Eileen Fulton, Icon of Daytime Drama, Passes Away at 91
Eileen Fulton, the indomitable actress who changed the face of daytime television with her role as Lisa Grimaldi, has died at the age of 91. She passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025, in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, after a period of declining health. Her death was confirmed through a family obituary published by Groce Funeral Home.
Fulton, born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty in 1933, is best known for portraying Lisa Grimaldi on the long-running CBS soap opera As the World Turns. Her groundbreaking role spanned five decades and helped redefine how women were portrayed on daytime television. With her sharp delivery, captivating screen presence, and layered performances, Eileen Fulton became a fixture in American homes for generations.
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From a Southern Childhood to National Stardom
Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Eileen Fulton was the daughter of a Methodist minister and a public schoolteacher. After earning a music degree from Greensboro College in 1956, she relocated to New York City to pursue acting. There, she trained under legendary acting coaches Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg, refining a technique that would serve her well on screen and stage.
She studied modern dance under Martha Graham and voice with Oren Brown. Her versatility and work ethic led her to her film debut in 1960 with Girl of the Night, the same year she landed the role that would define her career.
Lisa Grimaldi: Television’s First Daytime “Vixen” Who Captivated Viewers for 50 Years
Fulton’s casting as Lisa Grimaldi on As the World Turns was originally intended to be a three-month part. However, her electrifying presence and unique interpretation of the character transformed Lisa into one of the most compelling women in soap opera history.
Her role began in 1960 and continued, with only brief interruptions, until the show’s final episode in 2010. Lisa Grimaldi wasn’t just another character; she was television’s first true daytime “vixen.” Fulton’s Lisa was ambitious, emotional, manipulative, loving, and always unpredictable—a full spectrum of human traits rarely afforded to women on television at the time.
This portrayal marked a major cultural shift. Women on television were no longer bound to passive, domesticated roles. Fulton helped lead the charge for multidimensional, flawed, and strong female characters. She once said she knew she was doing her job well because strangers would yell at her on the street.
A Broadway and Cabaret Star Who Balanced Live Theatre with Live Television
Beyond daytime television, Eileen Fulton was a passionate performer in New York’s vibrant theater scene. She appeared in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway and starred in The Fantasticks off-Broadway. Remarkably, she often performed in live theater after filming a live episode of As the World Turns.
Her stage work was accompanied by performances in cabaret venues across New York and Los Angeles. Fulton’s vocal range and stage charisma made her a natural in front of any audience, big or small.
She even starred in the primetime spin-off Our Private World in 1965 and was known to have turned down roles that would age her character too quickly. She once insisted in her contract that Lisa Grimaldi never become a grandmother—a clause that producers honored.
Author, Advocate, and Award-Winning Pioneer of the Soap Opera Genre
Eileen Fulton didn’t limit her creativity to acting. She was also an accomplished writer and advocate. She authored two autobiographies—How My World Turns and As My World Still Turns—where she reflected on her life in front of and behind the camera. In addition to her memoirs, she penned the novel Soap Opera and several murder mystery books.
Her contributions to the genre earned her several accolades. In 1998, she was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame. She received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and the Editor’s Award at the 1991 Soap Opera Digest Awards. These honors recognized her unmatched contributions to the evolution of daytime television.
She also created scholarships at Greensboro College and Brevard College to honor her parents and support students pursuing education and the arts.
Personal Life and Final Years Marked by Grace, Family, and Retirement
Although she was married three times, Eileen Fulton never had children. Her marriages included one to television producer Danny Fortunato, and later, to landscape architect Rick McMorrow. Her last known relationship ended before her retirement.
In 2019, she officially retired from public life and returned to Black Mountain, North Carolina. Surrounded by her loved ones, she spent her final years in peace. She is survived by her brother, Charles Furman McLarty, sister-in-law Chris Page McLarty, niece Katherine Morris, and other family members.
Funeral services are scheduled for August 9, 2025. In place of flowers, her family has asked for donations to be made to the scholarships she helped establish.
Eileen Fulton’s Enduring Legacy in Television History
Eileen Fulton wasn’t just a soap opera actress—she was a trailblazer who altered the DNA of television storytelling. Through her portrayal of Lisa Grimaldi, she introduced audiences to a new type of female character—complicated, powerful, flawed, and unforgettable.
Fulton proved that daytime television could be bold, emotional, and reflective of real human conflict. Her contribution will continue to resonate with generations of actors, writers, and fans.
Eileen Fulton was more than a performer; she was a creator, innovator, and icon who shaped modern storytelling on television.
