Eileen Fulton, the award-winning actress who captivated audiences for five decades with her portrayal of the fiery and iconic Lisa Grimaldi on CBS’s As the World Turns, has died at the age of 91.
Eileen Fulton: A Legacy Remembered
Eileen Fulton, the award-winning actress who captivated audiences for five decades with her portrayal of the fiery and iconic Lisa Grimaldi on CBS’s As the World Turns, has died at the age of 91. Fulton passed away on July 14 in her hometown of Asheville, NC, after “a period of declining health,” her family announced.
Trailblazer in Daytime Television
A trailblazer in daytime television, Fulton first joined As the World Turns in 1960. Initially cast for a three-month summer storyline, her performance as one of TV’s first “bad girls” transformed the role into a cultural phenomenon. Her 50-year tenure, spanning until the series’ final episode in September 2010, makes her one of the longest-running actors in soap opera history.
Awards and Recognition
Fulton’s contributions to the world of daytime drama earned her numerous accolades, cementing her legacy as a soap opera superstar. She was nominated for one competitive Daytime Emmy: Best Supporting Actress in 1988 (she lost the award to All My Children‘s Ellen Wheeler). Fulton was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998, a recognition of her lasting impact on the genre. In 2004, Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives) presented her with the Daytime Emmys’ prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, describing Fulton as a “treasured icon.”
Iconic Role and Character Complexity
Before joining As the World Turns, Fulton appeared in the 1960 film Girl of the Night, but it was her portrayal of Lisa that made her a household name. Initially conceived as the “sweet girl next door,” Fulton elevated the character by imbuing Lisa with complexities and dramatic flair. The result was a tempestuous character who married eight times, had dozens of lovers, and elicited love and hate alike from viewers. “I’m the classic daytime meanie,” Fulton told People in 1978.
“They hated her — and I thought it was fabulous,” the daytime diva once told NPR of fan reaction to her character. The actress’ notoriety even came with unique challenges. Throughout her career, Fulton employed a bodyguard to protect her from angry fans who disapproved of Lisa’s frequently scheming behavior. One incident saw a woman confront and slap her in a department store. Fulton took such moments in stride, joking, “I’ve reached them.”
Career Challenges and Triumphs
Despite her success, Fulton’s journey wasn’t without challenges. She left As the World Turns several times, including for its short-lived 1965 primetime spinoff, Our Private World. After a contract dispute in 1983, Fulton left the show and was replaced by Betsy von Furstenberg, only to return when producers threatened to kill off the character. “I don’t think anybody would believe Lisa is dead unless I do it,” she once quipped.
See More ...
Beyond Soap Operas
In addition to her soap opera success, Fulton also thrived in theater, starring in a Broadway production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. She performed in The Fantasticks and Abe Lincoln in Illinois off-Broadway, and even published murder mysteries, a romance novel, and two autobiographies: How My World Turns (1970) and As My World Still Turns (1995).
Personal Life and Retirement
Born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty on September 13, 1933, Fulton grew up in Asheville, the oldest of three children in a family led by her father, a Methodist minister, and her mother, a schoolteacher. By the third grade, Fulton knew she wanted to become an actress, and she pursued her passion for performance, earning a degree in music and drama from Greensboro College before moving to New York City in 1956 to study acting under Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. She eventually adopted “Eileen Fulton” as her stage name.
Romance played a (slightly) less dramatic role in Fulton’s personal life. Unlike Lisa, she was married (and divorced) just three times. Fulton retired in 2019 and returned to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she spent her final years.
Fulton’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, in Asheville, N.C.
