Mobley, the former Miss America who died of breast cancer at 77, was a beloved actress and philanthropist. She had a long career in both film and television, appearing on programs including ‘Burke’s Law’ and ‘Perry Mason’ among others.
She was also an actor on stage, starring in Brigadoon, Cabaret and Finian’s Rainbow. She married TV host Gary Collins in 1967 and made documentary films about children in Africa.
Maryann Mobley married to Gary Collins
The first Miss America to represent Mississippi, Mobley was a popular actress in both film and TV. She starred opposite Elvis Presley in two films, “Girl Happy” and “Harum Scarum,” and earned a Golden Globe for her role.
After her marriage to the late actor Gary Collins in 1967, she continued acting on television. She portrayed stepmother Maggie McKinney in the final season of Diff’rent Strokes, played alcoholism counselor Beth Everdene on the prime-time soap Falcon Crest and appeared as a frequent guest star on many hit series during the 1980s.
Off-screen, she devoted her life to relief organizations to help end poverty, disease and world hunger. She traveled to Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Kenya and Zimbabwe for documentaries that showed the plight of starving children. She was also a board member of the March of Dimes and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Maryann Mobley married to Richard Thomas
When Mississippians gathered to watch Maryann Mobley win Miss America in 1959, they didn’t realize that she would go on to a successful acting career. Her two starring turns opposite Elvis Presley, Girl Happy and Harum Scarum, were among her many film credits.
She also appeared on such television series as Diff’rent Strokes, Falcon Crest, Fantasy Island and Love Boat. She and her husband, actor Gary Collins, were active philanthropists who traveled with relief organizations to end world hunger in places such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.
Born in Biloxi, Miss., Maryann studied acting with Lee Strasberg before joining the Broadway stage. She later starred in films and filmed personal appearances. She and her husband, actor/talk show host Gary Collins, were philanthropists who traveled to many countries to help end world hunger.
Maryann Mobley married to Robert Duval
After being crowned Miss America in 1959, Maryann Mobley started a career in Hollywood. She began appearing in movies and television shows such as Burke’s Law, Love, American Style, Fantasy Island, Ironside, Falcon Crest and The Partridge Family.
After her marriage to actor Gary Collins in 1967, Mobley had two children: Clancy and Melissa. She and her husband were involved in numerous causes, traveling to Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Kenya and Zimbabwe to make documentaries about the plight of homeless and starving children.
She was a member of the March of Dimes and the United Cerebral Palsy Association. She also supported the United Breast Cancer Foundation and was a devoted member of Pi Beta Phi. She was the first woman to be voted into the University of Mississippi’s Alumni Hall of Fame. She passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at the age of 77. She is survived by her daughters, Clancy and Melissa; son Guy William; sister Sandra Young; and grandsons Garrett and Gaston.
Maryann Mobley married to Steve Martin
Mobley was the first Mississippian to win the Miss America pageant and later went on to a career in Hollywood. She started out on television shows like Burke’s Law and Perry Mason, then starred opposite Elvis Presley in two movies.
Mobley also made a splash in the small screen, appearing on such series as Diff’rent Strokes, Falcon Crest, Fantasy Island and Love Boat. She was a recurring celebrity panelist on Match Game and became an active volunteer, traveling to Cambodia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and the Sudan to help end world hunger.
She married actor Gary Collins in 1967, and they devoted their lives to charity work and travel. They were philanthropists who traveled with relief organizations to places such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan for documentary films that highlighted the plight of hungry children. They were separated in 2011, but reconciled the following year.
