SHERMAN OAKS - Samantha Eggar, the elegant British actress whose intensity and intelligence lit up films from The Collector to The Brood, died October 15, 2025, at her home in Sherman Oaks, California. She was 86.
Born in Hampstead, London, Eggar began on the stage before moving into film in the early 1960s. Her breakout came with William Wyler’s The Collector (1965), earning her an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe, and the Best Actress prize at Cannes for her haunting portrayal of a kidnapped art student.
Eggar’s varied career included roles in Doctor Dolittle, Walk, Don’t Run, The Molly Maguires, and David Cronenberg’s The Brood. She appeared in numerous television series—Star Trek: The Next Generation, Murder, She Wrote, Commander in Chief—and lent her distinctive voice to animated projects like Disney’s Hercules.
Married once, to actor Tom Stern, she was the mother of producer Nicolas Stern and actress Jenna Stern. Friends remembered her as witty, compassionate, and fiercely devoted to her craft. A consummate performer unafraid of complexity, Samantha Eggar leaves behind a body of work that continues to captivate. Her voice, her presence, and her poise remain indelible on screen and in memory.
By Allan R. Ellenberger - The Hollywoodland Revue
