Eileen Fulton
Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[1][2]/>Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).. CBS had to hire a bodyguard to escort her to and from the studio. Despite her popularity, Fulton's run has not been without controversy. During the late 1960s, after her onscreen son was SORASed from age 12 to 19, Fulton was noted for insisting it be written into her contract that her character could not become a grandmother. That insistence was because she feared that the perception of her as a grandmother instead of a glamorous and vital woman, would cause the writers to kill off her character, which they had done when Barbara Berjer, who was playing one of Lisa's rivals, Claire Shea, became a grandmother. Fans, believing that the "granny clause" as it became known, was still in effect (which it wasn't), sent Fulton so much threatening "hate mail" when Lisa's onscreen daughter-in-law, Margo, had a miscarriage in 1986, that she had to hire a bodyguard.
She left the show three times - first for several months in 1963, when she was replaced in the role of Lisa by actress Pamela King; in 1965 to bring her Lisa character to her own prime time soap spin-off, Our Private World(CBS's attempt to mimic the success of ABC's Peyton Place). Our Private World lasted less than a season, and Fulton took several months off before returning to [As the World Turns] in early 1967. She left again in 1983 after a contract dispute with executive producer Mary-Ellis Bunim, returning the next year. During Fulton's 1983-1984 absence, the role of Lisa was played by Betsy von Furstenberg. The following actresses played the part during Fulton's temporary leaves: Lynn Rogers (1977–1978), Jane Powell (1991, 1993, and 1994), Maeve McGuire (1992) and Carmen Duncan (2004).
Although the character of Lisa appeared on the show through its 2010 cancellation, Fulton was vocal in later years about her displeasure at not being more prominently featured. Fulton was prominently featured in April 2006 during the show's 50th anniversary episode, and from January 2008 to August 2008, was roughly seen in at least two episodes per week. Her appearances dropped off after that time, though she was again featured in a two-part tribute episode in May 2010, and remained on the show through its cancellation, appearing in the final episode in September 2010.
While playing Lisa, Ms. Fulton performed Off-Broadway productions of The Fantasticks and Broadway production Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Ms. Fulton would tape her scenes for the live airing of As the World Turns, then be on a Broadway stage for the matinee performance in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, and by evening she would be back onstage in the Off-Broadway musical, “The Fantasticks”. Her other theater credits include the Off-Broadway production of “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” with Hal Holbrook, “Many Loves”, “Summer of the Seventeenth Doll”, and “Night Club Confidential”. She also appeared in regional theater productions such as, “Plaza Suite”, “It Had To be You”, “The Owl and the Pussycat”, “Goodbye Charlie” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. [3]
Fulton has written two memoirs, How My World Turns and As My World Still Turns. She also wrote a mystery novel, called Soap Opera, loosely based on her experiences on As the World Turns as well as six murder mystery novels Take One for Murder about a soap opera star "Nina" and her detective boyfriend "Dino." Fulton is also a singer, and has performed a number of cabaret and nightclub acts, in addition to her acting.
Fulton is a 1955 graduate of Greensboro College and was granted an honorary doctorate in 2005, on the 50th anniversary of her college graduation. She was the commencement speaker at Greensboro's graduation ceremony in 2005. In 2003, she was presented with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the TV Academy during the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. In September 1998, she was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame. Fulton has also appeared in five independent films which earned her the “Achievement in Television and Film Award” at the Independent Filmmakers Award Ceremony.