TV icon dies aged 91 leaving fans with untold story of remarkable life
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The entertainment world is saying goodbye to a familiar face whose work spanned decades on both stage and screen.
Known for a long-running role that captivated audiences, their recent passing has left fans reflecting on a career that shaped an entire genre.
For many, the loss feels like the closing of a significant chapter in television history. Tributes continue to flow as people honour the legacy left behind.
A Star is Born: From Margaret McLarty to Eileen Fulton
Born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty, Eileen’s journey to stardom began in Asheville, North Carolina.
After earning a music degree from Greensboro College in 1956, she set her sights on the stage and screen—a dream that would soon become reality.
Just four years after graduation, she landed the role defining her career: the cunning and complex Lisa Miller on CBS’s As the World Turns.
Lisa Miller: Daytime’s Original Bad Girl
When Eileen first stepped into Lisa’s shoes in 1960, she had no idea she was about to create one of television’s most iconic villainesses.
Lisa Miller was a character audiences loved to hate—scheming, ambitious, and always at the centre of Oakdale’s juiciest scandals.
Yet, as Eileen herself once said, she and Lisa were worlds apart.
'Her dreams, her ideals were certainly totally different from Eileen Fulton,' she told NPR in 2010.
'She depended on men to do this, that, and the other thing—and to make her rich. Believe me, that’s not how I am. I create. I believe in setting goals, and going after it, and getting it.'
Despite their differences, Eileen’s portrayal brought depth and humanity to Lisa, making her a fan favourite and a trailblazer for strong, complicated women on television.
Over the years, Eileen’s own personality and values began to blend with her character’s, creating a unique legacy that spanned five decades until the show’s final episode in 2010.
A Career Beyond the Soap
While As the World Turns was her home for nearly 50 years, Eileen’s talents extended far beyond the small screen.
She studied under legendary acting coaches Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg, honing her craft and earning respect in the theatre world.
Her Broadway dreams came true with roles in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and the beloved off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks.
Eileen was also a gifted singer and cabaret performer, delighting New York City and Los Angeles audiences with her wit, charm, and powerful voice.
'I dreamed of being the greatest actress on Broadway,' she told The Washington Post in 1990.
'I love to sing. I love to make the audience cry. Of course, then I have to cheer them up.'
A Life of Recognition and Achievement
Eileen’s contributions to television were recognised with some of the industry’s highest honours.
She was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998 and received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004—a testament to her enduring impact on the genre.
Not content to rest on her laurels, Eileen also became an author, penning several books about her life and career, including her 1970 autobiography How My World Turns and its 1995 follow-up As My World Still Turns.
Her candid reflections offered fans a glimpse behind the scenes of both her personal journey and the ever-dramatic world of soap operas.
A Lasting Legacy
After retiring in 2019, Eileen moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she enjoyed a quieter life surrounded by family.
She is survived by her brother Charles Furman McLarty, her niece Katherine Morris, and her sister-in-law Chris Page McLarty.
Eileen Fulton’s passing is a poignant reminder of the golden age of television and the power of storytelling to touch hearts across generations.
Her legacy lives on in the countless fans who followed Lisa Miller’s every twist and turn, and in the actors she inspired with her dedication, resilience, and passion for her craft.
A Soap Opera Icon for the Ages
For many Australians, As the World Turns was a staple of daytime TV, and Eileen’s Lisa Miller was a familiar face in living rooms across the country.
Did you watch As the World Turns? Do you have fond memories of Eileen Fulton’s performances, or perhaps stories of your own favourite soap stars? We’d love to hear your thoughts and tributes—share your memories in the comments below.
Read more: Hollywood legend and 'Dallas' star dies at 100, reveals little-known life and legacy
Known for a long-running role that captivated audiences, their recent passing has left fans reflecting on a career that shaped an entire genre.
For many, the loss feels like the closing of a significant chapter in television history. Tributes continue to flow as people honour the legacy left behind.
A Star is Born: From Margaret McLarty to Eileen Fulton
Born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty, Eileen’s journey to stardom began in Asheville, North Carolina.
After earning a music degree from Greensboro College in 1956, she set her sights on the stage and screen—a dream that would soon become reality.
Just four years after graduation, she landed the role defining her career: the cunning and complex Lisa Miller on CBS’s As the World Turns.
Actress Eileen Fulton dies at 91 after nearly 50 years playing Lisa Miller on As the World Turns. Credit: YouTube
Lisa Miller: Daytime’s Original Bad Girl
When Eileen first stepped into Lisa’s shoes in 1960, she had no idea she was about to create one of television’s most iconic villainesses.
Lisa Miller was a character audiences loved to hate—scheming, ambitious, and always at the centre of Oakdale’s juiciest scandals.
'Her dreams, her ideals were certainly totally different from Eileen Fulton,' she told NPR in 2010.
'She depended on men to do this, that, and the other thing—and to make her rich. Believe me, that’s not how I am. I create. I believe in setting goals, and going after it, and getting it.'
Despite their differences, Eileen’s portrayal brought depth and humanity to Lisa, making her a fan favourite and a trailblazer for strong, complicated women on television.
Over the years, Eileen’s own personality and values began to blend with her character’s, creating a unique legacy that spanned five decades until the show’s final episode in 2010.
A Career Beyond the Soap
While As the World Turns was her home for nearly 50 years, Eileen’s talents extended far beyond the small screen.
She studied under legendary acting coaches Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg, honing her craft and earning respect in the theatre world.
Her Broadway dreams came true with roles in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and the beloved off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks.
Eileen was also a gifted singer and cabaret performer, delighting New York City and Los Angeles audiences with her wit, charm, and powerful voice.
'I dreamed of being the greatest actress on Broadway,' she told The Washington Post in 1990.
'I love to sing. I love to make the audience cry. Of course, then I have to cheer them up.'
Eileen’s contributions to television were recognised with some of the industry’s highest honours.
She was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998 and received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004—a testament to her enduring impact on the genre.
Not content to rest on her laurels, Eileen also became an author, penning several books about her life and career, including her 1970 autobiography How My World Turns and its 1995 follow-up As My World Still Turns.
Her candid reflections offered fans a glimpse behind the scenes of both her personal journey and the ever-dramatic world of soap operas.
A Lasting Legacy
After retiring in 2019, Eileen moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she enjoyed a quieter life surrounded by family.
She is survived by her brother Charles Furman McLarty, her niece Katherine Morris, and her sister-in-law Chris Page McLarty.
Eileen Fulton’s passing is a poignant reminder of the golden age of television and the power of storytelling to touch hearts across generations.
Her legacy lives on in the countless fans who followed Lisa Miller’s every twist and turn, and in the actors she inspired with her dedication, resilience, and passion for her craft.
For many Australians, As the World Turns was a staple of daytime TV, and Eileen’s Lisa Miller was a familiar face in living rooms across the country.
Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, reinvention, and the magic of live performance—qualities that resonate with so many of us in the Seniors Discount Club community.
Credit: YouTube
Credit: YouTube
Read more: Hollywood legend and 'Dallas' star dies at 100, reveals little-known life and legacy
