Roberta Collins (born Roberta Lee Hefley, November 17, 1944 – August 16, 2008) was a film and television actress who was known for her attractive physique, blonde, curly hair, and

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

appearance. She starred in many

exploitation films An exploitation film is a film that tries to succeed financially by exploiting current trends, niche genres, or lurid content. Exploitation films are generally low-quality "B movies", though some set trends, attract critical attention, become hi ...

, including the prostitute Clara in

Tobe Hooper Willard Tobe Hooper (; January 25, 1943 – August 26, 2017) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his work in the horror genre. The British Film Institute cited Hooper as one of the most influential horror fi ...

's '' Eaten Alive'' and Matilda the Hun in the science-fiction film ''

Death Race 2000 ''Death Race 2000'' is a 1975 American science fiction action film produced by Roger Corman, directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transco ...

''. Jack Hill, who directed her in ''

The Big Doll House ''The Big Doll House'' is a 1971 American women-in-prison film starring Pam Grier, Judy Brown, Roberta Collins, Brooke Mills, and Pat Woodell. The film follows six female inmates through daily life in a gritty, unidentified tropical prison. Late ...

'', said of her, "I think she could have had a great career, but she couldn't get her personal life together ... she would be fantastic one day, do everything right, and then she would be out until 4 am partying and the next day she would be useless."

Career

Collins was born Roberta Lee Hefley in 1944. She was married to Gunther Collins from 1966 to 1970 and took his surname. The couple had one child, a son named Michael. She won numerous beauty contests growing up, and was signed to a contract with a studio almost immediately after graduation from high school. Her option was not picked up, though, something that was repeated with another studio, "so that made me want to study and become a good actress", she later said. In 1969, she was appointed queen of the Warner Bros-Seven Arts International Film Festival in Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island. She gained a level of fame with her appearance in the enormously popular ''The Big Doll House''. This led to a series of roles in exploitation films. She worked in a number of nonexploitation roles, as well, notably on television. In the early 1970s, Collins briefly dated

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was a Canadian-American actor who often portrayed ordinary men in unusual circumstances. Ford was most prominent during Hollywood's Golden Age as one of the biggest box-offi ...

. In the early 1990s, she reportedly worked as a caregiver for Ford.

Death

Collins died August 16, 2008, from a reportedly accidental overdose of a cocktail of drugs and alcohol. Her son predeceased her. She is buried at the

Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California. It is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. Histor ...

Legacy

In 2014, a tribute to Collins was part of the

St. Louis International Film Festival The St. Louis International Film Festival (also known as SLIFF or Cinema St. Louis) is an annual film festival in St. Louis, Missouri, which has been running since 1992. The coordinating organization changed its name to "Cinema St. Louis" in 200 ...

. ''

Caged Heat ''Caged Heat'', also known as ''Renegade Girls'', is a 1974 women in prison film. It was written and directed by Jonathan Demme (in his directorial debut) for New World Pictures, headed by Roger Corman. The film stars Juanita Brown, Roberta Coll ...

'' was screened a concert was held where Stace England and the Screen Syndicate played an album of songs inspired by Roberta Collins.

Partial filmography

*'' Lord Love a Duck'' (1966) – Brunette high school classmate (uncredited) *'' Adam-12'' (1969, TV Series, episode "Log 153: Find Me a Needle") – Sally *''

Here Come the Brides ''Here Come the Brides'' is an American comedy Western series from Screen Gems that aired on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968 to April 3, 1970. It was loosely based on Asa Mercer's efforts in the 1860s to import marriageable wo ...

'' (1970, TV Series, episode "Pat's Girl") – Pat's girl *'' The Bob Hope Specials'' (1970) *''

'' (1971) – Alcott *''

Women in Cages ''Women in Cages'' is a 1971 women in prison sexploitation film directed by Gerardo de León and starring Jennifer Gan, Judy Brown, Roberta Collins, and Pam Grier. Co-produced by Roger Corman, it was prominently featured in the ''Planet Terror'' ...

'' (1971) – Stoke *''

Cade's County ''Cade's County'' is a modern-day Western/ crime drama which aired Sundays at 9:30 pm (EST) on CBS during the 1971–1972 television season. There were 24 episodes. Synopsis ''Cade's County'' starred well-known Hollywood actor Glenn Ford as ...

'' (1971, TV Series, episode "Requiem for Miss Madrid") – Karen Malloy *'' Minnie and Moskowitz'' (1971) – Countergirl at Pink's Hot Dogs (uncredited) *''

Sweet Kill ''Sweet Kill'' (also known as ''A Kiss from Eddie'' and ''The Arousers'') is a 1973 B-movie written and directed by future Academy Award winner Curtis Hanson. The film was Hanson's directorial debut and was executive-produced by Roger Corman. It s ...

'' (1972) – Call girl *'' Unholy Rollers'' (1972) – Jennifer *'' The Roommates'' (1973) – Beth * '' Wonder Women'' (1973) – Laura *''

The Last Porno Flick ''The Last Porno Flick'' (also known as ''Those Mad, Mad Moviemakers'') is an American 1974 film starring Marianna Hill and directed by Ray Marsh. Plot Two young men wishing to make a porno movie raise money from their family and friends by cl ...

'' (1974) *''

'' (1974) – Belle Tyson *'' Three the Hard Way'' (1974) – Lait's secretary *'' Movin' On'' (1974, TV series, episode "The Time of His Life") – Lucille *'' Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' (1974, TV series, episode "The Ripper") – Det. Cortazzo *''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investiga ...

'' (1974, TV Series, episode "Exit Prentiss Carr") – Nancy Hellman *''Alias Big Cherry'' (1975) *''

'' (1975) – Matilda the Hun *''Train Ride to Hollywood'' (1975) – Jean Harlow *''

The Witch Who Came from the Sea ''The Witch Who Came from the Sea'' is a 1976 American psychological horror film produced and directed by Matt Cimber and starring Millie Perkins, Lonny Chapman, Vanessa Brown, Peggy Feury, Rick Jason, George Buck Flower, and Roberta Collins. The ...

'' (1976) – Clarissa *'' Eaten Alive'' (1976) – Clara *'' Whiskey Mountain'' (1977) – Diana *'' Speedtrap'' (1977) – Ms. Hastings, student driver *''

79 Park Avenue ''79 Park Avenue'', also known as ''Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue'', is an American drama television miniseries developed and co-written by Richard De Roy, based on the 1955 novel of the same name by Harold Robbins. The miniseries stars Lesley ...

'' (1977, TV Mini-Series) – Lola *'' Matilda'' (1978) – Tanya Six *'' B. J. and the Bear'' (1979, episode "Shine On") – Ellen Smith *'' Saturday the 14th'' (1981) – Cousin Rhonda *''

Death Wish II ''Death Wish II'' is a 1982 American vigilante action film directed and co-edited by Michael Winner. It is the first of four sequels to the 1974 film '' Death Wish''. It is the second installment in the ''Death Wish'' film series. In the story ...

'' (1982) – Woman at party *''

Hardbodies ''Hardbodies'' is a 1984 American sex comedy film about three middle-aged men who hire a younger man to help them pick up women at the beach. The film was directed by Mark Griffiths, and stars Grant Cramer, Courtney Gains and Gary Wood. It was f ...

'' (1984) – Lana *''

School Spirit School spirit is the sense of identity and community shared by members of an educational institution. This can apply to any type of school, from elementary schools to universities. Members of a school can manifest spirit in the exhibition of ...

'' (1985) – Helen Grimshaw *''

Hardbodies 2 ''Hardbodies 2'' is a 1986 adult comedy movie sequel to the 1984 film '' Hardbodies''. It was directed by Mark Griffiths and featured Brad Zutaut, Fabiana Udenio, James Karen and Alba Francesca. The plot involves two men, Scotty and Rags, and ...

'' (1986) – Lana Logan *'' Vendetta'' (1986) – Miss Dice (final film role)

References

External links