Screen pin-up Stewart dead

The 1950s pin-up-turned-TV show hostess passed away at her home in Beverly Hills on Monday (27Jun11) following a long battle with ill health.

Originally a model, Stewart went on to star opposite Gene Kelly in Brigadoon in 1954, as well as enjoying a role as a sexy princess in The Adventures of Hajji Baba.

She appeared in 18 films in total during the 1950s, before marrying game show creator Merrill Heatter and retiring. She returned to the spotlight in the 1970s when she became a hostess on U.S. programme Gambit, before swapping for a turn on late night game show High Rollers.

She is survived by Heatter and their two children, Stewart and Gabrielle.