Born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty on September 13, 1933, in Asheville, North Carolina, she passed away on July 14, 2025, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, at the age of 91, following a period of declining health.
Her death marks the end of an era in daytime television: she was the original “soap-opera bad girl,” known above all as Lisa Grimaldi on As the World Turns. Her remarkable career spanned over six decades—she first appeared in the show in 1960 and remained a steady, unforgettable presence until its finale in 2010.
From Small-Town Church to Broadway Spotlight
Hailing from a minister’s household—her father was a Methodist minister and her mother a public school teacher—Eileen Fulton displayed early signs of performance flair. At just two years old, she famously broke into song during a church service, belting out “Shortnin’ Bread” in front of the congregation.
As a child, she lived in various towns across western North Carolina, reflecting the transient life of a minister’s family. She ultimately graduated from Greensboro College in 1956 with a degree in music.
After college, she moved to New York City, where she pursued acting studies under legendary teachers: Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg, and Martha Graham. Initially supporting herself with colorfully ordinary jobs—like hat model and Macy’s hat-seller—she soon landed her stage debut, performing in “The Lost Colony” in North Carolina.
In 1960, she took the screen name “Eileen Fulton,” appeared in the film Girl of the Night, and auditioned for a role that would define her career.
Enter Lisa: The First Soap “Vixen”
In May 1960, Fulton was cast as Lisa Miller—a seemingly temporary, sweet character—on As the World Turns. Her instincts, however, led Lisa down an unexpected path: she imbued the character with a scheming tone that transformed her into the definitive soap opera “vixen.” What began as a short-term role became her life’s work: Lisa Grimaldi stayed on the show for half a century, with Fulton staying nearly continuously through its final episode in September 2010.
Lisa’s early storylines—marrying Bob Hughes, faking pregnancy, manipulating family—established her as daytime television’s first villainess. Her success was not without controversy: sometimes viewers mistook Fulton for Lisa and shouted at her in public, calling her a witch or worse.
But audiences also fell in love with her complexity as Lisa evolved into a more layered character, taking on business ventures, familial roles, and community involvement.
Juggling Live Television and Theater
Fulton’s ambitions extended beyond the soundstage. As the World Turns was broadcast live, and Fulton regularly doubled as a stage actress. In her early years on the soap, she was simultaneously appearing in Broadway’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and performing in The Fantasticks off-Broadway. She later said that during those years she would film soap episodes during the day and headline movies or plays at night—or vice versa.
This dual life continued for decades. Fulton also developed a steady cabaret presence in New York and Los Angeles, delighting audiences with her singing and theatrical flair.
She pursued writing, publishing two autobiographies—How My World Turns (1970) and As My World Still Turns (1995)—alongside a mystery novel titled Soap Opera and several murder mysteries. These creative ventures strengthened her reputation as a multifaceted performer, far beyond the confines of daytime television.
Career Savvy: The “Granny Clause” and Creative Control
Few actors of her generation enjoyed the creative autonomy Fulton achieved. In the late 1960s, she reportedly inserted a “granny clause” into her contract to prevent Lisa from being portrayed as a grandmother—Fulton wanted to avoid aging out of her leading-lady image. She also navigated multiple departures from and returns to the show, using her influence to negotiate favorable terms and pursue side projects.
Fulton appeared in a 1965 primetime spin-off called Our Private World. Though it only ran for 38 episodes, the show underscored her star power beyond the daytime slot and demonstrated her ambition to break into prime-time drama.
Honors, Milestones, and a Half-Century on Screen
During her career, Fulton earned widespread recognition:
- She was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998.
- In 2004, she received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.
- She was honored with a Soap Opera Digest Editor’s Award in 1991.
- Her career yielded multiple Daytime Emmy nominations, including 1988 and 2004.
By September 17, 2010, the finale of As the World Turns, Fulton had appeared in roughly 8,000 episodes. At the final curtain, she was among the cast members honored with a celebration of their contributions to daytime drama spanning five decades.
In interviews, Fulton reflected on Lisa’s arc: “I have gone through two lives—my own and Lisa’s.” She embraced that dual existence and relished the opportunity to grow with a character who aged—from schemer to community pillar—as Fulton aged.
Legacy and Life After Soap
After the show ended, Fulton remained active in cabaret, writing, and occasional theater and public appearances. She retired in 2019, relocating permanently to Black Mountain, North Carolina, near Asheville. She spent her final years close to her family, including her brother, sister-in-law, niece, and grand-nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was scheduled for August 9, 2025, at Central United Methodist Church in Asheville.
Why Eileen Fulton Remains a Television Trailblazer
- Inventing the soap-opera antihero: Before Lisa Grimaldi, women on daytime TV were largely confined to sweet, misunderstood roles. Fulton’s Lisa flipped that script—creating a gloriously flawed, unapologetic female schemer who captivated audiences across generations.
- Blurring performance boundaries: Fulton wasn’t a soap star who dabbled in theater—she was equally committed to stage, cabaret, film, and writing. That multifaceted approach paved the way for later performers who would balance TV and theater simultaneously.
- Negotiating power and image: Fulton understood the importance of image and terms. Her savvy negotiations—especially the famed granny clause—allowed her to retain control over her career in a time when actors, especially women, often lacked leverage.
- Expanding her creative profile: Beyond acting, Fulton authored books, musicals, plays, and mysteries. She was never content to remain under one label—and she made it clear she wouldn’t settle.
- Maintaining relevance across eras: From the rise of network soaps in the 1960s to the soap decline of the 2010s, Fulton proved her adaptability. She remained a fixture in living rooms for half a century, offering a rare constant in the shifting television landscape.
Personal Remembrances
Friends, family, and fans remember Fulton as a warm, witty, and fiercely intelligent woman:
- She was deeply proud of her southern roots and the lessons of hard work, humility, and faith she learned growing up.
- She loved to sing—fans say her cabaret shows were heartfelt, bringing them to tears, then levity.
- She cherished her reputation as a fearless actress, always willing to “live different lives” through her creations.
- By her own account, she valued the continued love for Lisa even as the character became more nuanced and beloved.
- Near the end of her life, Fulton reportedly took delight in being recognized as “Lisa” at the supermarket—an homage, she said, to the character who had followed her home in the best possible way.
Final Curtain and Lasting Applause
On July 14, 2025, Eileen Fulton passed away peacefully at age 91. She leaves behind a beloved brother, nieces, grand-nieces and nephews, and a legacy that will echo through television and theater history.
Her journey from singing toddler to acting ingénue, from soap-opera villainess to respected performer and author, embodies the full spectrum of artistic ambition. She played Lisa in nearly every sense of that word.
In Memoriam
Eileen Fulton once wrote, “I have gone through two lives—my own and Lisa’s—and not many actors get to do that.” Indeed, most performers never inhabit a single character so deeply for so long; Fulton inhabited two simultaneously, and made each one indelibly memorable.
She may have left this world, but her work lives on—100 tapes per viewer, 8,000-plus episodes, and the countless books she wrote or inspired. For viewers of As the World Turns, she was more than an actress—she was Lisa.
Rest in peace, Eileen Fulton: a lifelong performer, a relentless creator, and a woman who refused any single box. Her life reminds us that legends aren’t born—they’re crafted, moment by moment, role by role, in full public view.
