Cora Sue Collins
A luminous child star of Hollywood's Golden Age, she shared the screen with legends before choosing a quiet life far from the spotlight.
1927–2025 (age 98)·American child actress·Birthday: April 19·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Cora Sue Collins possessed a natural, preternatural grace in front of the camera that made her one of the most sought-after child actors of the early 1930s. With her blonde curls and expressive eyes, she wasn't a vaudeville-trained performer but a genuine child, which lent her roles an authentic charm. She debuted at age four and quickly became a fixture, working alongside the era's biggest stars: she danced with Fred Astaire in 'The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle,' was rescued from a fire by Clark Gable in 'Red Dust,' and played the younger version of Joan Crawford's character in 'The Gorgeous Hussy.' By her mid-teens, she had appeared in nearly fifty films. Then, at the height of her career, she walked away. Unlike many of her peers, Collins made a clean and deliberate break from Hollywood. She married, raised a family, and lived a largely private life for decades, only occasionally revisiting her past at film festivals. Her story is a unique chapter in Hollywood history—not one of tragic decline, but of a graceful and successful exit on her own terms.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Cora was born in 1927, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cora Was Born
The biggest hits of 1927
#1 Movie
Wings
Cora's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1927Born
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1932Started school
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1940Became a teenager
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Could drive
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1945Could vote
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1948Turned 21
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1957Turned 30
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 40
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 50
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 60
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 70
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 80
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2025Died at 98
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
Key Achievements
- Appeared in 47 films during the 1930s and early 1940s, becoming a prominent child star.
- Performed alongside major stars including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Fred Astaire, and Joan Crawford.
- Starred in notable pre-Code films such as 'Red Dust' (1932) and 'Queen Christina' (1933).
- Successfully transitioned to a long and private life after retiring from acting as a young adult.
Did You Know?
She was discovered when a director saw her playing on the Santa Monica beach.
Her first film was 'The Secret Witness' (1931) at the age of four.
She was one of the original 'WAMPAS Baby Stars' in 1934, a promotional campaign for young actresses.
She lived to be 97, one of the longest-lived stars from Hollywood's early sound era.
“The trick was to forget the camera and just be the girl in the scene.”
