Connie Stevens
Screen Actors Guild Secretary-Treasurer
~ Biography ~
It is
rare that an actress can successfully transcend the
entertainment gamut from Motion Picture Star, Television
Star, Broadway Star, Recording Artist, to the concert stage
and then on to develop a successful cosmetic empire. In a
career that has spanned over 30 years, Connie Stevens has
gained worldwide popularity and recognition as a
multi-talented performer, producer, and most recently, as a
major force in the business arena, all the while managing to
remain a timeless classic beauty. Ever youthful, dynamic,
vivacious, versatile and savvy are the words used to describe
the actress who has truly earned the title of a "Woman
for all Seasons."
Her international reputation has made its
mark in show business history, having performed for 4 U.S.
Presidents at the White House and the Kennedy Center, and her
dedication overseas for the U.S. Military in Vietnam and the
Persian Gulf as one of Veterans Across America's all time
favorites. Connie continues to headline in Las Vegas and
continues to perform in live concerts in Atlantic City, New
York, Los Angeles, and every other major concert venue
worldwide.
Her musical artistry began when she first
sang in a group called The Three Debs at age 16. She then
went on to record as a solo artist on the Warner Brothers
label. Connie was the first artist signed on the newly formed
Warner Brothers Records. She recorded two mega-hits in the
early sixties, "Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)",
a duet with Ed, "Kookie" Burns, on of the stars of
the TV series "77 Sunset Strip", and the number one
record in the country in 1961, "Sixteen
Reasons".
Connie recently recorded a beautiful Christmas Album,
"Tradition"... A Family at Christmas, with her
daughters, Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher, artists in their
own right. Joely Fisher, co-star of the popular
"Ellen" television series for ABC and the new star
of the recently released "Inspector Gadget"
(co-staring Matthew Broderick), and Tricia Leigh Fisher, whom
you have seen as Heidi Fleiss for CBS or Monica Lewinsky in
"Starr Struck".
Every Star has an original claim to fame,
and though she has since become familiar to millions, it was
her endearing and classic role as "Cricket Blake"
in the hit series "Hawaiian Eye" that made Connie
Stevens a household name. Becoming one of America's teen
idols of the 60's and one of the most popular role models
for teenage girls across the globe. Connie, to this day, is
amazed at the international craze that her character and
image created making her a recognizable smile around the
world.
Connie's career as an actress began
with roles in films like "Eighteen and Anxious",
starring Jim Backus; "Young and Dangerous",
"Party Crashers" and introduced by Jerry Lewis in
Frank Tashlin's Paramount musical film "Rock-a-Bye
Baby". Eventually these roles led to "Cricket
Blake" in the TV series "Hawaiian Eye", which
ran on ABC for four years.
In the early 1960's, Connie appeared
with heartthrob Troy Donahue in a series of films which
include "Parish" and "Palm Springs
Weekend". Connie later appeared in "Two on a
Guillotine", "The Grissom Gang" and
"Never Too Late". She then returned to the
1950's with a role in "Grease 2" starring
Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfieffer. Some of Connie's
other films include "Back to the Beach", with
Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, and
"Tapeheads", starring Tim Robins and John Cusack.
Most recently, she was in "James Dean Race with
Destiny" and soon to be released "Mickey
Stern".
Connie has always maintained a steady line
of various roles on television, receiving critical acclaim
for her controversial role and performance in the ABC-TV
Movie of the Week, "The Sex Symbol". Connie showed
a powerful reserve of dramatic talents that gave her thinly
disguised portrayal of Marilyn Monroe a life of its own.
Connie starred opposite George Burns in
the popular TV series, "Wendy and Me". She also
starred in "Starting from Scratch",
"Scruples", "Bring me the Head of Dobie
Gillis", "Murder She Wrote" and the most
popular guest on "The Love Boat". She can be seen
soon on "Titus."
She was, of course, Neil Simon's
"Star Spangled Girl" on Broadway, co-starring
Anthony Perkins and Dick Benjamin. She has also been one of
America's premiere live performers, headlining in Las
Vegas for over 15 years and the larger theater venues all
over the United States.
Most recently, Connie Stevens, the savvy
entrepreneur, has proven herself in the business arena as
well, creating Forever Spring, a cosmetic empire that has
spawned over 300 popular products that include skin care,
make up, and hair care items, fragrances, among many others.
Stevens' hands-on approach to the business allows her to
give her signature touch to every product.
As a natural offshoot of this phenomenal
success, Stevens has recently designed and opened the Garden
Sanctuary, an executive day spa and boutique in Los Angeles,
founded on the principles that catapulted her cosmetics
empire into the major leagues. Offering a full array of
services and luxurious treatments, the spa will also offer
clients a spa menu, an elegant retail boutique, and other
amenities in an elegant, comfortable, private garden-like
environment.
Connie Stevens has experienced phenomenal
success in the business arena, having created one of the most
talked about and popular cosmetic skin care product lines in
the industry, Forever Spring, The Beauty System. Connie
Stevens' Forever Spring has amassed a clientele of over 3
million women across the country. People Magazine has called
her a dynamo, a Joan of Arc…. a hot star
in a cool medium. Time Magazine rated her Ginseng Facial Feed
product the number one selling product of all time on the
air.
As a result of its success, the Forever
Spring line has become one of America's most successful
beauty lines and is continuously growing. Connie's
philosophy of redefining beauty and changing the "over
40" syndrome has drawn attention from product
manufacturers and critics alike. Little did she realize a few
years ago that her products and company would be playing ball
with "the big boys" such as Revlon, Lancöme
and Clinique. Earnings from the Home Shopping Network alone
grossed over 1 billion dollars. Considered one of the 500 top
female executives in the United States, Stevens has owned and
operated her company for 14 years.
Connie feels her crowning achievement, and
the pride and joy of her life, are her daughters Joely and
Tricia Leigh Fisher, from her marriage to Eddie Fisher.
Connie single handedly raised both daughters while
maintaining her filming and touring schedules.
Connie has devoted much of her time and
influence to help those less fortunate and her work with
Native American Indians is widely recognized. Connie's
project Windfeather of 12 years has enabled the awarding of
83 college scholarships for Native American Youths, the
delivery of surplus goods to Indian reservations nationwide
and summer camps for Native American children who have never
left the reservation.
Stevens, the film maker, completed
producing and directing A Healing, a feature film documentary
dedicated to the women, and the young warriors they attended
to, who served in the U.S. /Vietnam conflict. A Healing
follows a three-week reunion journey through Vietnam of 100
women in 1995, who served in this conflict some 26 years ago.
Stevens' journeyed with them to find closure to this
bizarre interlude. This award wining documentary is their
story played out with compelling sensitivity, trust,
compassion and drama. Introduced by Jack Valenti, President
of the Motion Picture Association of America, A Healing which
she personally directed and edited, the proceeds of which
will go to several veteran charities.
In addition, she has made landmark strides
with "Dignity" in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, helping
the mentally and physically challenged to become working
members of the community. Hosting her annual Celebrity Ski
Extravaganza, Connie has enabled the development of programs
and a facility to house and educate these people, newly
dedicated as the Connie Stevens Center for Independent
Living. An added bonus was news that as a result of an annual
pilot program of "Don't Drink and Drive,"
celebrity PSA's that Connie created, Wyoming, for the
first time in history, boasted a record of ZERO teenage
deaths on the highway. She is now involved in plans to build
the first resort hotel for children and young adults with
special needs.
For her tireless work and support of
others, Connie has been honored and received the coveted 1991
'Lady of Humanities' award from the Shriners
Hospital, 'Humanitarian of the Year' by the Sons of
Italy in Washington DC. She also was honored from "The
Vietnam Veterans Association of America", as well as
receiving 'The Decoration for Distinguished Civilian
Service' from the United States Armed Forces, which is
the highest honor that can be bestowed on a civilian.
She says of Veterans, "They are my
favorite Americans." Having toured with Bob Hope around
the world, at every major base, numerous hospitals and
military venues. She gives of her time whenever needed - from
Korea to Vietnam to the Persian Gulf.
With a whirlwind schedule of touring, film
and television commitments, appearances, producing and
writing, it is no wonder Connie Stevens can be considered
"a woman for all seasons." It's this kind of
energy, determination, talent and generosity that results in
true success, and that's what truly defines the word
"Super Star."