biography

Elaine Stewart Born Elsy Steinberg in Montclair, New Jersey, on May 31, 1929, beautiful actress Elaine Stewart grew up in a large family headed by her police sergeant father. As a teenager, she worked as an usherette and cashier before being discovered as a model in 1947. After a few years, Stewart tired of modeling and set her sights on an acting career. Her first film appearance came in the comedy Sailor Beware (1952; with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Vince Edwards). Upon signing a contract with MGM in 1951, the studio began using her in small parts in such films as Singin' in the Rain (1952) and Sky Full of Moon (1952). Earning good notices, she quickly moved into bigger roles in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952; with Lana Turner and Gilbert Roland) and Brigadoon (1954; with Van Johnson and Gene Kelly).

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Elaine Stewart modeling shots and magazine covers from the 1950s


Elaine StewartElaine Stewart

MGM publicity photos from the early 1950s

When her contract with MGM lapsed in 1954 Stewart, who had been very careful with her earnings, took a three-year hiatus from films to travel extensively and explore other career venues. However, she returned to acting with the release of the Universal-International noir thriller The Tattered Dress (1957; with Jeff Chandler and Jeanne Crain). Her career picked up with roles in the Universal-International adventure Night Passage (1957; with James Stewart and Audie Murphy) and a starring role in the Paramount adventure High Hell (1958; with John Derek). In the early 1960s, she made a couple of films in Italy, including The Seven Revenges (1961; with Ed Fury), as well as film lensed in Mexico, Most Dangerous Man Alive (1961; with Ron Randell and Debra Paget). Also in 1961, she married her first husband, actor Bill Carter, in Italy while there to shoot Peccati d'estate (1962; with Mark Damon). This film proved to be her last.

the films of elaine stewart

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Elaine Stewart and Gilbert Roland

From the MGM drama The Bad and the Beautiful with Gilbert Roland

Code Two (1953)

Jeff Richards and Elaine Stewart

With Jeff Richards in the MGM noir second feature Code Two

A Slight Case of Larceny (1953)

Marilyn Erskine and Elaine Stewart

From the MGM comedy A Slight Case of Larceny with Marilyn Erskine

Take the High Ground! (1953)

Elaine StewartRichard Widmark and Elaine Stewart

From MGM's comedyTake the High Ground! LEFT: Stewart as Julie Mollison. RIGHT: With Richard Widmark

The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954)

Elaine Stewart

From The Adventures of Hajji Baba

Brigadoon (1954)

Elaine Stewart

With Van Johnson and Gene Kelly in the big-budget MGM muscial Brigadoon

The Tattered Dress (1957)

Jeff Chandler and Elaine Stewart

Stewart stars as a woman with a shady reputation in Universal's film noir release The Tattered Dress with Jeff Chandler

High Hell (1958)

Elaine Stewart and John Derek

With John Derek in the Paramount adventure High Hell

Escort West (1959)

Elaine Stewart

From the western Escort West

Most Dangerous Man Alive (1961)

Ron Randell and Elaine Stewart

With Ron Randell from the science fiction flick Most Dangerous Man Alive, released by Columbia

Gambit (1972-1976 TV Series)

Elaine Stewart

Stewart in a 1972 promotional photo for the game show Gambit

later yeas

Stewart wrapped up her film career with the release of Island Affair in 1962. Afterward, Stewart made a few guest appearances on such television series as Perry Mason and Burke's Law before walking away from acting. Following her divorce from actor Bill Carter in 1963, she married game show producer Merrill Heatter in 1964, who along with Bob Quigley produced the original Hollywood Squares from 1966 through 1980. Although her marriage to Heatter and and being a mother to two children were impediments to her return to acting, Stewart later served as hostess and card dealer on two of Heatter-Quigley's game shows, Gambit and High Rollers before her retirement in the mid 1970s. Sadly, Elaine Stewart passed away after a long illness on June 27, 2011, at the age of 82. She was survived by her husband, son Stewart, and daughter Gabrielle.

filmography

FILM
Island Affair (1962) with Mark Damon
The Most Dangerous Man Alive (1961) with Ron Randell, Debra Paget, Anthony Caruso, Gregg Palmer, and Morris Ankrum
The Seven Revenges (1961) with Ed Fury
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960) with Ray Danton, Dyan Cannon, and Warren Oates
High Hell (1958) with John Derek
Escort West (1958) with Victor Mature and Faith Domergue
Night Passage (1957) with James Stewart, Audie Murphy, and Hugh Beaumont
The Tattered Dress (1957) with Jeff Chandler, Jeanne Crain, Jack Carson, and Gail Russell
The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954) with John Derek and Amanda Blake
Brigadoon (1954) with Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, and Cyd Charisse
A Slight Case of Larceny (1953) with Mickey Rooney and Eddie Bracken
Take the High Ground! (1953) with Richard Widmark and Russ Tamblyn
Young Bess (1953) with Jean Simmons, Stewart Granger, and Deborah Kerr
Code Two (1953) with Ralph Meeker, Sally Forrest, Jeff Richards, Robert Horton, William Campbell, and Chuck Connors
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) with Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Gilbert Roland, and Gloria Grahame
Desperate Search (1952) with Howard Keel and Jeff Richards
Everything I Have Is Yours (1952) with Marge and Gower Champion
Sky Full of Moon (1952) with Jan Sterling
You for Me (1952) with Peter Lawford
Singin' in the Rain (1952) with Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, and Jean Hagen
Sailor Beware (1951) with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Corinne Calvet, and Vince Edwards

TELEVISION SERIES
High Rollers, 1974-1980 TV game show. Stewart acted as hostess during the 1974-1975 season for the syndicated version of this game show
Gambit, 1972-1976 TV game show. Stewart served as the card dealer

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Capering Camera, originally aired January 16, 1964
Burke's Law, episode Who Killed Billy Jo?, originally aired November 8, 1963
Bat Masterson, episode The Rage of Princess Ann, originally aired October 20, 1960
The Third Man, episode The Trouble at Drill Hill, originally aired February 20, 1959

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Watch the trailer for Elaine Stewart's 1952 film The Bad and the Beautiful
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This page premiered September 10, 2002.
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