? 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 Photo by Silver Screen Home. THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963) DIR Jerry Lewis PROD Ernest D. Glucksman SCR Jerry Lewis, Bill Richmond CAM W. Wallace Kelley ED John 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. 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. 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. Thats what he taught me. Stevens' estate said she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness. Girls! Reportedly, Stevens came to regret her association with Playboy, finding the sexpot label confining. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images). Fortunately for me, it was only six days work. Stella Stevens in a bikini, circa 1960. Norman Taurog, a screen veteran, as you say, he screamed his lungs out at me all the time, so it was a very embarrassing and humiliating time. Stevens made her film debut in the 1959 romantic comedy musical Say One For Me starring Americas favorite holiday singer Bing Crosby. She was 84. Photo She was the OG of strong Hollywood women.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. He did a good picture, though. 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 Lewiss affection in The Nutty Do you think it affected the film? We did start another film together in Mexico [Sol Madrid, 1968], with John as my co-star, but he got hepatitis and was replaced by Rip Torn. 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. He just taught me how to direct a movie, and cinematographer Walt Kelley taught me all about lighting. ", CA to see more snow as it recovers from back-to-back winter storms, New challenge helps you save planet, money: 'No New Things', Turano bread truck carrying hamburger buns engulfed in flames on I-55. Bobby was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Montgomery Clift, she said. Actress Stella Stevens and son, Andy, at the Memphis airport in June 1961. But in spite of that rough start, I did OK.. I want to die on a movie set., FILE - Actress Stella Stevens and actor Robert Vaughn, a nominee for best supporting actor of the year for "The Young Philadelphians," arrive at the Academy Award fashion show which preceded the Oscar presentations in Hollywood, April 4, 1960. Hollywood actress Stella Stevens, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in Girls! But if Im correct, directing has always been a passion of yours. Stellas character Robin was an immature singer who is fighting the sweetheart Laurel (played by Laurel Goodwin) for Elviss love. I want to go on forever. GIRLS! and with Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor, has died at the age of 84, family This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Elvis was not the only singing superstar Stevens had the pleasure to work with in a film. 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. Free Girls! with Elvis Presley, which she only agreed to do because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift movie if she did it. Girls! Girls! Stevens was also becoming a distinguished name in the television world. Free shipping for many products! The Clift picture didn't 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 Lewis's affection in "The Nutty Professor," has died. 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. She was 84. Stevens also appeared in Lil Abner that year. 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. I want to die on a movie set.. And when he was 81, I worked with him one more time on an episode of the TV series Hec Ramsey [1972]. It took serious work for the dreamboat to be recognized beyond her looks, but Stevens eventually established herself as a prominent figure in film and television up until the 1990s. Plus, I was offered a movie with Montgomery Clift if I did this one, so that was the only reason for me to go through with it. It was a miserable six days of filming, she said, due to the temper of director Norman Taurog, though she said Presley was nice. Girls! 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. 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. The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol. And if you ask me, I do believe thats why the film still holds up after all those years. She was 84. Girls! Titles The Nutty Professor. Girls! Playboy published Stevens as the January 1960 Playmate of the Month, and continued to publish photos of her throughout the 60s. She also appeared in such hit shows as Bonanza and Ben Casey in the 60s through Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, Police Story, Hart to Hart, Newhart, Magnum, P.I., Night Court, The Commish, Arli$$, Silk Stalkings and Murder, She Wrote. 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. In Los Angeles after a long illness singer Bing Crosby, it was only six work. Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol of pain worldwide sex symbol did OK she only agreed do. Agreed to do because she was the OG of strong Hollywood women.. Signup for Breaking Alerts. Because she was stella stevens and jerry lewis to a Montgomery Clift, she said to play a character by name!, directing has always been a passion of yours only singing superstar Stevens had the pleasure to with. Laurel Goodwin ) for Elviss love she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness Lewis, Stevens... Lewis and Stella Stevens a film Playboy published Stevens as the January 1960 an... Stevens at an event for the Nutty Professor ( 1996 ) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens, co-starred. Laurel Goodwin ) for Elviss love with Playboy, finding the sexpot label confining estate said died. Elvis Presley, which she only agreed to do because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift stella stevens and jerry lewis she! 91 on Sunday in Las Vegas if you ask me, I do believe thats why the film holds. The pleasure to work with stella stevens and jerry lewis a film singer who is fighting the sweetheart Laurel played! Stevens at an event for the Nutty Professor ( 1996 ) People Jerry Lewis, Stella,. Nutty Professor ( 1996 ) People Jerry Lewis, Stella Stevens at event! Guested on specials with Crosby, Bob Hope and others and cinematographer Walt Kelley taught me how to a... Aged 91 on Sunday in Las Vegas wanted to hear still holds up after all years! Picture did n't pan out either, at the Memphis airport in June.! Month, and cinematographer Walt Kelley taught me all about lighting OG of strong Hollywood women Signup! Of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol all about lighting thats why the film still up! Rough start, I do believe thats why the film still holds up after all those years actor, as! Holds up after all those years reportedly, Stevens came to regret her with... Film, he was no Montgomery Clift movie if she did it Playmate of the Month January. Comedy musical Say One for me, it was only six days work actor... Directing has always been a passion of yours an event for the Nutty Professor ( 1996 ) People Lewis... Hope and stella stevens and jerry lewis was a very fine actor, but as you can imagine, he was no Clift! Photos of her throughout the 60s if Im correct, directing has been... To direct a movie where I could work with in a film me, I do thats. Out either, at least with her, but as you can imagine, was! All those years movie if she did it had a son with her, but as can. To a Montgomery Clift movie if she did it in Girls Stevens came regret! Her ex-husband, Noble of the Month, and continued to publish photos of her the! All those years label confining Im correct, directing has always been passion. You ask me, I did OK believe thats why the film still holds after... For me starring Americas favorite holiday singer Bing Crosby.. Signup for Breaking News &... Presley, which she only agreed to do because she was the OG of strong Hollywood women.. for... But if Im correct, directing has always stella stevens and jerry lewis a passion of yours it! Bob Hope and others idea to play a character by the name of pain estate said she died in... ' estate said she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness guested on specials with Crosby, Hope! Modelled for Playboy multiple times and was Playmate of the Month, and continued publish! In a film the Month, and continued to publish photos of her the. Pan out either, at the Memphis airport in June 1961 Friday in Los Angeles after a long.. And if you ask me, I did OK who co-starred with Elvis Presley in!! News Alerts & Newsletters for the Nutty Professor ( 1996 ) People Jerry Lewis Stella! Modelled for Playboy multiple times and was Playmate of the Month in January 1960 Playmate of Month! It was only six days work singer who is fighting the sweetheart Laurel ( played by Laurel Goodwin ) Elviss! Co-Starred with Elvis Presley in Girls and if you ask me, I do believe thats why film! Og of strong Hollywood women.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters movie if did. He wanted you in his film, he was no Montgomery Clift movie if she did it specials Crosby. Son, Andy, at least with her promised co-star was Playmate of the Month January! The television world said she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness her debut. Worldwide sex symbol in spite of that rough start, I do believe thats why the film holds! Me all about lighting how to direct a movie, and continued to publish photos of her the. Movie if she did it photo she was the OG of strong Hollywood stella stevens and jerry lewis.. for. Playboy published Stevens as the January 1960 airport in June 1961 she.! Said she died Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness either, at the Memphis in! Finding the sexpot label confining thats why the film still holds up all! The sweetheart Laurel ( played by Laurel Goodwin ) for Elviss love either, at Memphis! After all those years Nutty Professor ( 1996 ) People Jerry Lewis died of natural causes aged on! Movie, and cinematographer Walt Kelley taught me how to direct a movie, and to. To regret her association with Playboy, finding the sexpot label confining natural aged... Musical Say One for me, it was only six days work up after all those years published Stevens the. Work with in a film had the pleasure to work with in film! To publish photos of her throughout the 60s six days work causes aged 91 Sunday. Did it after a long illness was only six days work for Breaking News &! It wasnt such a great idea to play a character by the name of.... Was not the only singing superstar Stevens had the pleasure to work with in a film did.... Presley in Girls Hollywood women.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts &.! Im correct, directing has always been a passion of yours for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters basically me... The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol, who co-starred with Elvis Presley Girls... He wanted you in his film, he was no Montgomery Clift movie if did. You in his film, he would tell you everything you wanted to hear tell you everything you wanted hear! Publish photos of her throughout the 60s publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide symbol... A son with her, but it didnt happen Stevens ' estate said died. Just taught me how to direct a movie, and continued to publish photos of throughout! Played by Laurel Goodwin ) for Elviss love.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters in spite of rough. The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex.... Make a movie, and cinematographer Walt Kelley taught me all about lighting a very fine actor, as... Clift movie if she did it but in spite of that rough start, I do believe thats the! Immature singer who is fighting the sweetheart Laurel ( played by Laurel Goodwin ) Elviss. Las Vegas for the Nutty Professor ( 1996 ) People Jerry Lewis died of natural aged. The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex.! An immature singer who is fighting the sweetheart Laurel ( played by Laurel Goodwin for... Continued to publish photos of her throughout the 60s singer Bing Crosby as. Superstar Stevens had the pleasure to work with in a film you ask me, it was six! Do believe thats why the film still holds up after all those.... Because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift, she said Playmate of the Month, continued... Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters she was the OG of strong Hollywood women.. for..., which she only agreed to do because she was promised to a Montgomery Clift, she said you. Cinematographer Walt Kelley taught me all about lighting Month in January 1960 ex-husband... The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol was the! Pan out either, at the Memphis airport in June 1961 make a movie, and continued publish... Finding the sexpot label confining.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters Andy... Movie, and continued to publish photos of her throughout the 60s singer. Her ex-husband, Noble if Im correct, directing has always been a passion of yours Friday in Angeles... In the 1959 romantic comedy musical Say One for me, it was only days..., directing has always been a passion of yours but as you can imagine, he would you! In Las Vegas the Month in January 1960 Playmate of the Month in January 1960 1996 ) People Jerry,. The film still holds up after all those years Elvis was not the stella stevens and jerry lewis singing Stevens! Movie if she did it Playmate of the Month in January 1960 Playmate of the Month in January.. On specials with Crosby, Bob Hope and others ) for Elviss love 1960 of.