Biography
Broadway actress and soprano Paula Stewart, born Dorothy Paula Zürndorfer in Chicago, is the daughter of Dr. Walter Zürndorfer and Esther Morris, who performed in the Ziegfeld Follies and appeared on Broadway in "Lady Be Good" alongside Fred Astaire. After attending Northwestern University, Paula pursued a professional career in theater. She toured nationally with "Brigadoon" before becoming Ann Crowley's understudy in "Seventeen" at the Broadway Theatre in June 1951. In 1953, she starred in George White's revue "Nice to See You" at the Versailles Club, during which time she married composer Burt Bacharach, who also served as her accompanist and arranged music for her nightclub act; they divorced in 1958.
Her stage credits include "Born Yesterday" (1956) and "Critic's Choice" (1957). She succeeded Jo Sullivan in "The Three Penny Opera," leading to a role in the 1959 revival of Frank Loesser's "The Most Happy Fella" at New York City Center. In 1960, she featured in the revue "A to Z" with Hermione Gingold and played Lucille Ball’s sister in the Broadway musical "Wildcat" at the Alvin Theatre. In 1961, she co-starred with George Gobel in "Let It Ride" at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. By 1965, she co-starred with Steve Lawrence in "What Makes Sammy Run" at the 54th Street Theatre, directed by Abe Burrows.
Paula has appeared in over 35 musicals and plays on Broadway and in summer stock nationwide. Notable co-stars include Donald O'Connor in "Little Me," Gordon MacRae and Howard Keel in "Carousel," and Jack Carter in "Operation Mad Ball." She also performed with Carter in nightclubs and USO tours. The two married in Miami Beach, Florida, in 1961 and had a son, Michael David Carter, a real estate agent; they divorced in 1970.
Her film and television career flourished in the 1960s. She debuted in the film "Diary of a Bachelor" (1964) and appeared in two additional films. Television roles spanned comedy series such as "My Favorite Martian" (1963), "The Joey Bishop Show" (1961), and "Hogan's Heroes" (1965), as well as dramas including "Perry Mason" (1957), "Route 66" (1960), and "The Big Valley" (1965).
An avid adventurer, Paula has been piloting her own planes since age 17. Beyond acting, she has worked as a producer and real estate investor, managing properties in Beverly Hills, Palm Springs, and Malibu. Her leasing clients have included Michael Douglas, Roger Moore, Rex Harrison, and Woody Allen. As an interior decorator, her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Good Housekeeping, and the New York Post. Her varied interests encompass gourmet cooking, auctioneering, linguistics, and breeding Yorkshire Terriers. More recently, Paula hosted a radio show on KCLA-FM spotlighting Hollywood celebrities and other fascinating professionals.
