Asheville, North Carolina – Eileen Fulton (born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty), a veteran actress on the CBS hit series As the World Turns, passed away on July 14, 2025, at the age of 91, in her hometown of Asheville after a long illness
Los Angeles Times
A TV Actress with a Journey of Nearly 50 Years
Born on September 13, 1933, into a religious family (her father was a Methodist minister), Eileen Fulton showed an early passion for the arts — she sang at church when she was just 2 years old
New York Post
. After graduating from Greensboro College with a degree in music and acting, she moved to New York in 1956 to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Martha Graham School, as well as studying acting with Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg
“Lisa Grimaldi” – Television’s First “Villainous” Icon
In 1960, Fulton took on the role of Lisa Grimaldi on As the World Turns, initially a small role but quickly becoming a main cast member for nearly half a century (from May 18, 1960 to
Thanks to her clever character development, from a good girl to a “beautiful villainess”, Lisa became an unforgettable icon in television history. Fulton received many accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmy (2004) and an Editor’s Award from Soap Opera Digest (1991)
Versatile Career and Artistic Contributions
Beyond As the World Turns, Fulton appeared in the 1965 spin-off Our Private World and acted on Broadway, notably as Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
. She also performed cabaret in New York and Los Angeles, and authored two memoirs (How My World Turns and As My World Still Turns), six detective novels, and a fictional soap opera
Legacy and tributes
Eileen Fulton was known as one of the longest-serving television actresses in the United States. She retired in 2019 and moved to North Carolina
She is survived by her brother Charles McLarty, niece, and several family members
Family and fans are scheduled to hold a funeral service on August 9, 2025, in Asheville, according to Groce Funeral Home
A few lines of tribute
With her sharp and charismatic portrayal of Lisa Grimaldi, Eileen Fulton ushered in an era of sophisticated “villains” on television, inspiring generations of actors to come. Her passing not only closes a chapter in the history of As the World Turns, but also leaves a deep sorrow in the hearts of fans of the long-running television series.
