Collin Randall Wilcox (February 4, 1935 – October 14, 2009) was an American film, stage and television actress. Over her career, she was also credited as Collin Wilcox-Horne or Collin Wilcox-Paxton. Wilcox may be best known for her role in ''

To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a 1960 Southern Gothic novel by American author Harper Lee. It became instantly successful after its release; in the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' ...

'' (1962), in which she played Mayella Violet Ewell, whose father falsely claimed she had been raped by a black man, which sparks the trial at the center of the film.

Early years

Wilcox was born in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

, and moved with her family to

Highlands, North Carolina Highlands is an incorporation (municipal government), incorporated town in Macon County, North Carolina, Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National F ...

, as a baby. Her interest in theater was sparked by her parents, Jack H. and Virginia Wilcox, who founded the Highlands Community Theater (now known as the Highlands Playhouse) in 1939. She attended the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloquially UTK or Tennessee) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United St ...

, where she studied drama.

Career

Wilcox made her professional debut in Chicago as part of the improvisational group,

The Compass Players The Compass Players (or Compass Theater) was an improvisational theatre revue active from 1955 to 1958 in Chicago and St. Louis. Founded by David Shepherd and Paul Sills, it is considered to be the first improvisational theater in the United St ...

, which included

Mike Nichols Mike Nichols (born Igor Mikhail Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was an American film and theatre director and comedian. He worked across a range of genres and had an aptitude for getting the best out of actors regardless of ...

Elaine May Elaine Iva May (née Berlin; born April 21, 1932) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and director. She first gained fame in the 1950s for her improvisational comedy routines with Mike Nichols before transitioning her career, regularly b ...

, and

Shelley Berman Sheldon Leonard Berman (February 3, 1925 – September 1, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, writer, teacher, and lecturer. He was awarded three gold records for his comedy albums and he won the first Grammy Award for a spoken comedy recor ...

. Playing opposite

Richard Basehart John Richard Basehart (August 31, 1914 – September 17, 1984) was an American actor. Known for his "deep, resonant baritone voice and craggy good looks," he was active in film, theatre and television from 1947 until 1983. He won two National ...

Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is an American politician who served as the List of speakers of the United States House of Representatives, 55th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from January until he was Remova ...

, and William Hansen, Wilcox won the

Clarence Derwent Award The Clarence Derwent Awards are theatre awards given annually by the Actors' Equity Association on Broadway in the United States and by Equity, the performers' union, in the West End in the United Kingdom. Clarence Derwent (23 March 1884 – 6 ...

for her performance in ''The Day The Money Stopped'' by

Maxwell Anderson James Maxwell Anderson (December 15, 1888 – February 28, 1959) was an American playwright, author, poet, journalist, and lyricist. Anderson faced many challenges in his career, frequently losing jobs for expressing his opinions or supporting ...

and

Brendan Gill Brendan Gill (October 4, 1914 – December 27, 1997) was an American journalist. He wrote for ''The New Yorker'' for more than 60 years. Gill also contributed film criticism for ''Film Comment'', wrote about design and architecture for Architectu ...

, which lasted only three nights on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

in 1958. She starred in the 1961 play ''Look, We've Come Through'' with

Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor most famous during the 1970s and 1980s. He became well known in television series such as ''Gunsmoke'' (1962–1965), '' Hawk'' (1966) and '' Dan Augus ...

on Broadway. She replaced another actress in the 1963 revival of

Eugene O'Neill Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16, 1888 – November 27, 1953) was an American playwright. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into the U.S. the drama techniques of Realism (theatre), realism, earlier associated with ...

's ''

Strange Interlude ''Strange Interlude'' is an experimental play in nine acts by American playwright Eugene O'Neill. It won the 1928 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. ''Strange Interlude'' is one of the few modern plays to make extensive use of a soliloquy technique, in ...

'' and then went on to do the 1965 play ''The Family Way'', both on Broadway. A life member of

The Actors Studio The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights located on West 44th Street in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, Hell's Kitchen in New York City. The studio is best known for its work refining ...

, Wilcox is perhaps best known for her role in the 1962 film ''

'', in which she played Mayella Violet Ewell, who falsely accuses Tom Robinson (

Brock Peters Brock Peters (born George Fisher; July 2, 1927 – August 23, 2005) was an American actor, best known for playing the villainous "Crown" in the 1959 film version of ''Porgy and Bess'', and Tom Robinson in the 1962 film ''To Kill a Mockingbird ...

) of

raping Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person wh ...

her. Following that cinematic acting success, she performed two very memorable roles for television in 1964: ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' episode "

Number 12 Looks Just Like You "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" is an episode of the American television anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. It is set in a dystopian future in which everyone, upon reaching adulthood, has their body surgically altered into one of a set of ...

" and ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 a ...

'' episode "The Jar", based on the

Ray Bradbury Ray Douglas Bradbury ( ; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, Horror fiction, horr ...

short story. She appeared as Bess Frye in a 1972 episode of ''Gunsmoke'' titled "Jubilee". In 1974, she co-starred with

Peter Falk Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Columbo (character), Lieutenant Columbo on the NBC/American Broadcasting Company, ABC series ''Columbo'' (196 ...

and

Robert Conrad Robert Conrad (born Conrad Robert Falk; March 1, 1935 – February 8, 2020) was an American film and television actor, singer, and stuntman. He is best known for his role in the 1965–1969 television series ''The Wild Wild West'', playin ...

in the ''

Columbo ''Columbo'' is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Columbo (character), Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originall ...

'' episode " An Exercise in Fatality" as Ruth Stafford. She remained active, performing both on television and in films. Her final role was that of Mrs. Kline in the movie ''A Touch of Fate'', which was released in 2003, six years before her death.

Civil rights activism

She recalled receiving "unfriendly looks" when she showed up at an

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du&nbs ...

conference in

Monterey, California Monterey ( ; ) is a city situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, California, Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of and recorded a popu ...

, because in the film ''

'', she played a white woman who falsely accused Tom Robinson, a black man, of raping her. An official had to remind participants: "Collin is here at this conference because she believes in the cause. She is not the character in the film."

Death

On October 14, 2009, Wilcox died from

brain cancer A brain tumor (sometimes referred to as brain cancer) occurs when a group of cells within the brain turn cancerous and grow out of control, creating a mass. There are two main types of tumors: malignant (cancerous) tumors and benign (non-cance ...

, aged 74, at her home in

. She was

cremated Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

and her ashes returned to her family.

Filmography

* ''

Twice Upon a Time Twice Upon a Time may refer to: Film and television * ''Twice Upon a Time'' (1953 film), a British comedy film * ''Twice Upon a Time'' (1983 film), an American animated film * ''Twice Upon a Time'' (1998 film), an American fantasy/romantic comedy T ...

'' (1953) - Ian * ''

'' (1962) - Mayella Violet Ewell *''

The Name of the Game Is Kill! ''The Name of the Game Is Kill!'' is a 1968 American thriller film directed by Gunnar Hellström and starring Jack Lord, Susan Strasberg and Collin Wilcox Paxton.Lisanti p. 274 It was shot on location in Arizona. Plot A man resting in a rural ...

'' (1968) - Diz Terry * ''The Sound of Anger'' (1968, TV Movie) - Ann Kochek * ''

Catch-22 ''Catch-22'' is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. It was his debut novel. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century, it ...

'' (1970) - Nurse Cramer * '' The Revolutionary'' (1970) - Ann * ''

The Baby Maker ''The Baby Maker'' is a 1970 American drama film that was directed and co-written by James Bridges and released by National General Pictures. Plot Tish Gray is a flower child who is hired to have the baby of a middle-class couple, Suzanne and ...

'' (1970) - Suzanne * ''

Jump JuMP is an algebraic modeling language and a collection of supporting packages for mathematical optimization embedded in the Julia programming language. JuMP is used by companies, government agencies, academic institutions, software projects ...

'' (1971) - April Mae * ''

The Man Who Could Talk to Kids ''The Man Who Could Talk to Kids'' is a 1973 American made-for-television drama film directed by Donald Wrye. It was originally broadcast on ABC on October 17, 1973. Plot This is the story of one boy isolated in his world, who allows one man to ...

'' (1973, TV Movie) - Honor Lassiter * ''

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is a 1971 historical novel by American author Ernest J. Gaines. Framed as the fictional oral history of a 110-year-old African American woman, Jane Pittman, the novel traces her life from enslavement at th ...

'' (1974, TV Movie) - Mistress Bryant * ''A Cry in the Wilderness'' (1974, TV Movie) - Bess Millard * '' The Lives of Jenny Dolan'' (1975, TV Movie) - Mrs. Owens * '' September 30, 1955'' (1977) - Jimmy J.'s Mother * ''

Jaws 2 ''Jaws 2'' is a 1978 American horror thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and co-written by Carl Gottlieb. It is the sequel to Steven Spielberg's '' Jaws'' (1975), and the second installment in the ''Jaws'' franchise. The film stars Roy ...

'' (1978) - Dr. Elkins * ''Under This Sky'' (1979, TV Movie) - Susan B. Anthony * ''

Marie Marie may refer to the following. People Given name * Marie (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** List of people named Marie * Marie (Japanese given name) Surname * Jean Gabriel-Marie, French compo ...

'' (1985) - Virginia * ''

Foxfire Foxfire, also called fairy fire and chimpanzee fire, is the bioluminescence created by some species of fungi present in decaying wood. The bluish-green glow is attributed to a luciferase, an oxidative enzyme, which emits light as it reacts with ...

'' (1987, TV Movie) - Madge Burton * ''Wildflower'' (1991, TV Movie) - Bessie Morgan * ''The Portrait'' (1993, TV Movie) - Chancellor * '' Fluke'' (1995) - Bella * ''

The Journey of August King ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

'' (1996) - Mina * ''

Twisted Desire ''Twisted Desire'' is a 1996 American crime thriller television film directed by Craig R. Baxley and written by twin brothers Carey and Chad Hayes. It stars Melissa Joan Hart, with real-life domestic partners Daniel Baldwin and Isabella H ...

'' (1996, TV Movie) - Rose Stanton * ''

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ''Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'' is a non-fiction novel by John Berendt. The book, Berendt's first, was published on January 10, 1994, and follows the story of Jim Williams, an antiques dealer on trial for the killing of Danny Hansf ...

'' (1997) - Woman at Party * ''A Touch of Fate'' (2003) - Mrs. Kline (final film role)

Selected television appearances

* ''

The Untouchables Untouchable or Untouchables may refer to: People * Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status * Untouchables, word for the Dalits or Scheduled Castes of India * Untouchables (law enforcement), ...

'' ** (Season 3 Episode 17: "Takeover") (March 3, 1962) as Ann Gratzner ** (Season 3 Episode 26: "Pressure") (1962) as Francie Pavanos * ''

Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) is one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The high ...

'' (January 1964) (Season 4 Episode 14: "Is it True There Are Poxies at the Bottom of Landfair Lake?") as Diana * ''

'' (1964) (Season 5 Episode 17: "

") as Marilyn Cuberle * ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (1959) (Season 5 Episode 4: "Coyote Moon") as Julie (episode aired originally on October 18) * ''

'' (1964-1965) ** (Season 2 Episode 17: "The Jar") (episode originally aired February 14, 1964) as Thedy Sue Hill ** (Season 3 Episode 26: "The Monkey's Paw: A Retelling") (episode aired originally on April 19, 1965) as Selina * ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and four short stories, all of which involve a ...

'' (1964) (Season 8 Episode 1: "The Case of the Missing Button") * '' The Fugitive'' (1965-1966) ** (Season 3 Episode 13: "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys") (December 14, 1965) as Laura McElvey ** (Season 4 Episode 9: "Approach with Care") (November 15, 1966) as Mary Turner * '' The F.B.I.'' (1966-1967) ** (Season 1 Episode 22: "The Baby Sitter") (1966) as Stella ** (Season 2 Episode 16: "Passage into Fear") (January 8, 1967) as Hanna * '' The Virginian'' (December 6, 1967) (Season 6 Episode 12: "The Barren Ground") as Sarah Keogh * ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'' (October 1, 1968) (Season 17 Episode 4: "The Sage Hen") as Sage Madison * '' The Immortal'' (October 22, 1970) (Season 1 Episode 5: "The Rainbow Butcher") as Clarice Evans * '' Medical Center'' (October 27, 1971) (Season 3 Episode 7: "The Shattered Man") as Claudia Welsley * ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural mountainous Western Virginia of the Appalachian Mountains / Allegheny Mountains / Blue Ridge Mountains chain, during the economic hardships and mass unemp ...

'' (October 26, 1972) (Season 1, Episode 7: "The Sinner") as Reverend Ethel Prissom * ''

The Streets of San Francisco ''The Streets of San Francisco'' is an American television crime drama filmed on location in San Francisco and produced by Quinn Martin, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros. Television (QM produced the show on its ow ...

'' (September 20, 1973) (Season 2 Episode 2: "Betrayed") as Katherine 'Kate' Evans * ''

'' (September 15, 1974) (Season 4 Episode 1: "An Exercise in Fatality") as Ruth Stafford * ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books comprise a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adulthood in the Midwestern United States, Americ ...

'' (October 31, 1977) (Season 4 Episode 7: "To Run and Hide") as Beth Novak

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilcox, Collin 1935 births 2009 deaths Actresses from North Carolina American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Activists for African-American civil rights Deaths from brain cancer in the United States Westtown School alumni 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses