Samantha Eggar, Oscar-Nominated Star of ‘The Collector,’ Dies at 86

Samantha Eggar, Oscar-Nominated Star of ‘The Collector,’ Dies at 86

Samantha Eggar, the prominent British actress renowned for her performances in classic dramas and cult horror films, has died at the age of 86

Jenna Stern, the actress’s daughter and a celebrated actress herself, announced her mother’s death on Wednesday (October 15, 2025). In a message, she wrote: “My Mama passed Wednesday evening. Peacefully and quietly surrounded by family. I was there next to her… holding her hand, telling her how much she was loved. It was beautiful. It was a privilege.” Eggar was reported to have struggled with long-term health issues in the final years of her life

Oscar Nomination and Collaboration with Cronenberg

Eggar, whose full name was Victoria Louise Samantha Marie Elizabeth Therese Eggar, quickly entered the cinema world after starting her career in Shakespearean theater

• Rise to Fame: The turning point in her career came in 1965 with the psychological thriller “The Collector,” directed by William Wyler
• Accolades: For her role as Miranda Grey in the film, Eggar won the Golden Globe Award and the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress
• Genre Versatility: Following her early successes, she played the role of Emma Fairfax in the 1967 musical film Doctor Dolittle
• Queen of Cult Horror: In the 1970s and 80s, Eggar became a recognized figure in the horror genre. Her most enduring role in this category was her appearance in “The Brood” (1979), directed by David Cronenberg, which is considered one of the most important psychological cult horror films in cinema history
• Voice Acting: Eggar was also active in voice acting, lending her voice to Hera in the popular Disney animated film “Hercules” in 1997

Samantha Eggar, who held dual British and American citizenship, resided at her home in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, at the time of her death. She has a filmography of over 100 cinema and television projects

The editorial team of iimdb.ir extends its condolences to the global film community and her family on the passing of this great artist

Sources

• Variety
• imdb