Eileen Fulton, the beloved actress best known for her iconic portrayal of Lisa Grimaldi on the long-running soap opera As the World Turns, has passed away at the age of 91, RadarOnline.com can report.
Fulton’s death occurred on Monday, July 14, at her home in Asheville, North Carolina, following “a period of declining health“, according to an obituary released by Groce Funeral Home.
Born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty on September 13, 1933, in Asheville, Eileen Fulton’s journey to stardom was shaped early on by a creative upbringing. Her father, a Methodist minister, and her mother, a public school teacher, grounded her in a world where storytelling was paramount.
Fulton famously recalled her first performance at the tender age of two, when she “jumped from my mother’s lap and ran to the altar and sang, ‘Mama’s little baby loves shortening bread.'”
In a 1998 interview with CBS News, she humorously reflected: “They couldn’t shut me up, and they haven’t been able to shut me up since.”
Source: MEGA
Eileen Fulton was best known for her role in ‘As the World Turns’.
Fulton’s passion for the performing arts led her to Greensboro College, where she studied drama and music.
1956 marked a pivotal year when she moved to New York City, where she took classes under legendary acting instructors Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg. Her talents soon caught the eye of casting directors, leading to her film debut in the 1960 drama Girl of the Night alongside Anne Francis. However, it was her role on As the World Turns that cemented her place in television history.
Initially cast as Lisa Mae Bailey, Fulton became synonymous with the character Lisa Grimaldi when the soap opera debuted its fourth season in 1960.
Although her character was slated for a brief run, Lisa’s complexity captivated audiences, leading to a remarkable 50-year tenure on the show, which concluded in September 2010.
Fulton became a staple of daytime television, with her character experiencing eight marriages and numerous affairs over the series’ lifespan.