Samantha Eggar , the British actress best known for her roles in 1960s-’70s films The Collector, Doctor Dolittle and The Molly Maguires , died Wednesday, October 15, at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, after battling a five-year illness. She was 86.

Her death was announced to The Hollywood Reporter by her daughter, the actress Jenna Stern (House of Cards ).

Born March 5, 1939, in London, Eggar launched her show business career on the London stage, moving into film with the 1962 movie Dr. Crippen opposite Donald Pleasance. While continuing her stage career, she appeared that same year in the film The Wild and the Willing .

Eggar’s next, high-profile project was the 1965 thriller The Collector , directed by William Wyler, in which she played a kidnap victim and received

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