Eileen Georgina "Georgie" COLLINS | |
Obituary | |
She was not on the list.
COLLINS, Eileen Georgina "Georgie"
June 12, 1925 – Calgary, Alberta
May 3, 2017 – Calgary, Alberta
The final curtain closed on the life and times of Georgie (Georgina) Collins on the evening of May 3, 2017. Although Georgie expressed sadness at her departure she will be forever grateful for all of the supporting players who enriched her life. She cherished the many shared stages, special gifts and most importantly, the memories of all of those whom she encountered in her 91 years of brilliance, on and off of the stage.
Georgie Collins was born in Calgary, Alberta in 1925. Her parents Elizabeth and George Given moved to Debolt, Alberta and homesteaded while growing their family. Georgie married her loyal husband and best friend Allen Collins in 1943 and they soon started a family of their own. Their son Allen (Ron) Collins was born May of 1949, followed by daughter Debi Jones (Bruce) in June of 1952. With the marriage of son Allen to Gail Jones, Georgie welcomed the birth of her first grandson, whom she adored, Chris Collins (Linda). After the untimely passing of Allen in 1976, Gail remained as a treasured daughter-in-law and later remarried Arnott Thomson, adding to Georgie's ever-growing cast of beloved family. In the years to follow, Georgie was thrilled to welcome the addition of two granddaughters, Whitney (Cobra) Collins and Quinn Greenawalt, as well as great-grandchildren Brady Collins and Keltie Kramer, who were the joy and blessing of her retired years.
Georgie moved to Calgary in 1966; this move was the beginning of her lifelong career and passion as a pioneer for theatre and the arts. Georgie was a founding member of the Mac Club, Workshop 14 and is credited as being the driving force in bringing ACTRA to Calgary. Over her remarkable career, Georgie was honoured with numerous awards including The Martha Cohen Award and an Alberta Achievement Award. She took the position as Artistic Director of Pleiades Theatre from 1976 until retirement in 1990, building a very successful mystery theatre company that later would evolve into the well-recognized Vertigo Theatre.
She now joins those who have exited before her. Her honoured parents; her dear son, Allen (Ron) Collins; brothers, Robert Given, Ed Given, Wesley Given; and sister, Lil Forbes.
Better by far you should forget and smile, than that you should remember and be sad.
"Thank you Mr. God for a wonderful life" - Georgie Girl
Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road S.E., Calgary, AB) on Monday, May 15, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow at the funeral home. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to The Alex, "Pathways to Housing, Charity number 132824905RR0001. http://www.thealex.ca/donate/.
In living memory of Georgie Collins, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Collins made her film debut in The Visitor (1974), followed by a part in the Walt Disney two-part television film The Boy Who Talked to Badgers (1975). In 1981, she appeared in a pivotal role in the horror film Ghostkeeper. She would later appear in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987), and the comedy Housekeeping (1988), opposite Christine Lahti. She also had a minor part in the television film Body of Evidence opposite Margot Kidder, which was filmed in Calgary.
She had supporting parts in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen film How the West Was Fun (1994). She appeared in a six-episode arc of Lonesome Dove: The Series between 1994 and 1995. In 2005, she appeared in a guest role on the Steven Spielberg-produced series Into the West.
In addition to her work in film and television, Collins had been an active member of the Calgary theater community for multiple decades. She served as the artistic director of the Pleiades Theatre from 1976 until 1990. Now the Vertigo Mystery Theatre, it is the only professional theatre company in Canada that produces a full season of mystery plays.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1974 The Visitor
1975 The Boy Who Talked to Badgers Mrs. Gilman
1981 Ghostkeeper Ghostkeeper
1983 Chautauqua Girl Maude Television film
1986 Rad Luke's Mom
1987 Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge Mrs. Collins Television film
1987 Housekeeping Grandmother
1988 Body of Evidence Lady in Hospital
1988 Cowboys Don't Cry Ms. Chapman
1994 How the West Was Fun Mrs. Plaskett Television film
1994 Strange and Rich Erica Weiss
1994–95 Lonesome Dove: The Series Mrs. Hackett Series; 6 episodes
1996 In Cold Blood Journalist Miniseries; 2 episodes
1998 Noah Dottie Television film
2000 A Father's Choice Dotty Television film
2000 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Elderly Person Series; 1 episode
2000 For All Time Mrs. Clark
2005 Into the West Hannah Wheeler Miniseries; 1 episode
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