Lewis Collins

Infobox actor


name = Lewis Collins
birthname = Lewis Collins
birthdate = 27 May 1946 (age 62)
birthplace = Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
deathdate =
deathplace =
notable role =
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occupation = Actor, singer, producer
yearsactive = 1975 - present
spouse = Michelle Larrett, schoolteacher
domesticpartner =
children = three sons: Oliver, Elliot and Cameron
website =

Lewis Collins (born 27 May, 1946 in Bidston, Birkenhead, Cheshire) is an English actor. He is best known for his tough-guy role as Bodie in "The Professionals."

Biography

Collins' father was once a road manager for The Beatles. Collins' first love was also music.

He learned to play the guitar, and appeared in a number of Merseybeat bands such as The Renegades, The Eyes, and The Georgians. In December 1964 he joined The Mojos as bassist. The band split in September 1966. Collins then took a number of sales jobs.

Acting career

In 1968 he began study at LAMDA and appeared in a production of "Romeo and Juliet" during his three years study. After graduation Collins made several theatre appearances which resulted in a number of minor TV roles in shows such as "Z-Cars", "Rooms", and "Marked Personal." It was after this period of initial success he enlisted in the TA Reserve 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.Collins first came to mass public attention in 1975 when he starred in Granada TV's popular comedy series "The Cuckoo Waltz" as Gavin Rumsey who lodged with newlyweds David Roper and Diane Keen. Collins left the show in 1977.

The Professionals

Martin Shaw had already been cast in "The Professionals", but the script needed a partner. First choice for the role of Bodie Anthony Andrews was dropped after three days of filming, and Collins was hired to replace him. Collins had previously appeared with Shaw in "Obsession", an episode of the popular ITV series "The New Avengers."

Collins was picked to play Bodie alongside Shaw as the two actors had worked well together whilst shooting "Obsession", creating the required sparky and closely interactive relationship that the producers of "The Professionals" wanted for Bodie and Doyle. Filming of The Professionals commenced in June 1977, and lasted for four series until 1981 when the viewing figures dropped and Shaw left to develop his career.

Talk of reviving "The Professionals" first arose in 1994, after ex-producer David Wickes made plans to produce a whole new series. A 1996 Nissan car advert which parodied Bodie and Doyle was extremely successful, proving that the series was still popular. Collins began negotiations with the producers which would see him return to the series as Bodie, now in Cowley's former role as Head of CI5. Eventually the talks fell through and Collins was replaced by Edward Woodward in the eventual one-off revival.

After The Professionals

After completing the fifth and final series of "The Professionals" in 1981, Collins struggled to find work because of typecasting. Thereafter he found himself cast in macho, hard-man roles in foreign films.

He was considered for the role of James Bond replacing Roger Moore in "For Your Eyes Only" and later "The Living Daylights". Collins drew on his experiences in the Territorial Army to portray an SAS officer in the lead role as 'Peter Skellen' in the 1982 film "Who Dares Wins" (U.S. title: The Final Option). Whilst making the film he suffered a broken nose during a fight scene. It was criticised by some journalists for possibly being a 'Lewis Collins vehicle'.

He then starred in a trio of mercenary films all directed by Antonio Margheriti "Code Name: Wild Geese" (1984), "Commando Leopard" (1985), and "The Commander" (1987). [ [http://www.antoniomargheriti.com/English_Version/filmography.htm Filmography Antonio Margheriti ] ]

One of his finest roles after "The Professionals" came in 1988 in the ITV "Jack the Ripper" mini-series, in which he played Michael Caine's co-star Sergeant George Godley. In the late 1980s Collins based himself in Los Angeles, taking minor parts in several American mini-series while he studied for and passed film directors' exams. He spent much of the 1990s in theatre productions, and in a number of TV shows in brief guest appearances, including Colonel Mustard in ITV's third mini-TV "Cluedo" series.

His most recent TV appearance was in August 2002 as Dr Peter Allen in an episode of the ITV1 series "The Bill."

He continues as an actor and director in his own right.

Personal life

According to the Daily Mirror Collins was interviewed by police after discharging a shotgun in the house he shared with his father in March 1981. He was subsequently prosecuted and fined £300. Lewis Collins married school teacher Michelle Larrett in 1992, and the couple have three sons: Oliver, Elliot and Cameron.

He now holds his own Private Pilot's Licence and his hobbies include parachuting and sports shooting. He also holds a black belt in Ju-Jitsu.

TV roles

* "Z Cars", episode "Waste", 1974 - as Derek Cunningham
* "Marked Personal", episodes "1.38" and "1.37", 1974 - as Len Thomas
* "Village Hall", episode "Friendly Encounter", 1974 - Jimmy Jackson
* "Crown Court", episode "Arson", 1974 - as PC Henry Williams
* "Warship", episode "Away Seaboat's Crew", 1974 - L/Sea. Steele
* "The Cuckoo Waltz", Granada TV sitcom, 1975-1977 - as Gavin Rumsey
* "The New Avengers", episode 5 "Obsession", season 2, 7 October 1977 - as Kilner
* "The Professionals", 1977-1983 - as William Andrew Philip Bodie
* "This Is Your Life", 1 episode, 1982 - as Himself
* "A Night on the Town", 1983 - as George, a photographer
* "Robin Of Sherwood", episode "The Sheriff Of Nottingham", 1986 - as Phillip Mark
* "Carly's Web", 1987 - as Alexander Prescott
* "Blue Blood", 1988
* "Jack the Ripper", TV Drama, 1989 - as Sergeant George Godley
* "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", episode "The Man Who Knew Too Little", 1989 - as Bill Stewart
* "Blaues Blut", TV series, 1990 - as Hugh Sinclair (segment "Bounty")
* "A Ghost in Monte Carlo", TV Drama, 1990 - as Lord Drayton
* "Cluedo", 7 episodes, 1991-1992 - as Col. Mustard
* "Tarzán", 2 episodes, 1993-1994 - as Michael Hauser
* "The Grimleys", 2 episodes, 1999 - as Digby's Dad
* "The Bill", episode 034, 2002 - Dr. Peter Allen

Film roles

* "Must Wear Tights" (1976)
* "Confessions of a Driving Instructor" (1976) - Player in Monks Hill Rugger Team
* "Who Dares Wins" (1982) - as Captain Peter Skellen
* "" (1984) - as Commander Robin Wesley
* "Commando Leopard" (1985) - as Enrique Carrasco
* "Commander, Der" (1988) - as Major Colby

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0172484|name=Lewis Collins