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, Lancôme 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."