Soap legend Eileen Fulton dies at age of 91 as family confirm sad death
Soap star, Eileen Fulton has sadly died at the age of 91.
The iconic soap star was best known for her work as the first bad girl of daytime television for her role as Lisa Miller in As the World Turns.
Eileen sadly passed away on 14 July in Asheville, North Carolina, at the age of 91 following a period of declining health, her family confirmed on the Groce Funeral Home website, sharing that her funeral service will be held on August 9.
The 91-year-old first appeared in As the World Turns in May 1960, remaining in the cast until the CBS show went off air in September 2010, reports the Mirror.
While she did exit the soap three times, including when she took time out to film her own primetime spin-off Our Private World, she always returned to the soap that made her famous.
Her 50-year stint on the series made her one of the longest-starring soap actors in US TV history, despite the role initially being created as a short-term character.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Eileen - whose real name was Margaret Elizabeth McLarty - was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998 and received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
She co-wrote her first autobiography, How My World Turns, in 1970 and jointly wrote her second, As My World Still Turns, 25 years later. Eileen also wrote a series of murder-mystery books and a novel titled Soap Opera.
She retired in 2019 and moved back to North Carolina. Eileen is survived by her brother, Charles Furman McLarty, niece Katherine Morris and their children, and her sister-in-law Chris Page McLarty. The actress was married and divorced three times over the years.
Instead of flowers, Eileen's family has asked for donations to be made to the Reverend James B. McLarty Music Scholarship, or the Margaret Glenn McLarty '28 and Eileen Fulton Music Scholarship Fund. Reminiscing about her As The World Turns character, Eileen once said, "She's a romantic, that's why she falls in love so much."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Man travels 500 miles to meet beauty queen and 'future wife' - before discovering sad truth
Michel, 76, from Belgium, believed he was about to meet the 'love of his life,' famous model Sophie Vouzeland. A lovestruck man was left dumbfounded after a 500-mile journey to meet a beauty queen ended in the discovery that he had been catfished. Michel, a 76 year old from Belgium, believed he was on his way to meet his ' soulmate ', the renowned model Sophie Vouzeland. However, upon arriving at her residence in Saint-Julien, France, he was met by her husband, Fabien, instead. The smitten senior announced himself as her " future husband", only to be shocked when the man at the door said: "Well, I'm the current one." Michel had been under the impression that he was communicating with the 2007 Miss France runner-up via WhatsApp. Convinced of their bond, Michel had even transferred a whopping £25,000 as a loan to someone he thought was Sophie, reports the Mirror. The couple took to social media to share a poignant video of their encounter with Michel, hoping to raise awareness about romance fraud. In the footage, a disheartened Michel admits: "I think she played a dirty trick on me. I am an imbecile." He proceeded to show Fabien the messages they had exchanged. "My wife, no, it's the fake accounts," Fabien clarified. "You have to be very careful." The video was uploaded to Instagram with a caption expressing sympathy for Michel: "I feel so sorry for this man. Watch out for fake accounts. I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself." Sophie, who is expecting a baby with Fabien, expressed that the incident "hurts my heart". The scam has since sparked reactions on social media, with users finding it alarming that their address was known. One individual warned: "Let us all be vigilant! Fake accounts and scams suck." Another sympathised: "Poor Sophie in the middle of this being pregnant. Fingers crossed this doesn't happen again and ends well. Cheer up to both of you." Grateful for the support, Sophie replied in the comments: "Thank you, it's not easy." A third shared their astonishment: "Oh crazy what a story! Poor gentleman. It's horrible to know that there are still people scamming people. I hope it won't happen again and that you can live your life peacefully." One more person highlighted the risks of online exposure: "The danger of social networks. But I'm surprised how he could get your address. It's absolutely not normal."
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Beloved star who played iconic role for incredible 50 years as the first soap ‘vixen' dies aged 91
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BELOVED soap opera star who played an iconic character for 50 years has died, aged 91. Eileen Fulton, best known for her on and off portrayal of Lisa Miller in the popular show As the World Turns, died on July 14 in her hometown of Ashville, North Carolina. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Eileen Fulton has died, aged 91 Credit: The Mega Agency 4 The iconic actress was best known for her work on As the World Turns Credit: Alamy 4 She died in her hometown in North Carolina Credit: Alamy Her tragic passing came "after a period of declining health", Groce Funeral Home's obituary for her said. Fulton popularised her character Lisa with a "bad girl" aesthetic, winning the hearts of many at home - from 1960 all the way until 2010. The star previously revealed that her character had been written as a more innocent "sweet girl next door" figure. But after delivering her lines in a more "conniving" manner to make Lisa more interesting, the writers picked up on the idea and played into it. READ MORE CELEBRITY NEWS TRAGIC LOSS Pokemon star and legendary voice actor who played fan-favourite characters dies Her character was renowned for her "vixen" vibe - and Time magazine once described Fulton's interpretation of Lisa as a "superb****h". Later on in the show, Lisa became a more gentle dame, with her personality maturing as both the actress and character grew older. At one point during the show, Fulton famously had a "grandma clause" locked into her contract. This would have prevented the character of Lisa from having grandchildren - out of fear that it would make her seem old or irrelevant. Her iconic portrayal of Lisa on As the World Turns earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1988 and 2004. Fulton and Don Hastings - who played her first husband on the show - were also both given Lifetime Achievement honors at the Daytime Emmys. Eighties TV star with A-list actress daughter and famous ex passes away aged 78 after year-long battle with cancer Eileen Fulton was born as Margaret McClarty in Asheville in 1933. She moved homes frequently as a child due to her dad's vocation as a Methodist priest. By the age of two, she was already keen on acting. She interrupted one of her dad's services by singing the old folk song Shortnin' Bread - and the endured the resulting spanking, she told the Washington Post. Fulton majored in music at Greensboro College and her dad got her a job in a church choir. But she was dead-set on moving to New York City - with big dreams of "being the greatest actress on Broadway". She studied under renowned acting teachers Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg, as well as modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. And her journey continued after embarking on a showbiz career that finally took off in 1960 - when she was cast on As the World Turns. For the next 50 years, she repeatedly left the show. But she always wound up coming back - on one occasion commenting: "I've quit forever three times." Early on in the show, Fulton worked tirelessly to juggle the soap and the stage. She would film by day - acting in such shows as The Fantasticks - and act by night, in the Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for example. Her most enduring role, however, will always be known as her chic and ruthlessly conniving portrayal of Lisa on As the World Turns. Fan-favourite Lisa made a whopping eight thousand appearances on the show - cementing herself as a core presence on the soap opera. She was known for her quick-thinking improvised quips while performing live - and her character even got a brief spin-off called Our Private World in 1965. Alongside her soap work, she performed a touring cabaret act. She one said: "I love to sing. I love to make the audience cry. Of course, then I have to cheer them up." Fulton also wrote a string of novels during the 1980s and 1990s - including six murder mysteries and a roman à clef called Soap Opera. She is survived by one of her two brothers, both of her sisters-in-law and her niece, as well as a grandnephew and grandniece.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Beloved star who played iconic role for incredible 50 years as the first soap ‘vixen' dies aged 91
A BELOVED soap opera star who played an iconic character for 50 years has died, aged 91. Eileen Fulton, best known for her on and off portrayal of Lisa Miller in the popular show As the World Turns, died on July 14 in her hometown of Ashville, North Carolina. 4 4 Her tragic passing came "after a period of declining health", Groce Funeral Home 's obituary for her said. Fulton popularised her character Lisa with a "bad girl" aesthetic, winning the hearts of many at home - from 1960 all the way until 2010. The star previously revealed that her character had been written as a more innocent "sweet girl next door" figure. But after delivering her lines in a more "conniving" manner to make Lisa more interesting, the writers picked up on the idea and played into it. Her character was renowned for her "vixen" vibe - and Time magazine once described Fulton's interpretation of Lisa as a "superb****h". Later on in the show, Lisa became a more gentle dame, with her personality maturing as both the actress and character grew older. At one point during the show, Fulton famously had a "grandma clause" locked into her contract. This would have prevented the character of Lisa from having grandchildren - out of fear that it would make her seem old or irrelevant. Her iconic portrayal of Lisa on As the World Turns earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1988 and 2004. Fulton and Don Hastings - who played her first husband on the show - were also both given Lifetime Achievement honors at the Daytime Emmys. Eighties TV star with A-list actress daughter and famous ex passes away aged 78 after year-long battle with cancer Eileen Fulton was born as Margaret McClarty in Asheville in 1933. She moved homes frequently as a child due to her dad's vocation as a Methodist priest. By the age of two, she was already keen on acting. She interrupted one of her dad's services by singing the old folk song Shortnin' Bread - and the endured the resulting spanking, she told the Washington Post. Fulton majored in music at Greensboro College and her dad got her a job in a church choir. But she was dead-set on moving to New York City - with big dreams of "being the greatest actress on Broadway". She studied under renowned acting teachers Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg, as well as modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. And her journey continued after embarking on a showbiz career that finally took off in 1960 - when she was cast on As the World Turns. For the next 50 years, she repeatedly left the show. But she always wound up coming back - on one occasion commenting: "I've quit forever three times." Early on in the show, Fulton worked tirelessly to juggle the soap and the stage. She would film by day - acting in such shows as The Fantasticks - and act by night, in the Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for example. Her most enduring role, however, will always be known as her chic and ruthlessly conniving portrayal of Lisa on As the World Turns. Fan-favourite Lisa made a whopping eight thousand appearances on the show - cementing herself as a core presence on the soap opera. She was known for her quick-thinking improvised quips while performing live - and her character even got a brief spin-off called Our Private World in 1965. Alongside her soap work, she performed a touring cabaret act. She one said: "I love to sing. I love to make the audience cry. Of course, then I have to cheer them up." Fulton also wrote a string of novels during the 1980s and 1990s - including six murder mysteries and a roman à clef called Soap Opera. She is survived by one of her two brothers, both of her sisters-in-law and her niece, as well as a grandnephew and grandniece.
