Lewis Collins

Lewis Collins (27 May 1946–27 November 2013) was an English actor best known for his tough-guy role as Bodie in The Professionals.

Life

Collins was born in Bidston, Birkenhead, Wirral, Cheshire, and educated at Bidston Primary and Grange School in Birkenhead. He started out as a ladies' hairdresser before playing drums and guitar in pop groups. He had a number of other jobs before deciding to become an actor. Collins trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art then went into Rep at Chesterfield and Glasgow, toured with Prospect Theatre Company and then to London's West End. He also did tours in America and Canada. Stage roles includedCity Sugar and The Three Penny Opera.

In 1982 he auditioned for the role of James Bond but his audition was deemed "too aggressive". His best-known role outside The Professionals is that of SAS officer Captain Peter Skellen in the 1982 film Who Dares Wins. He subsequently applied to join the Territorial SAS, a unit open to part-time reservists but was rejected because of his fame, despite passing the entrance tests. He had a passion for guns since he was young. This passion helped his preparation for films.

In early 2012, Lewis was cast to play Earl Godwin in the historically based feature film production of 1066. In June, 2013, it was reported that he had withdrawn from the production and had split with his agent, Susan James.

Personal life

Lewis Collins married school teacher Michelle Larrett in 1992, and the couple have three sons, Oliver, Elliot, and Cameron. Collins moved to Los Angeles and held a private pilot's licence and his hobbies included parachuting and sports shooting, rifle and pistol. He also held a black belt in Ju-Jitsu and was trained in karate. He could also play some musical instruments, having played bass in The Mojos, featuring on the singles Goodbye Dolly Gray and Until My Baby Comes Home, before he became an actor.

He died of cancer in Los Angleles, California in 2013.

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, Series 2 - episode 5 "Obsession", (with Martin Shaw), 7 October 1977 - as Kilner
• The Professionals, 1977-1981 - as 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, 1988 - 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, 6 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
• Code Name: Wild Geese (1984) - as Captain Robin Wesley
• Commando Leopard (1985) - as Enrique Carrasco
• Der Commander (1988) - as Major Jack Colby
• Jack the Ripper (1988) - as Sgt. George Godley