Mary Ann Mobley

Mary Ann Mobley (February 17, 1937 – December 9, 2014) was an American actress, television personality, and Miss America 1959.

Early life and education Mobley was born in 1937 in Biloxi, Mississippi. She grew up in Brandon, Mississippi, and graduated from Brandon High School. She attended the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority.

Miss America Mobley was crowned Miss America 1959, the first Mississippian to achieve this honor, winning the national talent award.

In September 1988, Mobley joined husband Gary Collins as co-host of the 1989 Miss America pageant, the 30th anniversary year of her own Miss America victory.

Career After her reign as Miss America 1959, Mobley embarked on a career in both film and television. She signed a five-year contract with MGM. She made her first television appearances on Be Our Guest in 1960, followed by five appearances on Burke's Law from 1963 to 1965. She made two films with Elvis Presley in 1965, Girl Happy and Harum Scarum.

She was given the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress in 1965. She was active in many charitable causes and was awarded the Outstanding Young Woman of the Year Award in 1966 by Lady Bird Johnson.

In 1966, Mobley was the female guest star on the first two-part episode of Mission: Impossible, in the episode “Old Man Out”. She went on to make multiple appearances on Perry Mason; Love, American Style; and Fantasy Island. She played a recurring role as Maggie McKinney Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes in the final season of the series, having taken over the role from Dixie Carter. She also played Arnold’s teacher on Diff'rent Strokes in season 2, episode 24. In Carter's later series, Designing Women, Mobley guest-starred as Karen Delaporte, the snide head of a historical society, who crosses swords with Carter's character, Julia Sugarbaker.

From 1973 to 1977, Mobley made occasional appearances on Match Game as one of the celebrity panelists. She and her husband Gary Collins played Dr. and Mrs. Diller on The Love Boat S2 E6 "Ship of Ghouls" (1978). From 1984 to 1988, Mobley joined Collins in co-hosting the Pillsbury Bake-Off on CBS.

She appeared in the documentary film Miss America, which PBS aired as the January 27, 2002, episode of American Experience.

Mobley is briefly depicted in the third season of the Amazon Prime series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, played by Amanda Dela Cruz.

Public service/philanthropy Mobley served on the National Council on Disability. She was also active with the March of Dimes, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,

Personal life In 1981, Mobley was inducted into the University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame.

She married actor and television host Gary Collins in 1967 at Brandon United Methodist Church.

The couple separated in 2010 but reconciled and were living in Biloxi when Collins died on October 13, 2012. Collins and Mobley had one daughter together, Mary Clancy Collins. Mobley was also stepmother to Melissa Collins and Guy William Collins, children from his first marriage.

She was treated in 2009 for Stage III breast cancer. Mobley died at her home in Beverly Hills, California, on December 9, 2014, at the age of 77, from breast cancer.

Filmography Film 1964: Get Yourself a College Girl - Teresa "Terry" Taylor 1965: Girl Happy - Deena 1965: Young Dillinger - Elaine 1965: Harum Scarum - Princess Shalimar 1966: Three on a Couch - Susan Manning 1967: The King's Pirate - Princess Patna 1968: For Singles Only - Anne Carr

Television

1959: Take a Good Look (ABC game show) - Herself 1960: Be Our Guest (CBS daytime TV show) 1963: General Hospital - Jonelle Andrews (1979) 1963-1965: Burke's Law - Teri / Cindy / Girl / Denise / Sugar 1964-1966: Perry Mason - Sharon Carmody / Dianne Adler 1965-1966: Run for Your Life - Laura Bronson / Clarice Newell 1966: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - April Dancer 1966: Mission: Impossible - Crystal Walker 1967: The Virginian - Ellie Willard 1967: The Legend of Custer - Ann L'Andry 1968: Istanbul Express (TV Movie) - Peggy Coopersmith 1969: My Dog the Thief, Part 1 (TV Movie) - Kim Lawrence 1969: My Dog the Thief, Part 2 (TV Movie) - Kim Lawrence 1969–1973: Love, American Style - Linda / Joanne Fergusson / Carol / Pat 1969: Ironside - Marcy Atkins 1972: Search - Lilia Moen 1973: The Partridge Family - Audrey Parson 1973–1977: Match Game - Herself - Panelist 1974: The Girl on the Late, Late Show (TV Movie) - The Librarian 1974–1977: Tattletales - Herself 1977: The Fantastic Journey - Rhea 1978–1984: Fantasy Island - Bryana Spencer / Nancy Carsons / Florence Richmond / Linda Roth / Amanda DeHaven / Ellie Drake / Sheila Crane / Pamela Deering 1978–1985: The Love Boat (3 episodes) - Maggie McKinney Drummond / Nancy Osborne 1980: Vega$ - Paula Conway 1984: Hotel - Catherine Stevens 1986: Super Password - Herself - Celebrity Contestant 1986: Rosie (as Sally Sugarbaker) Episode: "Peach's Sweet Treats" 1988: Falcon Crest (4 episodes) - Dr. Beth Everdene 1990: Designing Women - Karen Delaporte 1992: Hearts Afire - Mary Fran Smithers 1994: Bandit Bandit - Annie 1999: Sabrina, the Teenage Witch - Mary Ann Mobley 2003: Dead Like Me (TV Series) - Mary Ann Mobley (final appearance)