Actress Stella Stevens, star of The Nutty Professor, passes away at 84

Stella Stevens, known for her roles in The Poseidon Adventure and The Nutty Professor, has passed away at the age of 84 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

The news of her passing was confirmed by her son, Andrew Stevens, to Deadline.

Her manager and close friend, Maria Calabrese, expressed in a statement to the publication: “It was an honor and a privilege to work with Stella, who was one of the most wonderful and gifted people I have ever worked with.

“While I truly wish I could have done more for her toward the latter years of her career and shared in her frustration as she so wanted to make the leap from a triple threat American icon to producer – her wish, never realized, was to have three original Western scripts produced.

“She was an amazing animal lover, horse wrangler, rock and roller, so ahead of her time and so much more than a sex symbol – which her adoring fans admired her for and understood. 

“What a tremendous body of work and loss. She was the OG of strong Hollywood women.”

Stevens discovered her passion for performing during her college years and made her film debut in 1959 in Say One For Me, starring alongside Bing Crosby.

She impressed many in the role and went on to win the Golden Globe for most promising newcomer for the movie.

In 1960, she posed for Playboy, securing the coveted centerfold position in January of that year.

Stevens gained attention for her roles in Girls! Girls! Girls! alongside Elvis Presley, as well as The Courtship of Eddie’s Father and the Silencers.

One of her most celebrated roles was opposite Jerry Lewis in the original version of The Nutty Professor, portraying smitten student Stella Purdy.

She also starred in The Poseidon Adventure in 1972, a film that received eight Oscar nominations and won two.

Stevens was a familiar face on television, with appearances in shows like Magnum PI, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Santa Barbara, and The Commish.

Her final TV role was in 2006’s Twenty Good Years, and her last film appearance was as Mary Jane in Megaconda, in 2010.

The actress got married to Noble Herman Stephens in 1954 at the age of 16, and they welcomed their son Andrew the following year. However, their marriage ended in 1957.

She is survived by her son.

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