Connie Stevens took Hollywood by storm in the late 1950s as a triple threat – she
could sing, act, and exude glamour, unlike any other star.
With alluring charisma and girl-next-door charm, Connie won fame on TV and the pop charts
while becoming a silver-screen sensation.
She later triumphed as a single mother and entrepreneur.
But at 84, this beloved icon now requires assisted living after suffering health setbacks
in recent years.
While Connie's condition has declined, her spirit remains as vibrant as ever.
Joely's revelations offer an intimate look at a star who conquered Hollywood and pop
culture before raising two daughters amid challenges.
Join FactsVerse as we delve into Connie's sensational life story, which continues to
inspire her family and fans.
Early Fame and Rocky Marriages Connie Stevens' road to stardom began in Brooklyn,
where she was born Concetta Ingoglia in 1938.
Music surrounded Connie growing up – her mother, Eleanor, performed with jazz groups,
while her father, Peter, drummed under the stage name Teddy Stevens.
After her parents split up, Connie lived with her grandmother and then joined her dad in
Los Angeles as a teen.
By age 15, Connie sang in an all-girl quartet and landed her first film role in 1957's Dragstrip
Riot.
A cascade of opportunities followed, including appearances on Sugarfoot and Maverick for
Warner Bros. television.
Her lively duet, "Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)," with 77 Sunset Strip star Edd
Byrnes, became a 1959 chart-topper.
Connie's big break arrived via Warner's new detective series Hawaiian Eye, which cast
her as photographer Cricket Blake.
For four seasons from 1959-1963, Connie showcased her effervescent charm and impressive pipes
while performing musical numbers.
Off-screen, she recorded pop hits like the 1960's "Sixteen Reasons" and made movies for
Warner Bros., including Parrish and Susan Slade.
Just 24 years old in 1963, Connie had risen to fame as a magnetic triple-threat entertainer.
But her personal life proved more turbulent during this period.
In 1963, she married actor James Stacy, who landed a role in The Adventures of Ozzie and
Harriet.
But their union lasted just three years due to Stacy's abusive behavior.
Following her 1966 divorce, Connie wed crooner Eddie Fisher in 1967.
Eddie came with serious romantic baggage – he had previously been married to Debbie Reynolds
and Elizabeth Taylor.
Connie gave birth to daughters Joely and Tricia before splitting from Fisher after only two
years together.
Left a single mother of two toddlers in 1969, Connie later suggested Eddie's substance abuse
issues and infidelity torpedoed their marriage.
But she refrained from disparaging him, once calling Eddie the "nicest ex-husband."
While still in her early 30s, Connie had already experienced enormous success along with two
failed marriages.
But her focus shifted to raising young daughters Joely and Tricia as Hollywood's newest single
mom.
Through it all, Connie maintained grace and optimism while continuing to shine as a consummate
entertainer.
Raising Her Daughters as a Single Mom Following two brief marriages, Connie Stevens
became a single mother after divorcing Eddie Fisher in 1969.
With two young daughters to provide for, she worked diligently to balance parenthood with
show business.
Connie accepted Las Vegas performing gigs and acted in films like 1969's "The Sex Symbol"
to keep the family financially stable.
Her daughters frequently joined Connie on the road during this period.
Joely described their lifestyle back then as vagabond-like, always traveling from one
performance venue to the next.
As she recalls it, they didn't exactly live a glamorous, first-class lifestyle—it was
more just making ends meet.
She says her mom worked tirelessly as a single parent to provide for the family.
But Connie always ensured her daughters felt loved, despite her hectic schedule.
She happily brought Joely and Tricia on stage to incorporate them into her act.
Connie also offered constant encouragement as the head of a humble but happy household.
Joely has said that over the years, her mom has constantly reminded her what an amazing
person she is and how proud Connie is to be her mother.
Even when totally swamped with work, Connie always made sure to be an affectionate, hands-on
parent.
By the 1970s, Connie achieved solo success with her smash single "Keep Growing Strong"
and regular appearances on television staples like The Love Boat.
But raising kind, confident daughters always took priority over career ambitions.
Through all the ups and downs of raising two kids alone, Connie always kept an iron-tight
bond with her daughters Joely and Tricia.
As Joely tells it, they were always a close-knit trio facing any challenge together.
She says her mom just lights up whenever the whole family is reunited, and they make sure
to surround Connie with all their love.
Without any spouse by her side, Connie took on the daunting challenge of solely raising
two daughters in the sizzling spotlight of Hollywood.
But through hard work and fierce love for her girls, Connie succeeded wildly at parenting
while keeping her career ambition alive.
Joely described Connie as "an affectionate, generous, incandescent spirit of a woman,"
emphasizing her unwavering motherly warmth.
That beautiful spirit sustained their precious mother-daughter relationship in the decades
after Connie became a single mom.
Continued Career Success Though twice divorced by 1969, Connie Stevens
remained passionate about performing.
She continued gracing television screens in the 1970s on everything from action shows
like Wonder Woman to comedies like Laverne & Shirley.
Connie also began a long-running Las Vegas concert residency that displayed her vocal
talents.
On the music front, Connie scored her last major chart hit with 1970's "Keep Growing
Strong."
She recorded the Thom Bell-produced soul track as "Betcha By Golly Wow," but it became a
smash retitled hit for The Stylistics.
Connie displayed her bubbly spirit as a guest on The Captain and Tennille variety series
in 1976.
Connie further proved her adaptability by starring in the 1978 action-comedy film Zero
to Sixty, directed by veteran Don Weis.
She showed off her comedic chops opposite Joan Collins on a 1981 episode of Dynasty.
Connie also appeared on stage in Neil Simon's Broadway play The Star-Spangled Girl back
in 1966.
As the 1980s dawned, Connie expanded her business pursuits by launching a successful cosmetics
company called Forever Spring.
She test-marketed the skin care products in Las Vegas where she performed regularly.
Her combination of Hollywood glitz and girl-next-door authenticity helped make Forever Spring a
multi-million dollar brand.
Connie's most significant career achievement arrived in 2009 when she made her directorial
debut at age 70.
She directed the independent film Saving Grace B. Jones, which Connie also produced and co-wrote.
The historical drama starred Tatum O'Neal and Louise Fletcher.
Connie worked diligently on the project for four years, demonstrating her creative passion.
In 2016, Connie reunited on screen with daughter Joely Fisher in the indie comedy Search Engines.
She relished the opportunity to collaborate with Joely, beaming with pride to see her
daughter blossom in the family business.
From her days as a Warner Bros. contract player to entrepreneurial success to the barrier-breaking
director, Connie Stevens never stopped seeking her next thrilling challenge.
With perseverance and fearlessness, she achieved an enduring show business legacy across seven
incredible decades.
Ongoing Health Problems Connie Stevens faced her first major health
scare in 2016 when she suffered a massive stroke at age 78.
While dining at a restaurant, Connie suddenly lost control of the entire left side of her
body.
She was rushed to the hospital and remained there for over two weeks, initially unable
to walk or properly move due to paralysis.
Recovering from the severe stroke required intensive physical rehabilitation to regain
mobility and motor skills like walking.
Connie relied on daily occupational and speech therapy to relearn how to perform basic tasks
without limitation.
She recounted in a subsequent interview that she had been in the hospital for about 16
days and that she couldn't walk or move her entire left side.
Through fierce determination, Connie fought back from the debilitating stroke.
Her mobility improved through extensive therapy and support from daughters Joely and Tricia.
But the health scare left lingering effects, including left-sided weakness that required
using a walker.
While Connie progressed significantly during her stroke recovery, the incident underscored
her general physical decline at an advanced age.
Osteoarthritis makes walking difficult and painful for the 84-year-old star.
She also experiences fatigue, memory lapses and vision issues common during one's 80s.
Due to these ongoing age-related health problems, Connie transitioned to an assisted living
community in recent years.
She resides in a comfortable, supervised environment with 24/7 care available.
Simple pleasures like enjoying her favorite Chick-fil-A sandwich keep Connie content.
Daughter Joely confirms that despite requiring additional assistance lately, Connie maintains
a spirited optimism: She also mentioned that Connie refers to Chick-fil-A
as "the Lord's chicken" and has often expressed her dislike for salad, stating, "If I'm going
out, I'm going out happy!"
While confined to a wheelchair during her bad days, Connie stays positive and makes
the most of quality time with Joely, Tricia and loved ones.
Her famously upbeat personality persists at age 84, even as health issues demand lifestyle
changes.
After decades of living independently, Connie now depends on thoughtful care from others
because of her ongoing medical problems.
But the stroke survivor and assisted living resident embraces this new phase with tenacity
and good humor thanks to support from family.
Connie Stevens' Legacy Lives On As her health has declined in recent years,
Connie Stevens no longer stands in the spotlight.
But the beloved star's legacy shines brightly through her extensive career accomplishments
and tight-knit family.
Connie's rise from teen performer to multi-talented sensation made her a consummate entertainer
for over 60 years.
She raised two successful daughters as a devoted single mother.
And at 84, Connie continues spreading joy while residing in assisted living.
According to her daughter Joely Fisher, Connie cherishes their frequent visits along with
simple pleasures like her favorite foods.
"She's a fighter," Joely says, noting Connie's vibrant spirit persists despite requiring
extra care lately.
While Connie now lives quietly, her trailblazing career inspires upcoming generations of aspiring
entertainers.
Her daughters carry on her creative talents.
And most importantly, Connie's loving bond with family endures as her fame has faded.
Connie Stevens conquered Hollywood on her own terms, paving the way for strong female
artists.
As age brings new challenges, Connie approaches life with the same unsinkable moxie that made
her an icon.
Her star may have dimmed, but Connie's optimism and fulfillment from family keep her inner
glow shining.
There you have it.
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Let us know what you think about Connie Stevens and her legacy.