- Born
- Died
- Height5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
- An underrated British leading man predominantly of the 1970s and 1980s, Collins made his mark in the 1970s action drama The Professionals (1977). As hard man William Bodie, he became a household name worldwide, which led to him receiving his own movie vehicle in the form of The Final Option (1982); but after the show ended in 1983, he was miscast in a number of cheap straight-to-video foreign actioners.- IMDb Mini Biography By: <James_Pinto@compuserve.com>
- Lewis was educated at Birkenhead Secondary Modern School and after leaving had numerous jobs including delivery man, window cleaner, dishwasher, then after 6 years with a rock band decided to be an actor after hearing a play on the radio. He started in repertory with his first part being a sentry in 'Dance of Death'. In the early 80's he was scheduled for 'Task Force ' and in training for the part did 25 parachute jumps with the Territorial Parachute Reserves and 6 as a civilian resulting in breaking both ankles.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tonyman 5
- SpouseMichelle Larrett(1992 - November 27, 2013) (his death, 3 children)
- ParentsBill Collins
- Passed the actual selection course for 23 SAS, one of the SAS' two Territorial Army battalions, only to be turned away from the unit because of his celebrity status.
- He was considered for James Bond in the 1980s, but Albert R. Broccoli turned him down, thinking he was "too thuggish".
- Holds a Private Pilot's License.
- Has three sons, Oliver, Elliot and Cameron.
- His father Bill Collins was road manager for Badfinger.
- After auditioning for the role of "James Bond": It would be nice to get back to the original Bond, not the character created by Sean Connery - but the one from the books. He's not over-handsome, over-tall. He's about my age and has got my attitudes... I was in Albert R. Broccoli's office for five minutes, but it was really over for me in seconds. I have heard since that he doesn't like me. That's unfair. He's expecting another Connery to walk through the door and there are few of them around. I think he's really shut the door on me. He found me too aggressive. I knew it all -- that kind of attitude. Two or three years ago that would be the case, purely because I was nervous and defensive. I felt they were playing the producer bit with fat cigars. When someone walks into their office for the most popular film job in the world, a little actor is bound to put on a few airs. If Cubby couldn't see I was being self-protective, I don't have faith in his judgment.
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