Biography

Lois Collier

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Born
March 21, 1917 · Salley, South Carolina, USA
Died
October 27, 1999 · Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (Alzheimer's disease)
Birth name
Madelyn Earle Jones
Height
5′ 1″ (1.55 m)

Born Madelyn Earle Jones in South Carolina in 1919, this future actress' childhood dream was to be a missionary in China, but a taste of acting in school plays soon changed her mind and she decided on a career on stage. Her mother was supportive of her decision and, while Madelyn was attending college in South Carolina, entered her picture in a contest sponsored by CBS Radio for a part in a radio play in Hollywood. Madelyn won the part and took the name of the character she played, Lois Collier, as her professional name.

Collier landed more radio work, and soon began playing small parts in local stage productions and getting some work in a few films for Republic Pictures. It was on stage, however, where she was spotted by a scout for Universal Pictures and given a seven-year contract. Although Lois possessed a beautiful singing voice, Universal seldom gave her a chance to show it off, and she was stuck in a succession of B pictures and serials. When her contract expired, she freelanced and did a few comedies and westerns for Monogram and some serials for Republic. In 1951 she got a role on the Boston Blackie (1951) TV series, and stayed on the show until it was canceled in 1954, after which she retired from the business.
- IMDb mini biography by: frankfob2@yahoo.com

[on what she didn't like about all the westerns she made] Horses scared me, they still do. I hated them. When we'd be on location, I'd look around and Bob Steele would have made his horse stand directly over my head, as if it were going to kick me. He thought that was so funny. I didn't, as those creatures frighten me. The director yelled they could have a big lawsuit here, but that didn't stop Bob and his practical jokes. Horses are beautiful animals, but if they all disappeared off the face of the earth tomorrow it would be just fine with me. I'd rather have a dog!

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