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 h ...

, 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''.

Jack Hill Jack Hill (born January 28, 1933) is an American film director in the exploitation film genre. Several of Hill's later films have been characterized as feminist works. Early life Hill was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Mildred (n� ...

, who directed her in '' The Big Doll House'', 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. 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).

Legacy

In 2014, a tribute to Collins was part of the St. Louis International Film Festival. '' Caged Heat'' was screened a concert was held where

Stace England Stace England is a musician from Cobden, Illinois, United States. He has released several solo recordings including ''Salt Sex Slaves'' documenting the Old Slave House near Equality, Illinois, and '' Greetings From Cairo, Illinois'' documenting th ...

and the Screen Syndicate played an album of songs inspired by Roberta Collins.

Partial filmography

*''

Lord Love a Duck ''Lord Love a Duck'' is a 1966 American teen black comedy film produced, directed and co-written by George Axelrod and starring Roddy McDowall and Tuesday Weld. The film was a satire of popular culture at the time, its targets ranging from pr ...

'' (1966) – Brunette high school classmate (uncredited) *''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the stre ...

'' (1969, TV Series, episode "Log 153: Find Me a Needle") – Sally *'' Here Come the Brides'' (1970, TV Series, episode "Pat's Girl") – Pat's girl *'' The Bob Hope Specials'' (1970) *'' The Big Doll House'' (1971) – Alcott *'' Women in Cages'' (1971) – Stoke *'' Cade's County'' (1971, TV Series, episode "Requiem for Miss Madrid") – Karen Malloy *''

Minnie and Moskowitz ''Minnie and Moskowitz'' is a 1971 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by John Cassavetes and starring his wife Gena Rowlands and Seymour Cassel in the title roles of Minnie and Moskowitz, respectively. Plot Seymour Moskow ...

'' (1971) – Countergirl at Pink's Hot Dogs (uncredited) *'' Sweet Kill'' (1972) – Call girl *'' Unholy Rollers'' (1972) – Jennifer *'' The Roommates'' (1973) – Beth * '' Wonder Women'' (1973) – Laura *'' The Last Porno Flick'' (1974) *'' Caged Heat'' (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 investigat ...

'' (1974, TV Series, episode "Exit Prentiss Carr") – Nancy Hellman *''Alias Big Cherry'' (1975) *'' Death Race 2000'' (1975) – Matilda the Hun *''Train Ride to Hollywood'' (1975) – Jean Harlow *'' The Witch Who Came from the Sea'' (1976) – Clarissa *'' Eaten Alive'' (1976) – Clara *'' Whiskey Mountain'' (1977) – Diana *'' Speedtrap'' (1977) – Ms. Hastings, student driver *'' 79 Park Avenue'' (1977, TV Mini-Series) – Lola *'' Matilda'' (1978) – Tanya Six *'' B. J. and the Bear'' (1979, episode "Shine On") – Ellen Smith *''

Saturday the 14th ''Saturday the 14th'' is a 1981 American comedy horror film starring real-life husband and wife Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin, co-written and directed by Howard R. Cohen and produced by Julie Corman. Despite the implications of the film's ...

'' (1981) – Cousin Rhonda *'' Death Wish II'' (1982) – Woman at party *'' Hardbodies'' (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 s ...

'' (1985) – Helen Grimshaw *'' Hardbodies 2'' (1986) – Lana Logan *''

Vendetta Vendetta may refer to: * Feud or vendetta, a long-running argument or fight Film * ''Vendetta'' (1919 film), a film featuring Harry Liedtke * ''Vendetta'' (1950 film), an American drama produced by Howard Hughes * ''Vendetta'' (1986 film), an ...

'' (1986) – Miss Dice (final film role)

References

External links