Key takeaways:
- Legendary actress Stella Stevens passed away at the age of 82
- She began her career in 1959 and considered her big break to be her role in the 1960 film “Li’l Abner”
- In 1963, she starred as the object of Jerry Lewis’s affection in the classic comedy “The Nutty Professor”
Legendary actress Stella Stevens has passed away at the age of 82. Born Estelle Caro Eggleston in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1938, she began her career in the entertainment industry while attending Memphis State University. Her film debut came in 1959 with a minor role in the Bing Crosby musical “Say One for Me”, but it was her role in the 1960 film “Li’l Abner” that she considered her big break.
In 1963, Stevens starred as the object of Jerry Lewis’s affection in the classic comedy “The Nutty Professor”, which she considered her most memorable role. She went on to appear in numerous other films and television shows throughout the 1960s and 70s, becoming a prominent leading lady in the process.
In 1955, at the age of 17, Stevens married and gave birth to her only child, actor/producer Andrew Stevens. She divorced two years later. In 2017, Stevens told FilmTalk that the head of publicity at Paramount had made her a “worldwide sex symbol”.
Stevens passed away on Friday in Los Angeles after a long illness. She will be remembered for her many memorable roles and her lasting impact on the entertainment industry.
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