Samantha Eggar

Samantha Eggar, the Oscar-nominated English actress whose striking performance in the 1965 thriller "The Collector" helped define her career, died October 15, 2025, at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, at the age of 86.

Born Victoria Louise Samantha Marie Elizabeth Therese Eggar on March 5, 1939, in London, she grew up in the English countryside during wartime and initially studied fashion before turning to acting. Her early training included dramatic studies at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her film debut came in the early 1960s, and she quickly gained attention for her versatility and presence.

Her breakout role came in 1965 when she starred alongside Terence Stamp (1938–2025) as Miranda Grey in "The Collector," directed by William Wyler. That performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as a Golden Globe and the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Following that success, Eggar appeared in a string of films that included "Doctor Dolittle," "The Molly Maguires,", and "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution." She became a horror movie favorite, especially in the 1979 body-horror cult classic "The Brood," as well as in such films as "A Name for Evil" and "Curtains."

But her fame wasn't confined to a genre; she also provided the voice of Hera in the Disney animated feature "Hercules" and its TV adaptation, and she had a recurring role on "All My Children" in 2000. Her many other TV appearances included "The Love Boat," "Murder, She Wrote," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and "L.A. Law"

In the United States she maintained a steady career through the decades, embracing new media and remaining engaged with her artistic craft. She held dual British and American citizenship and made her home in Los Angeles.

Eggar married actor Tom Stern in 1964; before their divorce in 1971, they had two children, movie producer Nicolas Stern and actress Jenna Stern. Her daughter Jenna confirmed the date of Eggar's passing after several years of ill health and noted that her mother "lived a long, fabulous life." In a statement, her longtime manager, Christopher Sherman, described her as "the brightest, funniest, most talented person I have ever known… a beacon of light wherever she went."

In addition to her work on stage and screen, Eggar supported many charitable organizations, including the Cousteau Society, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Kidney Fund.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Everett Collection)