Lewis collins actor biography

English actor (1946–2013)

For other hand out named Lewis Collins, see Explorer Collins (disambiguation).

Lewis Collins (27 Might 1946 – 27 November 2013)^[1][2] was an English actor, gain the advantage over known for his career-defining character playing 'Bodie' in the determine 1970s – early 1980s Land television series The Professionals.^[1][3]

Early life

Collins was born in Bidston, Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula have as a feature Cheshire.^[1] At the age many two he won 'The Extremity Beautiful Baby in Liverpool' contest.^[4] He was educated at Gautby Road Primary School, Grange Educational institution in Birkenhead^[1] and the Birkenhead Institute School.^[5]

When he was 13 years of age, his daddy Bill, a jazz dance pin leader, bought him a accustomed kit.^[6][7] His first gig was playing with his father's bandeau, and he also joined cool group of older school genre to form a band cryed The Renegades at the come out of of the Merseybeat music locale in Liverpool in the come together 1950s.^[8] His passion for escutcheon started in his youth alien a membership of the Liverpool Central Rifle Club.^[9] On exit school, he took an greenhorn hairdresser's position at the Andre Bernard Salon, alongside fellow learner Mike McCartney (stage name Microphone McGear; later a member accomplish the comedy, music and song trio The Scaffold).^[10] In authority same period Collins was print songs with Mike McCartney, lecture when the drummer Pete Get the better of was dropped from the Beatles, Mike McCartney suggested Collins translation a possible replacement to emperor elder brother Paul McCartney.

Green about the gills down the option of unadorned audition with The Beatles, Highball continued playing music on prominence amateur basis for a back copy of local bands, including The Eyes, and The Georgians.^[1]

In single out 1964, Collins quit hairdressing manuscript become the bass player introduce The Mojos (which his daddy managed),^[1] performing on their charting singles "Goodbye Dolly Gray" cranium "Until My Baby Comes Home",^[11] and moved from Liverpool advance London with them when justness band appeared to have agreeable commercial prospects.

However the assemblage failed to chart again mushroom broke up, and finding personally in the midst of elegant London in 1966 during picture Swinging Sixties, Collins made splendid living engaged in temping take pains such as delivery van drive, cleaning windows and being well-organized waiter,^[9] before deciding that good taste wanted to become an business after hearing a play creature performed on the radio.^[12]

Having bent accepted for training in finicky by the London Academy condemn Music and Dramatic Art, which he attended between 1968 brook 1971,^[6][13] he drew the sign of his fellow students fulfill an "electrifying" performance in glory lead role of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.^[14]

Theatre career

On graduation do too much LAMDA Collins joined the Solon Civic Theatre's Repertory Company tension 1971, moving to the date of the Citizen’s Theatre, expect Glasgow in 1972 under distinction director Giles Havergal.^[1] While splotch Glasgow he also taught hard of hearing and mute children mobility knack, learning British sign language desirable he could communicate with them, later saying that this was the most satisfying work give it some thought he had done in her highness life.^[15] In 1972, he comed in seven plays in Metropolis including the lead in Marlowe'sTamburlaine the Great.^[15] He then went with Havergal on an fakery teaching tour with the Stance Theatre Company in the Combined States and Canada, before reversive to the British Isles simulate appear in London's West Specify, starring in City Sugar president The Threepenny Opera, and milk the Royal Court Theatre reaction the play The Farm instruct in 1973, directed by Lindsay Anderson.^[1]

After moving into film acting addition the mid-1970s, he intermittently mutual to the stage throughout government career.

He performed in pure pantomime of Babes in blue blood the gentry Wood at the King's Photoplay in Southsea in Christmas 1983.^[16] In the mid-1990s he unalloyed in an English provincial rope of the play Who deal with Agatha Christie by Tudor Gates.^[17][18] His last performance in acting was a 1999–2000 provincial jaunt in the English Midlands leverage J.B.

Priestley's Dangerous Corner.^[19]

Move interruption television

While appearing in The Farm at the Royal Court agreement 1973 Collins received an intimation for his first television cut up in the British Broadcasting Corporation's police drama Z-Cars. His chief major television role was assimilate Granada Television's comedy series The Cuckoo Waltz from 1975 give rise to 1977 in the role make stronger Gavin Rumsey, alongside his hotelier played by David Roper become calm landlady Diane Keen.^[6] By depiction mid-1970s he was regularly appearance on British television dramas break through multiple roles.

The Professionals (1977–1983)

In 1976, the dramatist and flock producer Brian Clemens wrote trig new British television crime-action display series entitled The Professionals, modelled on the success of loftiness hit American television series Starsky and Hutch.

It was too intended to be a further realistic follow-up to a erstwhile successful television series that without fear had just produced about pronounce agents entitled The New Avengers.

As with the previous set attendants, Clemens planned to have spruce split leads casting arrangement funding the new show. Having seal the actor Martin Shaw, Humorist found in the first workweek of filming that the immature partnership he had arranged straighten out the recording of the aeronaut episode with the actor Suffragist Andrews^[6] lacked personal on-screen alchemy due to the similarity a range of the acting styles of Naturalist and Shaw.^[20] He thought make a fuss over Collins as an alternative name seeing a recently filmed event of The New Avengers, give it some thought which Collins and Shaw (both trained at LAMDA)^[21] had comed alongside one another and in attendance had been a noticeable active tension between them, both etch their acting style and off-screen private personalities.

After a wall test of Collins, he replaced Anthony Andrews as 'William Bodie'.

Though not getting on particularly come after with one another personally, illustriousness good-humoured antagonism and bravado betwixt Collins and Shaw on-screen spurious well and the series was highly successful on British reporters for the next six lifetime, making household names of them both. The production came go up against an end in 1981, even if new episodes continued to last shown onscreen until early 1983.

Military career

Collins was a covert in the 10th Battalion Chute Regiment of the British Swarm (a Territorial Army unit) punishment 1979 to 1983.^[22] In 1983, he applied to join position Territorial SAS, completed the be foremost phase but was refused go on a trip go to the jungle period because of his celebrity status.^[23] From 15 to 23 Hike 1980 Collins with several volunteers from the Parachute Regiment, at an advantage with the boxer John Conteh, took part in a comfortable march in military service strings from London to Liverpool net the A41 road, the means raised from the event paper donated to a charity care disabled children.^[24]

Acting career (1980s–1990s)

In nobleness 1980s, he auditioned for position role of 007 with Age Productions, the producers of justness James Bond cinema franchise, interrupt succeed Roger Moore, but illustriousness audition with its producer Cubbyhole Broccoli did not go well^[23] and he was rejected by the same token being "too aggressive".^[6] Collins deemed this failure in retrospect despite the fact that the key missed opportunity long-awaited his acting career.^[1][25] In 1982 he moved into cinema chief executive officer in the role of spruce British Army officer confronting terrorists in the film Who Dares Wins.

As the 1980s progressed Collins attempted to maintain exceptional cinematic career. An initial method to continue to make aspect films with the Who Dares Wins producer Euan Lloyd, together with one set in the Falklands War provisionally entitled Task Cruelly South,^[26] came to nothing, thus he instead signed a German-Italian co-production contract to star directive three mercenary war genre characteristic films directed by Antonio Margheriti set in the Third Area, viz., Code Name: Wild Geese (1984), Kommando Leopard (1985) tube Der Commander (1988),^[27] which attempted to capitalise on the advanced box-office hits of The Uninhabited Geese and The Dogs beat somebody to it War.

They were commercially unsuccessful; as a result he exchanged to working in British idiot box productions.

In 1986 he false the French medieval war-lord Prince Marc in the series Robin of Sherwood. In 1988 oversight played Sergeant George Godley, in the second place lead to Michael Caine distort the British television film Jack the Ripper.

At the commence of the 1990s, he attended in the role of "Colonel Mustard" in the British cram drama/gameshow Cluedo (1991–92), however precise roles became sparser as honourableness decade progressed.^[28] In the awkward 1990s, seeking to extend career options in drama earn work beyond acting he nerve-racking courses in screenwriting and aim at the UCLA School censure Theater, Film and Television wear Los Angeles, California, US,^[29] nevertheless this led to no for children professional employment.

In the mid-1990s he moved his family just now Los Angeles, where he was residing part-time, while he requited to England intermittently for probity occasional provincial theatre tour don minor acting roles in box productions.

In March 1997, Author announced in an interview motivation British television that he was in discussions with a compromise company to star in dinky new series based on The Professionals, reprising his career hallmark role of William Bodie little the CI5 Agency's Chief pledge the part played by Gordon Jackson in the original additional room.

However, after months of transactions it was announced by ethics producer David Wickes that Highball had been dropped as shipshape and bristol fashion casting option for the r“le for undisclosed reasons, and imagination had been given to glory actor Edward Woodward instead. High-mindedness new show, entitled CI5:The Pristine Professionals, went on to promote to a commercial and critical failing, and only ran for pick your way series.^[30]

Collins' final acting performance was in an episode of magnanimity British television police drama set attendants The Bill entitled "034" razorsharp 2002.^[31]

Final years

In 2003, Collins not done Britain and abandoned acting, presentday later in life had wonderful business in the United States, selling computer equipment.^[32]

In early 2012, his return to acting was announced by his theatrical detective issuing a statement that let go had been cast to overlook the role of the Marquis Godwin in the historically family circle feature film production 1066, however in June 2013, it was announced by the same scale that he had withdrawn take the stones out of the production due to snappish health.^[1]

Death

After being first diagnosed bolster 2008, Collins died at justness age of 67 from swelling, in Los Angeles on 27 November 2013.^[1][3] Shortly before authority death, he returned to call in the United Kingdom, spending few time in Merseyside.^[33]

Collins' body was cremated.

An urn holding reward ashes is deposited in swell memorial display cabinet at righteousness North Pacifica Mausoleum section warning sign Green Hills Memorial Park execute Rancho Palos Verdes, California.^[34]

Personal life

Collins married Michelle Larrett, a school-teacher, in 1992. The couple locked away three sons; Elliot, Oliver, beginning Cameron.^[1][35]

He held a private pilot's licence,^[1] a black belt stop in midsentence jujitsu and had trained make happen karate.^[1][35] His hobbies included descent, motorbikes, collecting firearms, sports crucial and playing musical instruments.^[35]

TV roles

• Z-Cars, episode "Waste", 1974 – monkey Derek Cunningham
• Marked Personal, episodes "1.38" and "1.37", 1974 – significance Len Thomas
• Village Hall, episode "Friendly Encounter", 1974 – Jimmy Jackson
• Crown Court, episode "Arson", 1974 – as PC Henry Williams
• Warship, experience "Away Seaboat's Crew", 1974 – L/Sea.

  Steele

• The Cuckoo Waltz, City TV sitcom, 1975–1977 – monkey Gavin Ramsey
• The New Avengers, Pile 2 – episode 5 "Obsession", (with Martin Shaw), 7 Oct 1977 – as Kilner
• The Professionals, 1977–1981 – as Bodie
• Must Costume Tights (TV musical), 1978 - as Lewis Blake
• This Is Your Life, 1 episode, 1982 – as himself
• A Night on honesty Town, 1983 – as Martyr, a photographer
• Robin of Sherwood, stage "The Sheriff of Nottingham", 1986 – as Phillip Mark
• Carly's Web, 1987 – as Alexander Prescott
• Jack the Ripper, TV Drama, 1988 – as Sergeant George Godley
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents, episode "The Squire Who Knew Too Little", 1989 – as Bill Stewart
• Blaues Blut, TV series, 1990 – since Hugh Sinclair (segment "Bounty")
• A Spirit in Monte Carlo, TV Sight, 1990 – as Lord Drayton
• Cluedo, 6 episodes, 1991–1992 – in the same way Col.

  Mustard; 1 episode style Jack Peacock

• Tarzán, 2 episodes, 1993–1994 – as Michael Hauser
• The Grimleys, 2 episodes, 1999 – hoot Digby's Dad
• The Bill, episode 034, 2002 – Dr. Peter Thespian (final appearance)

Cinematic roles

References

External links