Georgie Collins

Eileen Georgina "Georgie" Collins ( Given; June 12, 1925 – May 3, 2017) was a Canadian film, stage, and television actress. Collins is known for her role in the 1981 cult horror film Ghostkeeper, as well as her roles in the television series Lonesome Dove: The Series and the Steven Spielberg-produced miniseries Into the West (2005).

Born in Calgary and raised in DeBolt, Alberta, Collins began acting in stage productions in the 1960s before making her feature film debut in The Visitor (1974). Subsequent film credits include The Boy Who Talked to Badgers (1975), Rad (1986), Housekeeping (1988), and How the West Was Fun (1994).

In addition to working in film and television, Collins was a longtime prominent figure in Calgary's theater community, working as a director and actress. She served as the artistic director of the Pleiades Theater from 1976 until 1990.

Early life Collins was born Eileen Georgina Given on June 12, 1925, in Calgary, Alberta, to George and Elizabeth Given, When she was three years old, the family relocated from Calgary to rural DeBolt, Alberta,

Career 1960–1980 In the early 1960s, Collins auditioned for a production of The Chalk Garden in Edmonton, and landed one of the lead female roles. In 1986, she had a supporting role in the American sports film Rad.

She would later appear in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987), and the comedy Housekeeping (1988), opposite Christine Lahti. She also had a minor part in the television film Body of Evidence opposite Margot Kidder, which was filmed in Calgary. She subsequently had a supporting part in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen film How the West Was Fun (1994), and appeared in a six-episode arc of Lonesome Dove: The Series between 1994 and 1995.

In 2000, she made her final film appearance in For All Time, a television drama starring Mark Harmon and Catherine Hicks. In 2005, she appeared in a guest role on the Steven Spielberg-produced series Into the West, which premiered on TNT.

In addition to her work in film and television, Collins was an active member of the Calgary theater community for multiple decades. She served as the artistic director of the Pleiades Theatre from 1976 until 1990. Now the Vertigo Mystery Theatre, it is the only professional theatre company in Canada that produces a full season of mystery plays.

Death Collins died in Calgary on May 3, 2017, aged 91.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1974 1988 Body of Evidence Lady in Hospital Television film 1988 Cowboys Don't Cry Ms. Chapman 1998 Noah Dottie Television film 2000 Dotty Television film 2000 For All Time Mrs. Clark

Television Year Title Role Notes 1994–1995 Lonesome Dove: The Series Mrs. Hackett 6 episodes 1996 In Cold Blood Journalist Miniseries; 2 episodes 2000 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Elderly woman 1 episode 2005 Into the West Hannah Wheeler Miniseries; 1 episode