Eileen Fisher

**Eileen Andrews** (neé Rhodes, formerly Fisher) was a main character from South Bay, the American version of the popular Australian soap opera Southland. She made her first appearance in April, 1982 as the ex-wife of Bernie Andrews and the mother of his two children, Karen and Luke. Initially a guest role, she would return in a more permanent basis when she gave birth to younger daughter Bobbie. Over the years Eileen would leave and return several times, with her longest appearance being from 2010 until 2018.

In 2023 Eileen revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer and given just a few months to live. She passed away with all her family around her in April 2023.

Eileen was portrayed by Kathleen Noone.

## Early Life

Growing up in California, little is known about Eileen's early life. She had a sister, Sarah who she seemed close to.

When she was in high school, Eileen met Bernie Andrews and the two of them were married. Their wedding was a shotgun wedding after Eileen fell pregnant with Karen. They would then go onto have Luke. However, after years of being together, Eileen and Bernie's relationship ended due to his drinking problem and Bernie would move to South Bay.

Eileen then met Robert Fisher and got married to him.

## 1982-1983: First Appearance and Bobbie's Birth

Eileen was first mentioned by Bernie Andrews in 1981, when he spoke of his previous married. She made her first appearance in late 1982 as when she came to drop off Luke and Karen for a visit. They stayed with Bernie for a while, until Luke was hit by a car whilst riding his bike and Eileen made the children return to her care.

In December 1983, Eileen returned to drop Karen and Luke off for a Christmas visit and announced she was having difficulty in her marriage. After standing under some mistletoe, she kissed Bernie which lead to them sleeping together. Eileen left the following day. She would return in May 1984 to reveal that she was pregnant and it was Bernie's.

Bernie and Eileen decided to stay together to try make things work, much to the delight of Luke. Eileen gave birth to her third child Barbara Andrews (later changed to Barbara Fisher) on July 29th, 1984. Upon her birth, Bernie immediately fell in love with her. Out of no where, Eileen's husband Robert showed up and said he believed Barbara was his. A DNA test confirmed this. Robert swore his love and devotion to Eileen and eventually, the pair decided to start over and left together, leaving Bernie alone.

Karen and Luke would later return to live with Eileen in San Francisco in 1985 after Bernie started drinking again. At some point between then and 1990, Robert passed away. It would be revealed years later that his cause of death was suicide.

## 1983-1998: Return and Reunion with Bernie

Eileen was mentioned several times over the years, especially as Luke returned to South Bay as a teenager in 1990. Little is known about her life during these years, but Luke would occasionally visit her off-screen.

When Bernie was diagnosed with cancer in 1996, Karen returned to South Bay and told Bernie that Eileen wished him well.

Eileen would make her first long-term return in 1997 following the death of Luke and Dawn's daughter Angel. Eileen revealed to Luke that she had been in contact with the family who adopted his son Joey, which he was initially angry about but eventually saw an opportunity to help heal him from his loss. He went to visit Joey with Eileen and saw he was doing well. These visits didn't sit well with Dawn, who was still grieving and would be the catalyst for the end of their marriage and Dawn's eventual departure from South Bay.

After Dawn left in early 1998, Eileen agreed to stay to support Luke. It was then revealed that her husband Robert had passed away off-screen. Whilst staying with Luke, Eileen grew closer to Bernie again. However, she felt guilty for betrayed Robert's memory by moving on. They would eventually get together.

Bernie and Eileen's relationship would hit a road bump in July 1998 when Eileen's thirteen year old daughter Barbara, nicknamed 'Bobbie' arrived, bringing a lot of drama with her. Bobbie was not happy with Bernie and Eileen being together, seeing them as replacing her father. She did what she could to cause trouble that would split them up, but this backfired and eventually Eileen caught what she was doing and she was sent to live with her aunt Sarah.