The daughter of a Methodist minister and a descendant of a line of clergymen, Margaret Elizabeth McLarty made her professional debut in "The Last Colony" in Manteo, North Carolina before moving to New York City to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater.
Eileen Fulton is best known for being the first "bad girl" on television, when she created the role of Lisa Miller on the CBS Soap, As The World Turns over 50 years ago. Her character was scandalous enough to attract huge audiences that loved to hate her. Her popularity was so high at that time that CBS produced one of television's first "primetime soaps" for her when they created the spin off nighttime series, Our Private World.
However, it was onstage in the Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? that Eileen found a balance in her ability to perform both onstage and TV. In the morning she would tape an episode of As the World Turns, then she would be on a Broadway stage for the matinee performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and by evening she would be back onstage in the Off-Broadway musical, The Fantasticks". Her other theater credits include the Off Broadway production of Abe Lincoln in Illinois with Hal Holbrook, Many Loves, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, and Night Club Confidential. She also appeared in regional theater productions such as, Plaza Suite, It Had To be You, The Owl and the Pussycat, Goodbye Charlie and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Fulton has also appeared in five independent films, which earned her the Achievement in Television, and Film Award at the Independent Filmmakers Award Ceremony.
In addition, Eileen has co-authored two autobiographies, How My World Turns and As My World Still Turns; a novel titled Soap Opera as well as six murder mysteries, Take One for Murder, Death of a Golden Girl, Dying for Stardom, Lights, Camera, Death, A Setting for Murder, and Fatal Flashback.
Eileen is an established recording artist and critically acclaimed cabaret performer. This past December in a special holiday concert, Eileen Fulton: The Holiday Show she performed to a sold out crowd at NYC's famed Don't Tell Mama's. This coming April she will return to the cabaret club with a special three day performance A Special Tribute to As the World Turns dedicated to her fans.
To add to her roster of achievements, Fulton has also been the recipient of many prestigious awards and recognition for her work. In 2003, she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the TV Academy during the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. In September 1998, she was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame.
Fulton established a music scholarship at Brevard College in Brevard, NC in honor of her father as well as a Fine Arts Scholarship in her and her mother's name at their alma mater of Greensboro College. In 2005 Eileen was awarded an honorary doctorate at Greensboro College when she spoke at their commencement.
Today, Eileen resides in New York City along with her two loyal pups, Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald.
1964 to 1965
Lisa Miller Hughes Eldridge Shea Colman McColl Mitchell Grimaldi
1960 to 1983; 1984 to September 17, 2010
The Fantasticks
Abe Lincoln in Illinois [Off Broadway]
Many Loves
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
Nite Club Confidential
Plaza Suite
It Had to be You
The Owl and the Pussycat
Goodbye, Charlie
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Daytime TV Voted Best Actress in Daytime TV's reader poll in 1970 and remained in the top ten for 58 of the first 80 issues (1970-77)
Soap Opera Digest Awards Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (1996)
Soap Opera Digest Awards Editor's Award (1991)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Asheville, North Carolina
DATE OF BIRTH: September 13, 1933
HAIR: Blonde
