Eileen Fulton—who brought Lisa Grimaldi to life on As the World Turns for 50 years—has died at age 91 in her birthplace of Asheville, North Carolina.

Eileen Fulton—born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty on September 13, 1933, in Asheville, North Carolina—passed away on July 14, 2025, at age 91 in her hometown after a period of declining health.

Daughter of a Methodist minister and a public-school teacher, she moved frequently with her family across North Carolina—living in Mount Holly, Winston-Salem, Boone, Belmont, and Marion before settling in Asheville. She attended Greensboro College, earning a degree in music and drama in 1956, where she performed in productions like Candide and The 13 Clocks before relocating to New York to pursue an entertainment career.

Television Legacy: Lisa Grimaldi and As the World Turns

Fulton’s defining role began in May 1960, when she premiered as Lisa Miller (later Grimaldi) on CBS’s As the World Turns. Originally intended as a short-term “nice girl” part, Lisa quickly evolved into daytime TV’s first great “vixen,” a role Fulton imbued with charisma and complexity over an unprecedented 50-year run until the show ended in September 2010.

Her enduring performance earned her induction into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998 and a Daytime Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2004. She briefly left the show three times—for contract disputes or spin-off attempts—but ultimately made each return, solidifying her legacy as one of the most iconic soap stars ever.

Beyond Daytime: Stage, Cabaret & Writing

Fulton’s talent extended beyond soap operas. She appeared on Broadway in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and off-Broadway in The Fantasticks, even while appearing on As the World Turns during live broadcasts.

An accomplished singer and performer, she regularly headlined cabaret shows in New York and Los Angeles. As a writer, Fulton authored two autobiographies—How My World Turns (1970) and As My World Still Turns (1995)—alongside Soap Opera (a novel) and six mysteries, including Take One for Murder, often inspired by her soap-world experience.

Personal Life & Civic Contributions

Fulton was married three times—first to Bill Cochrane (1957), then record producer Danny Fortunato (1971–1980), and briefly to landscape architect Rick McMorrow in 1989, ending in divorce after just three months. She candidly shared experiences from her personal life in interviews and writing.

A proud alumna of Greensboro College, she endowed music and fine arts scholarships in her parents’ names and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2005 when delivering the commencement address . She also invested in the New York Stars women’s basketball team, showing her support for women in sports and community involvement.

Final Years & Memorial Arrangements

After retiring from acting in 2019, Fulton moved back to the Asheville area, residing in Black Mountain, NC. She is survived by her brother Charles Furman McLarty, niece Katherine Morris and family, and sister-in-law Chris Page McLarty; she was preceded in death by her parents and brother James Fulton McLarty.

Funeral services were planned for August 9, 2025, at Central United Methodist Church in Asheville, followed by interment at Riverside Cemetery. The family requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made to music scholarship funds at Brevard College and Greensboro College—testaments to her lifelong love of music and education.

Reflection: The Unforgettable Lisa—and the Real Eileen

Eileen Fulton’s portrayal of Lisa Grimaldi helped transform the landscape of television drama, influencing character development and audience engagement across decades. As Lisa, she stirred controversy, loyalty, and fierce fan devotion; as Eileen, she remained grounded, generous, and devoted to her roots in North Carolina and the arts.

Her longevity, versatility, and contributions—on-screen, in ink, on stages, and through philanthropy—made her not only a star but a cultural icon.

Quick Facts Overview

Category	Detail
Full Name	Margaret Elizabeth McLarty (stage name: Eileen Fulton)
Born / Died	Sept 13, 1933 – July 14, 2025, Asheville, NC
Signature Role	Lisa Grimaldi, As the World Turns (1960–2010)
Career Span	1960–2019 (television, stage, cabaret, writing)
Awards & Honors	Soap Opera Hall of Fame (1998), Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement (2004)
Authorship	Two autobiographies, a novel, six murder mysteries
Education	Greensboro College (Honorary Doctorate, commencement speaker 2005)
Memorial	Services Aug 9, 2025, Asheville; donations to music scholarships

Eileen Fulton lived a life partly spent in the spotlight yet deeply shaped by resilience, creativity, and conviction. From small-town North Carolina to soap opera legend, Broadway actress, author, and benefactor, she forged a legacy marked by artistic courage and heartfelt generosity.

Her passing closes one of daytime television’s most vibrant chapters—and her spirit continues through every scholar supported by her legacy, every reader moved by her stories, and every viewer still remembering a certain unforgettable vixen of Oakdale.

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