Former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley died Tuesday at 75 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Mobley's death was confirmed by a statement from her alma mater the University of Mississippi:
"The University of Mississippi family is saddened by the passing of Mary Ann Mobley Collins, the first Mississippian to be crowned Miss America, an acclaimed actress and filmmaker, and a 1958 graduate of Ole Miss. A native of Brandon, she was the university's first Carrier Scholar and later became the first woman voted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. While at Ole Miss, she was a majorette and a member of Chi Omega Sorority."
After being crowned Miss America in 1959 she went on to work on Broadway and in film and television.
Some notable roles played by Mobley include multiple lead roles opposite of Elivis Presely and a run on ABC's "Diff'rent Stokes" as Mr. Drummond's wife in the eighth season.
Mobley's acting career led her to meeting her husband, late television host Gary Collins in 1966 (Collins died of natural causes in 2012 at 74-years-old). She met him while co-starring in the film "Three On A Couch" with Jerry Lewis.
In recent years Mobley spent her time giving back to society by raising money and awareness for both the March of Dimes and the United Cerebral Palsy Association.
Mobley is survived by her daughter Mary Clancy Collins.
