Gambit and High Rollers Co-Hostess Elaine Stewart 1929-2011 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-27-2011, 05:32 PM

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Elaine Stewart, an alluring leading lady of the 1950s who went on to serve as a co-hostess of two hit game shows in the ’70s, died Monday at her home in Beverly Hills after a long illness. She was 81.

In a pair of 1954 films, Stewart starred opposite Gene Kelly and Van Johnson as nonstop talkative socialite Jane Ashton in Brigadoon and played a sexy harem princess in The Adventures of Hajji Baba, with John Derek as the title character.

The former model and Montclair, N.J., native also appeared with Kirk Douglas in the classic Hollywood insider soap The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and with Richard Widmark and Karl Malden in the basic-training set Take the High Ground! (1953).

In all, Stewart appeared in 18 films in the ’50s and graced the cover of Life magazine on March 22, 1953, in a cover story with the headline, “Budding Starlet Visits the Folks in Jersey.”

On Dec. 31, 1964, Stewart married prolific game show creator Merrill Heatter (she earlier was married to actor Bill Carter) and retired from show business to start a family. But in 1972, she returned to TV as the co-hostess of the Heatter-Quigley game show Gambit, and the pairing of Stewart and emcee Wink Martindale gave CBS a daytime hit. Later, Stewart joined Alex Trebek for NBC nighttime game show High Rollers.

Born Elsy Steinberg on May 31, 1930, Stewart beat out hundreds of young models in 1952 to earn a photo layout in See Magazine, winning the title of “Miss See,” and was signed by MGM to a film contract. That year, she landed her first film role in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis comedy Sailor Beware.

Other film credits include Young Bess (1953) and Night Passage (1957), which starred her future Beverly Hills neighbor and fellow dog walker Jimmy Stewart. In the ’60s, she appeared in such TV dramas as Bat Masterson, The Third Man, Burke’s Law and Perry Mason.

In addition to Heatter, her husband of 46 years, Stewart is survived by their children Stewart and Gabrielle.

Marvo301 · 06-27-2011, 06:10 PM

Elaine Stewart

catlover79 · 06-27-2011, 06:51 PM

TV Knowledge Fan · 06-28-2011, 03:03 AM

TCM, by a coincidence, is presenting "Brigadoon" tomorrow night {June 28th}.

howilu · 06-28-2011, 11:39 AM

I remember Elaine Stewart when she was the dealer on Gambit with Wink Martindale. She also welcomed the newest couple to the game after the winners played the Gambit Board. May she rest in peace.

1929-2011

BillCullen1 · 06-30-2011, 05:03 PM

She was always smiling, and she never tried to take over the show on Gambit or High Rollers. Merrill Heatter is currently involved in Catch 21 on GSN, which is very much like Gambit. May Elaine rest in peace.

KurtfromPitts · 07-02-2011, 11:42 AM

R.I.P. Elaine. You and Wink made Gambit so enjoyable.

06-27-2011, 05:32 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,422	Gambit and High Rollers Co-Hostess Elaine Stewart 1929-2011 Link Elaine Stewart, an alluring leading lady of the 1950s who went on to serve as a co-hostess of two hit game shows in the ’70s, died Monday at her home in Beverly Hills after a long illness. She was 81. In a pair of 1954 films, Stewart starred opposite Gene Kelly and Van Johnson as nonstop talkative socialite Jane Ashton in Brigadoon and played a sexy harem princess in The Adventures of Hajji Baba, with John Derek as the title character. The former model and Montclair, N.J., native also appeared with Kirk Douglas in the classic Hollywood insider soap The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and with Richard Widmark and Karl Malden in the basic-training set Take the High Ground! (1953). In all, Stewart appeared in 18 films in the ’50s and graced the cover of Life magazine on March 22, 1953, in a cover story with the headline, “Budding Starlet Visits the Folks in Jersey.” On Dec. 31, 1964, Stewart married prolific game show creator Merrill Heatter (she earlier was married to actor Bill Carter) and retired from show business to start a family. But in 1972, she returned to TV as the co-hostess of the Heatter-Quigley game show Gambit, and the pairing of Stewart and emcee Wink Martindale gave CBS a daytime hit. Later, Stewart joined Alex Trebek for NBC nighttime game show High Rollers. Born Elsy Steinberg on May 31, 1930, Stewart beat out hundreds of young models in 1952 to earn a photo layout in See Magazine, winning the title of “Miss See,” and was signed by MGM to a film contract. That year, she landed her first film role in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis comedy Sailor Beware. Other film credits include Young Bess (1953) and Night Passage (1957), which starred her future Beverly Hills neighbor and fellow dog walker Jimmy Stewart. In the ’60s, she appeared in such TV dramas as Bat Masterson, The Third Man, Burke’s Law and Perry Mason. In addition to Heatter, her husband of 46 years, Stewart is survived by their children Stewart and Gabrielle.
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06-27-2011, 06:10 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Elaine Stewart
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

06-27-2011, 06:51 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392
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06-28-2011, 03:03 AM	#4
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	TCM, by a coincidence, is presenting "Brigadoon" tomorrow night {June 28th}.

06-28-2011, 11:39 AM	#5
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,964	I remember Elaine Stewart when she was the dealer on Gambit with Wink Martindale. She also welcomed the newest couple to the game after the winners played the Gambit Board. May she rest in peace. 1929-2011

06-30-2011, 05:03 PM	#6
BillCullen1 Game show fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 05, 2010 Location: New York Cuty Posts: 171	She was always smiling, and she never tried to take over the show on Gambit or High Rollers. Merrill Heatter is currently involved in Catch 21 on GSN, which is very much like Gambit. May Elaine rest in peace.

07-02-2011, 11:42 AM	#7
KurtfromPitts Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 10, 2006 Location: Carnegie PA Posts: 1,536	R.I.P. Elaine. You and Wink made Gambit so enjoyable.