In the 1980s, Lisa Eilbacher was a familiar face on the big and small screens, appearing in popular films like Beverly Hills Cop and An Officer and a Gentleman. With her girl-next-door looks and natural acting chops, Eilbacher seemed poised to become a major star. But as the neon lights dimmed and the era of big hair and shoulder pads came to a close, Eilbacher’s presence in the limelight gradually faded, leaving fans wondering: Whatever happened to Lisa Eilbacher?
Backgorund Info
Born on May 5, 1956, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Lisa Eilbacher is the daughter of an American oil company executive. She spent her early childhood in Paris before her family relocated to Beverly Hills, California. It was there that Eilbacher was discovered and began her career as a child actor.
Lisa Eilbacher got her start as a child actress in the late 1960s, appearing on shows like Wagon Train, The Brady Bunch, Gunsmoke and My Three Sons. She transitioned to adult roles in the 1970s with parts in series like Hawaii Five-O and she would also audition for the part of Princess Leia in the 1977 movie Star Wars: A New Hope.
An Officer and a Gentleman
Lisa Eilbacher’s career reached a significant milestone with her role as Casey Seeger in the 1982 romantic drama “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Directed by Taylor Hackford and produced by Paramount Pictures, the film stars Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and Louis Gossett Jr.
It centers around a young man’s journey at Navy Officer Candidate School and his ambition to become an aviator.
Beverly Hills Cop
Lisa Eilbacher took on the role of Jeanette “Jenny” Summers in the 1984 hit Beverly Hills Cop. As a mutual friend of the murder victim and Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley, Jenny becomes a significant player in the events of the film. Eilbacher’s performance as the charming and quick-witted secretary lit up the screen, complementing Murphy’s comedic talents. Her standout role as Jenny helped make Beverly Hills Cop one of the biggest blockbuster hits of the 1980s.
Midnight Caller
Midnight Caller was a drama television series that aired on NBC from October 1988 to May 1991. The series was created by Richard DiLello and dealt with the phenomenon of talk radio. The shows starred Gary Cole, Wendy Kilbourne, Dennis Dun, and Lisa Eilbacher.
Lisa Eilbacher would appear on Midnight Caller across 19 episodes from 1990 to 1991. She would pay the character of Nicky Molloy, a strict and no-nonsense producer for the radio show.
Throughout the early ’90s, Eilbacher made several TV movies, with her last known role being in 1995’s “919 Fifth Avenue.”
What is Lisa Eilbacherdoing now?
Eilbacher appears to have consciously stepped away from Hollywood to focus on her marriage to photographer Brad May and live a more private life. She has largely stayed out of the public eye and has not been active on major social media platforms. There is no indication Eilbacher plans to return to acting, and she seems content with her decision to live a more low-key life, focusing on what truly matters to her.
Although she has laragely remained private, there is a photo of her from 2017 from a fan convention:
Personal Life
Lisa Eilbacher and Bradford May, a director and cinematographer, tied the knot on August 27, 1988, and have been together ever since.
May is renowned for his cinematography in “The Monster Squad” (1987) and his directorial work in “Lady Against the Odds” (1992) and “Tremors: The Series” (2003). The couple likely first crossed paths on the set of “The Twilight Zone” in 1986, specifically during the “The Storyteller/Nightsong” episode, where Eilbacher acted and May directed.
There is no public record of the couple having children, and given Eilbacher’s private nature since the mid-1990s, details of her personal life remain largely unknown.
Cindy Eilbacher is Lisa’s youngest sister and is best known for Planet of the Apes (1974) and The Young and the Restless (1973).
Bobby Eilbacher, Lisa’s youngest brother, would retire by the late 1970s.
