Stella Stevens, the actress known for starring in popular movies like The Nutty Professor and The Poseidon Adventure, has passed away at the age of 84.
Her son Andrew Stevens and friend John O’Brien confirmed the news. She had been battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Stevens’ manager Maria Calabrese described her as a wonderful and talented person, known as a strong Hollywood woman.
Born as Estelle Eggleston on October 1, 1938, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Stevens developed an interest in acting and modeling as a teenager.
She started her movie career in 1959 with Say One for Me, starring alongside Bing Crosby, and won the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. She also appeared in Li’l Abner and signed with Paramount Pictures.
Stevens was also a successful model, becoming Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in January 1960 and featuring in the magazine throughout the decade. She was later named one of the “100 Sexiest Stars of the 20th Century” by Playboy.
In movies, she acted alongside Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! in 1962, and gained fame for her role in the original 1963 The Nutty Professor, opposite Jerry Lewis. She also appeared in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father the same year.
Her notable role came in the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, where she played Linda, the wife of Ernest Borgnine’s character. The movie was a blockbuster, and Stevens was praised for her performance.
Afterwards, she focused more on TV roles, appearing in shows like Bonanza, The Love Boat, Newhart, Fantasy Island, Murder, She Wrote, and Magnum, P.I. She continued acting until the 2000s.
Stella Stevens’ career spanned decades, and she’ll be remembered for her many great performances.