Collin Wilcox Dies at 74

Collin Wilcox, the actress who played a white woman who falsely accuses a black man of raping her in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird‘ and who later appeared in several TV shows and movies such as ‘Jaws 2,’ has died in her North Carolina home. She was 74 years of age.

Scott Paxton, her husband, revealed that the popular actress died on October 14th of brain cancer.

Wilcox played Mayella Violet Ewell, a woman who accused Brock Peters‘ character of rape. She gives a speech in court that is one of the most remarkable scenes in ‘Mockingbird.’ During her cross-examination from Gregory Peck‘s character, Atticus Finch, she tearfully responds:

“I got something to say, and then I ain’t gonna’ say no more. He took advantage of me! And if you fine, fancy, damn — ain’t gonna do nothin’ about it, then you’re just a buncha’ lousy yella’ stinkin’ cowards — the — the whole bunch of ya’…and your fancy airs don’t come to nothin’. Your manners and your ‘Miss Mayella’… it don’t come to nothin’ Mr. Finch!”

‘Mockingbird’ was her big screen debut. She later performed on various television shows like ‘The Twilight Zone,’ ‘The Untouchables’ and ‘Gunsmoke.’

She also performed in several other movies, including ‘Catch-22′ and the ‘Jaws’ sequel, before relocating back to North Carolina where she and her husband began a children’s arts center.