The world mourns the loss of legendary actress Stella Stevens, who made an unforgettable impact on the entertainment industry. Her outstanding performances in blockbuster hits such as “The Poseidon Adventure,” “The Nutty Professor,” and “Girls! Girls! Girls!” with Elvis Presley, solidified her place in Hollywood history. With an impressive resume of 142 film and television credits, her fans eagerly await her last movie release, “Quakers,” where she lent her voice to the character Nutty the Squirrel, set to premiere on February 24th, 2023.
Sadly, Stevens did not live to witness her final film’s release. Her son, Andrew Stevens, reported to The Hollywood Reporter that his mother passed away on February 17th, 2023, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She had been in hospice care for a considerable amount of time.
Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Stevens’ passion for acting and modeling blossomed during her time at Memphis State College. Her big break came with her debut role in the 1959 film “Say One For Me,” alongside Bing Crosby and Debbie Reynolds. Her outstanding performance earned her the coveted Golden Globe Award. She continued to grace both the big and small screens, appearing in popular TV shows such as “General Electric Theater,” “Ben Casey,” and “Flamingo Road.”
In addition to her successful acting career, Stevens posed for Playboy magazine three times, although she reflected that it did as much harm as it helped. Despite facing personal struggles, including being a divorced mother at just 17 years old, she persevered, saying, “I did the best I could with the tools I had and the opportunities given to me.”
Maria Calabrese, Stevens’ manager, shared her heartfelt tribute to the late actress, calling her “one of the most wonderful and gifted people I have ever worked with.” Calabrese praised Stevens’ talent, animal activism, and rock and roll spirit, adding that she was “so much more than a sex symbol,” and that her loss would be felt deeply by Hollywood and her adoring fans.
Stella Stevens will forever be remembered as an original Hollywood icon, an inspiration to many aspiring actors, and a trailblazer for strong women in the entertainment industry. Rest in peace.