17 February 2023 , 20:06
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Stella Stevens has died aged 84 her family have confirmed.
The veteran actress was known for her roles in the likes of The Nutty Professor as well as television shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and In The Heat Of The Night.
Stella won a Golden Globe as Most Promising Newcomer for her first film Say One for Me in 1959, also appearing in Lil Abner that year.
Her other film credits include The Ballad of Cable Hogue, The Silencers, Sol Madrid, Where Angels Go Trouble Follows! and The Secret of My Success.
Her heartbroken son Andrew Stevens confirmed the tragic news as fans continue to flood social media with touching tributes.
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Hollywood star Stella Stevens has died aged 84 (Getty Images)"Sorry to hear about the passing of Stella Stevens – she was a true comedic talent when she had a decent script," Tweeted one fan.
While another wrote: "She was such a wonderful, underrated actress – game and touchingly silly in The Nutty Professor.
"Sweet and subtly sad in Minnelli’s Courtship of Eddie’s Father, guarded and hauntingly needy in Cassavetes’ neglected Too Late Blues. RIP Stella Stevens."
"RIP Stella Stevens. She dazzled me in The Nutty Professor," penned a third. While another said: "RIP Stella Stevens. My first memory of her is as the sexy, courageous, wisecracking Linda in The Poseidon adventure."
She had battled Alzheimer's disease before her death (Mirrorpix)Stella once famously said: "I did the best I could with the tools I had and the opportunities given me."
She added: "I was a divorced mom with a toddler by the time I was 17. And Playboy did as much harm as it helped. But in spite of that rough start, I did OK."
In January 1960, the stunning American actress became Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month and was also featured in Playboy pictorials in 1965 and 1968.
She was also featured in Playboy's 100 Sexiest Stars of the 20th Century, appearing at number 27. During the 1960s, she was one of the most photographed women in the world.
Stella is survived by three grandchildren (Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)She was originally modelling in her hometown of Memphis when she was discovered and given a screen test by 20th Century Fox.
She had a long career and landed most of her film and TV appearance in the '60s and '70s, though she still took part in a handful of roles in the '90s.
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Stella was also a popular guest on talk shows, making about a half-dozen appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She also directed films The Ranch (1989) and The American Heroine (1979).
Along with her son, Stella is survived by three grandchildren. She was predeceased by her longtime partner, rock musician Bob Kulick.