Samantha Eggar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samantha Eggar
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Eggar in 1964
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| Born |
Victoria Louise Samantha Marie Elizabeth Therese Eggar
5 March 1939 Hampstead, London, England
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| Died | 15 October 2025 (aged 86) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
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| Citizenship |
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1960–2012 |
| Spouse(s) |
Tom Stern
(m. 1964; div. 1971) |
| Children | Nicolas Stern Jenna Stern |
Samantha Eggar (born March 5, 1939 – died October 15, 2025) was a talented English actress. She became famous for her role in the movie The Collector (1965). For this role, she won a Golden Globe Award and a Cannes Film Festival Award. She was also nominated for an Academy Award.
Samantha Eggar also starred in other well-known films like Doctor Dolittle (1967). She moved to the United States and Canada in the 1970s. There, she acted in many different movies and TV shows.
She also used her voice for characters in animated films and video games. For example, she was the voice of Hera in Disney's Hercules (1997). On television, she appeared in shows like Fantasy Island and All My Children.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Samantha Eggar was born on March 5, 1939, in Hampstead, London, England. Her full name was Victoria Louise Samantha Marie Elizabeth Therese Eggar. Her father, Ralph Alfred James Eggar, was a brigadier in the British Army. Her mother, Muriel Olga Palache-Bouma, had Dutch and Portuguese family roots.
Soon after Samantha was born, her family moved to Bledlow, Buckinghamshire. She spent her childhood there during World War II. She attended St Mary's Providence Convent school.
Even though she was interested in acting from a young age, her parents initially wanted her to choose a different career. She received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. However, she first studied fashion for two years. Later, she decided to follow her passion and enrolled at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London to study acting.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting in Theatre and Film
Samantha Eggar began her acting journey in plays by Shakespeare. She performed in productions like A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1962. Her talent was noticed, and she soon started acting in films.
Her first film roles included Dr. Crippen (1962). She also appeared in a TV show called The Saint in 1963. After this, she focused mainly on movies for a decade.
Breakthrough and Major Films
In 1965, Samantha Eggar starred in the thriller The Collector. Her performance was highly praised. She won a Golden Globe Award and a Cannes Film Festival Award. She was also nominated for an Academy Award, which is a very big honor in movies!
She then appeared in the comedy Walk, Don't Run (1966) with Cary Grant. Another famous role was Emma Fairfax in the musical Doctor Dolittle (1967). She also acted in the drama The Molly Maguires (1970) and the adventure film The Light at the Edge of the World (1971).
Moving to North America and New Roles
In 1973, Samantha Eggar moved to the United States. She continued her acting career there and in Canada. She appeared in popular TV shows like Starsky & Hutch and Columbo.
She also took on roles in several horror films, such as The Uncanny (1977) and The Brood (1979). She also starred in the Canadian comedy-drama Why Shoot the Teacher? (1977).
Voice Acting and Later Television Work
Samantha Eggar was also known for her voice acting. She lent her voice to the character of Hera in Disney's animated movie Hercules (1997). She continued to voice Hera in the TV series that followed. She also voiced characters in video games like Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned.
On television, she had a recurring role as Charlotte Devane in the soap opera All My Children in 2000. She also appeared in episodes of Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Murder, She Wrote, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her last known acting role was in 2012.
Personal Life
In 1964, Samantha Eggar married actor Tom Stern. They had two children together: a son named Nicolas Stern, who became a film producer, and a daughter named Jenna Stern, who became an actress. Samantha and Tom later divorced in 1971.
Samantha Eggar was a citizen of both Britain and the United States. She lived in Los Angeles for many years.
Death
Samantha Eggar passed away at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, on October 15, 2025. She was 86 years old.
