Who was Cora Sue Collins? Details explored as MGM child actress dies at 98

Hollywood’s Golden Age was filled with charming child stars, but few had as varied a résumé as Cora Sue Collins did during her 13 years at MGM. Born Gabrielle Collins in Beckley, West Virginia, on April 19, 1927, she moved to Los Angeles at just five years old and instantly caught MGM’s eye.

Under contract with the studio, she became one of their most reliable child stars, popping up in early roles like Smilin’ Through (1932) and Torch Singer (1933). But it was her turn as the young Queen Christina opposite Greta Garbo in Queen Christina (1933) and as little Pearl in The Scarlet Letter (1934) that truly sealed her place in Hollywood history.

Over a 13-year run and 47 films, Cora Sue Collins charmed audiences before choosing to step away at 18 and build a life outside the spotlight. Collins passed away on April 27, 2025, in her Beverly Hills home, just days after celebrating her 98th birthday, leaving behind a legacy of timeless performances.

Even in her later years, she stayed close to classic-film fans—her official Facebook page shared how much she’d loved planning to attend this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival and “sends her love” to everyone who supported her through the decades.

Who was Cora Sue Collins?

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Cora Sue Collins grew up before the camera at MGM, her bright-eyed performances making her one of the studio’s most trusted young talents. MGM itself, launched in 1924, is instantly recognisable by its roaring-lion trademark and the boastful motto “more stars than there are in heaven”.

Throughout her 13-year career, Collins slipped effortlessly between sweeping dramas like The Scarlet Letter and Blood and Sand, swashbuckling adventures such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Treasure Island, and even early Technicolour shorts like The Spectacle Maker.

She shared the marquee with legends—Greta Garbo, Claudette Colbert, and William Powell—often portraying a daughter or the youthful double of a leading lady in flashbacks. Yet, despite her busy schedule and the pressures behind the scenes, Collins chose to step away at 18, later calling that exit “the single best decision of my life”, a nod to her desire for a life beyond the studio system.

Beyond the spotlight: Career, family, and notable details of Cora Sue Collins

After her final role in the 1945 drama Youth on Trial, Collins pivoted to a private life, marrying four times and raising three children. Her first marriage to Nevada rancher Ivan Stauffer lasted from 1943 to 1947; she later wed James McKay (with whom she had her three children), James Morgan Cox, and theatre owner Harry Nace.

Even as she stepped away from filmmaking, Core Sue Collins maintained ties to Hollywood’s past—appearing at autograph shows, film festivals, and interviews. In a 2021 conversation, she mused, “What a way to ‘bookend’ her life!” when reflecting on the full-circle moment of celebrating her career with fellow enthusiasts decades later.

Cora Sue Collins also remained candid about darker periods in her youth; in a 2020 Fox News interview, she disclosed rebuffing a screenwriter’s advances at 15 and bravely reporting the incident to Louis B. Mayer—an act she later described as pivotal to her decision to leave the industry.

Friends and historians, including James L. Neibaur, mourned her passing as the loss of one of the last living links to 1930s Hollywood, praising her “enduring spirit” and the charm she brought to every frame.

Cora Sue Collins’ death at 98 closes a remarkable chapter on Hollywood’s child-star era. From her earliest days as a five-year-old contract player at MGM to her final bow in Youth on Trial, she embodied both the magic and the complexities of studio life.

Her films remain a testament to the talent and tenacity of this beloved child actress, and her passing reminds us that every frame she graced is now part of cinema’s immortal legacy.

Jasmine is a journalist for Primetimer

She graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Sophia College in Mumbai, where she had the unique opportunity to publish research in social science and media.

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