Eve Meyer may not be a household name today, but in her prime she was a striking beauty who lit up both magazines and movie screens.

Sadly, she met her tragic end in the world’s most catastrophic aviation accident.

Before she was Hollywood’s blonde bombshell, Eve Meyer was just Evelyn Turner — a small-town Georgia girl with big dreams of making it to the world’s glamour capital.

Born on December 13, 1928, Eve Meyer went on to become one of the most captivating figures in mid-20th-century American entertainment. But her early life was marked by challenges.

Her father served in the U.S. Army, and her mother worked in textiles, but the parents separated when Eve was just 10. Despite the split, her happiest childhood memories were filled with family picnics and fishing trips.

A natural tomboy, Eve loved all kinds of sports and never shied away from a rough-and-tumble adventure. When her parents split, the young girl was sent to live with her grandmother.

Despite these hardships, Eve displayed natural charm and striking beauty, traits that would later define her career. She was a standout student, graduating high school with honors.

Playmate of the Month
The tall, blonde bombshell also developed an early interest in modeling.

After graduating high school, she began working for Western Union and later transferred to San Francisco — but the position she had been promised never materialized. Instead, she crossed paths with a young, ambitious photographer named Russ Meyer.

By the 1950s, she had become a prominent pin-up model, blending poise, confidence, and sensuality in a way that caught the public’s attention.

In June 1955, she was featured as Playboy magazine’s Playmate of the Month, a milestone that significantly raised her profile and cemented her status as one of the era’s most celebrated models.

Her appearance in the magazine reflected the changing cultural landscape, highlighting a new brand of glamour and independence for women in media.

Eve’s modeling career naturally led her to the world of cinema.

In 1952, she married Russ Meyer, they developed a partnership that became both personally and professionally significant. For several years, they lived in a modern hillside home overlooking the Sunset Strip, sharing their space with a dog and a cat.

First screen appearance
Known for his independent and exploitation films, Meyer found in Eve a muse whose on-screen presence combined captivating visual appeal with strong character.

She soon became deeply involved in his work, taking on both acting roles and behind-the-scenes responsibilities. Her first screen appearance was a small, uncredited part in Artists and Models (1955), which provided her with valuable experience in film production. By 1959, she landed a more substantial role in Operation Dames, demonstrating her ability to balance acting skill with the aesthetic qualities that had made her a sought-after model.

The 1960s marked a period of major growth for Eve Meyer. She took on leading roles while also contributing to the production side of Russ Meyer’s films.

In 1961, she starred in Eve and the Handyman, which allowed her to showcase her talents in a more nuanced way.

Parted ways in 1966
Eve’s influence extended beyond acting. She played key roles as producer or associate producer on several of Meyer’s landmark films, including Lorna (1964), Mudhoney (1965), Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965), and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970). Through these projects, she helped shape the films’ visual style, pacing, and thematic direction, proving herself indispensable both in front of and behind the camera.

Eve and Russ Meyer parted ways amicably in 1966 — though some sources list 1968 — maintaining a friendship and professional connection afterward.

Plane crash
Tragically, Eve’s life was cut short on March 27, 1977. She was aboard Pan Am Flight 1736 during the Tenerife airport disaster, the deadliest aviation accident in history, when it collided with a KLM aircraft at Los Rodeos Airport in the Canary Islands. The crash claimed 583 lives.

Although there were 61 survivors from the Pan Am jet, Eve was not among them; and her body was returned to Georgia for burial. She was 48.

Despite her untimely death, Eve Meyer’s legacy endures. Her collaborations with Russ Meyer helped redefine the role of women in independent cinema, demonstrating that female performers could wield both aesthetic power and creative influence.

She played a pivotal role in shaping a bold, unconventional cinematic style that celebrated experimentation and fearlessness.

Decades later, her films remain influential, celebrated for their provocative themes, striking visuals, and innovative storytelling. Through her work as both actress and producer, Eve Meyer left a lasting imprint on American entertainment, embodying resilience, talent, and the power of creative vision.