Collin Wilcox, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Accuser, Dies of Cancer

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 22nd 2009 09:05AM

Collin Wilcox, who portrayed a young white woman who falsely accuses a black man of rape in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and went on to appear in numerous TV shows and films like 'Jaws 2,' died at her home in North Carolina last week. She was 74. Her husband, Scott Paxton, said the actress died on Oct. 14 of brain cancer, the New York Times reports.

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As the character Mayella Violet Ewell, who accused Brock Peters' character of rape, she delivers a court speech that stands out as one of the most memorable scenes in 'Mockingbird.' While being cross-examined by Gregory Peck's Atticus Finch, she tearfully responds:

"I got something to say, and then I ain't gonna say no more. He took advantage of me! And if you fine, fancy, damn ... ain't gonna do nothin' about it, then you're just a bunch a' lousy yella stinkin' cowards ... the ... the whole bunch of ya. And your fancy airs don't come to nothin'. Your manners and your "Miss Mayella," it don't come to nothin' Mr. Finch!"

'Mockingbird' was her major-film debut and she later appeared on TV show such as 'The Twilight Zone,' 'The Untouchables' and 'Gunsmoke.'

She appeared in several more films, including 'Catch-22' and the 'Jaws' sequel, before moving back to her native North Carolina where she and her husband founded a children's arts center.

In addition to her husband, Paxton is survived by her children, Kimberley and Michael.

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Recent Losses in Tinseltown

Vic Mizzy, Sept. 17: The songwriter who composed the catchy themes for the 1960s sit-coms 'The Addams Family' and 'Green Acres,' has died at age 93. His manager Jonathan Wolfson said he didn't know the cause of death. Mizzy is survived by a brother, daughter and two grandchildren.

Mathew Imaging / WireImage

Deaths in Hollywood

Mathew Imaging / WireImage

Henry Gibson, Sept. 14: The actor known for roles in 'Blues Brothers,' 'The Burbs' and 'Laugh-In' died at his home in Malibu after battling cancer. He was 73.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Army Archerd, Sept. 8: The iconic entertainment columnist (right) who wrote for Daily Variety for more than 50 years died at the age of 87.

Getty Images

Patrick Swayze, Sept. 14: The 'Dirty Dancing' star passed away at the age of 57. The actor fought nearly a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Susan Sterner, AP

John Hughes, August 6: The filmmaker responsible for iconic '80s movies like 'Pretty in Pink,' 'Sixteen Candles' and 'The Breakfast Club,' suffered a fatal heart attack while visiting New York City.

Paul Natkin, WireImage

Brenda Joyce, July 4: The actress, who played Jane in several 'Tarzan' films with Johnny Weissmuller (pictured in 'Tarzan and the Amazons') and later Lex Barker, died at age 92. Joyce quit showbiz after completing 1949's 'Tarzan's Magic Fountain.' She went on to work for the government.

Everett Collection

Harve Presnell, June 30: The 'Fargo' star succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 75.

Jim Smeal, WireImage

Karl Malden, July 1: The Academy Award-winning actor, known for roles in cinematic milestones 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'On the Waterfront' and for his jump to TV in the 1970s with 'The Streets of San Francisco,' died of natural causes at his home in California. He was 97.

Barry King, WireImage

Mia Farrow's brother, sculptor Patrick Farrow, was found dead in his Vermont art gallery after an unnamed woman made an emergency call. Police have called the death "suspicious."

Getty Images / AP

Farrah Fawcett, June 25: Fawcett died at 62 following a long and brave battle with cancer. The 'Charlie's Angels' star was one of the biggest sex symbols of the '70s and had won acclaim for turning to more serious film and TV roles in the 1980s.

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Tags: collin wilcox, CollinWilcox, gregory peck, GregoryPeck

Comments

(44)

Thursday 22 October

By Angiebaby

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Thank you for your contribution to one of the best movies ever made, which was based on one of the best books ever written. You brought Harper Lee's character Mayella Violet Ewell to life with a performance in film which was riveting, yet true to Ms. Lee's literary vision of her. May Collin Wilcox rest in peace.

By bets

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I thought Harper Lee's character was Scout. I could be wrong...I was once ;)

By spicyappletart

Harper Lee wrote the book ,so all the characters were hers ! : )

taken from Wikipedia: Many details of To Kill a Mockingbird are apparently autobiographical. Like Lee, the tomboy (Scout) is the daughter of a respected small-town Alabama attorney. The plot involves a legal case, the workings of which would have been familiar to Lee, who studied law. Scout's friend Dill is supposed to have been inspired by Lee's childhood friend and neighbor, Truman Capote, while Lee is the model for a character in Capote's first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms.

Harper Lee has downplayed autobiographical parallels. Yet Truman Capote, mentioning the character Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, described details he considered biographical:

By Gerry

You are so right! Without a doubt, this is one of the best books ever written and one of the best movies ever made.

By Mike

Collin was an outstanding actress. No one could have played the role of Mayella better. May God be with her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

By jeano

Superb book and a superb movie with SO many talented actors. As a child, it was my first view of racism in my white bread community. It made an impact that has lasted throughout my life. Racism is ugly and so is ignorance.

By RAS

This was when good things came out of Hollywood. Now we get garbage like Jon and Kate, The Kardashians, and Lindsay Lohan Sadly it is now rare when a good film comes out nowadays.

By Chris

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"Reality TV" isn't the only stuff being made. You have to look harder for the quality television shows and films.

By MARY

You are so right! All we get from Hollywood these days is trash. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was one of the finest movies ever made and the book is a literary masterpiece.

Friday 23 October

By Janine

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! To Kill A Mockongbird IS & ALWAYS will be a CLASSIC !!! Love the characters and SO ADMIRE Gregory Peck and all the talented actresses and actors!

By jacusteau

Who remembers Collin in the Twilight Zone episode "Number 12 Looks Just Like You"? She plays a young woman in a futuristic society who refuses to trade in her own (plain) looks for a gorgeous new face & body and thus look like everyone else. She played it brilliantly and I never forgot the important lesson she conveyed about superficiality and conformity!

By Bonnie

I DO remember that episode-- I had forgotten it was she--- excellent actress!

By stacy

yes i love that twilight zone episode! I was searching through these comments to see if anyone else remembered it too! thanks for letting me know that there are other people who remember and appreciate the twilight zone!

By Karpis

Sad to hear. Hers was a powerful performance in a wonderful film, but it's sad that she was almost forgotten otherwise. God bless her.

By Maria

She was one of those actresses we should have seen more of. Not beautiful, but just a good actress. I love the Twilight Zone she was in where everyone looked like one of two "models" and she wanted to be her ordinary self...at first! God bless you!

By Mickerie

When I was in high school I saw Collin Wilcox in some summer theatre in Finnytown, Ohio. I was struck then with how talented and vulnerable she was...a waif like woman with great emotional power. Delighted to folow her career. She was also a very sweet and kind lady. May the angels enjoy her company.

By Dee

Collin Wilcox was an excellent actress. I am so sorry to hear that she is gone. I too wish she had been in more roles but To Kill a Mockingbird was one of her best performances. May she rest in peace...and my condolences..

By Jim

Actually, the line was "...And if you fine, fancy, gentlemen..." and not "And if you fine, fancy damn." I only say this because it's my favorite movie of all time. Collin Wilcox was awesome in this movie and she portrayed the sad, brow-beaten, AND beaten Mayella so wonderfully that you almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Godspeed, Collin.

By Coffeelady

I noticed that too. I have probably seen this movie 25 or 30 times so I pretty much know the script. Too bad they couldn't have gotten someone to write this story who knows as much about the movie as you and me.

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