Biography
Striking fresh-faced redhead who first made her mark as the object of Terence Stamp's obsessive desire in William Wyler's haunting "The Collector" (1965), a role which earned her a Best Actress award at Cannes, and an Oscar nomination. Samantha Eggar had begun her career on the British stage, appearing in numerous productions of Shakespeare in the provinces and for two seasons at the Oxford Playhouse. She was appearing in the Royal Court Theatre production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" when she was "discovered" by producer Betty Box and placed in "Wild and Willing," a feature film about college students. Within three years she was starring with Terence Stamp in "The Collector," and two years later was the object of Rex Harrison's affection in "Dr. Dolittle" (1967). In "The Molly Maguires" (1970), she was torn between her affection for Richard Harris and her loyalty to Sean Connery and the miners. She was the psychiatrist in the 1980 "Death Wish" clone, "The Exterminator." Eggar made her TV debut in an episode of "The Saint" (1965), and starred opposite Yul Brynner in the series version of "Anna and the King" (CBS, 1972), which is better known to most audiences as "The King and I." She has also appeared in numerous TV episodes. Eggar made her TV-movie debut in the 1973 remake of "Double Indemnity" playing the devious Phyllis Dietrichson, inheriting the Barbara Stanwyck role form the 1943 original. She was Billie Burke, wife of Florenz Ziegfeld in the 1978 biographical TV-movie ""Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women." Eggar also co-starred with Audrey Hepburn in the latter's one and only TV- movie, "Love Among Thieves" (1987). In the 90s, Eggar often provided the voices for animated characters on numerous series and specials, principally as Queen Guinevere in "The Legend of Prince Valiant," which aired on the Family Channel from 1991-95. She also appeared as Kristy Swanson's society mother in Simon Wincer's "The Phantom" (1996). Samantha Eggar died on October 15, 2025 in Sherman Oaks at the age of 86.
