Child actress Cora Sue Collins, who gained fame in the 1930s and ’40s working with stars such as Greta Garbo, Claudette Colbert, and Bette Davis, has died at the age of 98. Collins passed away on Sunday, April 27, at her home in Beverly Hills, California, due to complications from a stroke, according to her daughter, Susie Krieser.
Collins was known for her ability to portray younger versions of many leading actresses of her time. In a 2019 interview, she commented on her “ordinary” face, explaining that as a child, she often played either the most well-known actresses of the 1930s or their children, highlighting how she was made up to resemble all of them.
Her extensive filmography includes roles such as a young Claudette Colbert in “Torch Singer” (1933), Frances Dee in “The Strange Case of Clara Deane” (1932), Loretta Young in “Caravan” (1934), Merle Oberon in “The Dark Angel” (1935), and Lynn Bari in “Blood and Sand” (1941). She was also cast as the daughter of William Powell and Myrna Loy in “Evelyn Prentice” (1934) and played Amy Lawrence in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1938).
Born on April 19, 1927, in Beckley, West Virginia, Collins moved to Los Angeles, California, with her mother and older sister just before her fourth birthday. Her entry into Hollywood was through a chance encounter. While her mother was enrolling her older sister in school, a woman suggested putting Collins in films. The woman took them to Universal Studios, where Collins was soon cast in “The Unexpected Father” (1932).
Collins displayed remarkable talent from the beginning. After her role in “The Unexpected Father,” a reviewer noted, “Wait till you see Cora Sue. Just four, she walks away with everything.” She also showed professional maturity beyond her years. During the filming of “The Strange Case of Clara Deane,” when her mother was removed from the set to make her cry, Collins responded that they should simply ask her to cry, and she would think of something sad.
In 1933, Greta Garbo personally selected Collins to portray her younger self in “Queen Christina.” They later appeared together in “Anna Karenina” (1935) and remained friends until Garbo’s death in 1990. Garbo often invited Collins to her suite on the MGM lot for afternoon tea, though Collins drank milk, a rare privilege given Garbo’s preference for solitude.
She is survived by her daughter, Susie McKay Krieser; son, Trey Nace; stepdaughter, Teresa Nace Cabebe; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.