May Collins

Biography

The daughter of Benjamin Collins and Lillie Smith, she spent most of her early life in New York City. According to the Los Angles Times (April 17, 1921),May Collins started out very young as a member of Mrs. August Belmont's dramatic society in New York City. While there she earned several prizes for acting. She was cast in the stage play "The Betrothal." Later she joined William A. Brady's forces, and played in Owen Davis melodramas.' "The sort you know," laughed Miss May Collins, "where you say: 'You're not the man I married! Get out of the room before I shoot! But gawd, how I love you!'" She also had a part with Grace George in "She Would and She Did." Collins was rumored to be engaged to Charlie Chaplin, but later married Edmund Thomas in 1930. She lost one son to Polio in 1939. She continued to act on stage in Australia and New York City. She was also in the stage play "Kiss and Tell," which included Kirk Douglas and Joan Caulfield. She worked "seriously" with the March of Dimes, according to the Bridgeport Sunday Herald, (May 17, 1953).