GENERAL HOSPITAL Alum Stella Stevens Dead at 84

Veteran Hollywood actress Stella Stevens has died at the age of 84 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Although perhaps best known for her roles in films like The Nutty Professor and The Poseidon Adventure, the actress also enjoyed a stint on GENERAL HOSPITAL back in the late ‘90s.

Stevens played the character of Jake for a handful of episodes in both 1996 and 1997. She was also known as the “Shady Lady,” the woman who owned the bar Jake’s, located in a particularly sketchy area of Port Charles. When Jason Morgan left the Quartermaine family, she let him take a room above the bar. In 1999, she left town after selling Jake’s to Coleman. The name of the bar later became The Floating Rib after Luke bought it.

Back in the ‘60s, Stevens’ career took off when she was discovered modeling and went on to star opposite stars like Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls!, Dean Martin in How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life, and Glenn Ford in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.

In addition to her numerous appearances on the big screen, Stevens was also a frequent presence on television, appearing in series like WONDER WOMAN, THE LOVE BOAT, HART TO HART, NEWHART, MAGNUM, P.I., NIGHT COURT, and MURDER SHE WROTE. She also starred as Lute-Mae Sanders on the primetime sudser FLAMINGO ROAD and played Phyllis Blake (Gina’s mom) on NBC daytime soap SANTA BARBARA.

Along with her son, actor Andrew Stevens, she is survived by three grandchildren. Stevens was predeceased by her longtime partner, rock musician Bob Kulick. Our thoughts are with her friends and family during this difficult time.