Stella Stevens, the actress best known for her roles inThe Nutty ProfessorandThe Poseidon Adventureand starring oppositeElvis PresleyinGirls!
Girls!,died today in Los Angeles after a long battle with Alzheimers disease.
Stevens also appeared inLil Abnerthat year.
Stella Stevens
Reportedly, Stevens came to regret her association withPlayboy, finding the sexpot label confining.
I was a divorced mom with a toddler by the time I was 17.
AndPlayboydid as much harm as it helped.
Elvis Presley and Stevens in ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’, 1962
She also guested on specials with Crosby, Bob Hope and others.
She also directed a pair of films:The Ranch(1989) andThe American Heroine(1979).
What a tremendous body of work and loss.
She was the OG of strong Hollywood women.
Along with her son, Stevens is survived by three grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her longtime partner,rock musician Bob Kulick.
Erik Pedersen contributed to this report.
