The camera loved her in the 1960s, and – at 86 – it still does. This “Hawaiian Eye” alumna recently stunned fans with her age-defying appearance, proving some stars never lose their sparkle. Her extraordinary life story reads like the most compelling Hollywood script, complete with career triumphs, personal struggles, and an inspiring second act.
Growing up in a musical household, she first made her mark as a singer before Jerry Lewis discovered her for 1958’s “Rock-a-Bye Baby.” Television fame soon followed with roles in hit shows, but she always maintained an independent streak in an industry known for conformity. “Hollywood has its rules,” she once remarked. “I chose to write my own.”
Her romantic life brought both joy and pain. After escaping an abusive first marriage, she found – then lost – love with entertainer Eddie Fisher. Though their union lasted just two years, it blessed her with two daughters who became her greatest joy and closest companions. “We were the Three Musketeers,” daughter Joely Fisher often says of their unconventional but loving family dynamic.
Never one to slow down, she launched a cosmetics line and, at age 70, achieved a stunning milestone – becoming the oldest first-time female film director with her project “Saving Grace B. Jones.” “I wanted to prove it’s never too late,” she said at the time. This resilience served her well when a 2016 stroke left her partially paralyzed. Through grueling rehab, she regained mobility, demonstrating the same grit that characterized her career.
Recent photos with her daughters show the years have done little to dim her luminous presence. “Mom’s still the most beautiful woman in any room,” Joely recently shared on social media. Fans echo this sentiment, flooding comment sections with praise like “An eternal beauty!” and “She just glows with life!” More than just a pretty face, this remarkable woman’s legacy encompasses talent, perseverance, and the courage to keep reinventing herself against all odds.
