Lewis Collins in many ways was the forgotten British action hero, a man who could have and should have had a career to rival that of, say, Jason Statham, a true action hero and professional who seemed to live the image on and off screen.
Collins had dabbled in various lines of work including being a hairdresser and a musicain before he focused on acting in the mid 70's and after paying his dues in everything from the Confesssions movies to a supporting role in an episode of The New Avengers, where he was teamed with another actor named Martin Shaw, Collins became a star as TV tough guy Bodie in The Professionals, alongside Martin Shaw as Doyle and Gordon Jackson as Doyle.
Collins who was brought in after the producers felt original choice Anthony Andrew didn't suit the character, wore the flash suits, the cuban heels, the Segio tachini tracksuits and was well hard as former SAS operative Bodie, while Martin Shaw was the sensitive type with a bubble perm as former Cop Doyle. Now the two leads didn't always get along off camera as has been often reported, but they made a hell of a team on the small screen and The Professionals was must-see viewing throughout its run.
Collins seemed to live up to his macho image on-screen and off, performing dangerous stunts, parachuting and attempting to join the SAS during a season break. He made the jump to the big screen with the super patriotic Who Dares Wins as the hard-as-nails SAS officer Skellen recruited to infiltrate a militant group planning a terrorist campaign lead by radical Judy Davies.
The movie did well and Collins was tipped by many to replace Roger Moore as James Bond in the mid 80s only for the producers to say they felt he was ' too agressive'. (Remember folks, this was at the height of Roger Moore's eyebrow twitching run as 007). Imagine Collins in something like The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill or the darker incarnation of Bond given to Daniel Craig)
The Professionals and Who Dares Wins garnered Collins a solid following across Europe and other parts of the world, and Italian cult director Antonio Margheriti felt that Collins had the looks and the charisma to headline what would become a trilogy of action movies often referred to affectionately as 'macaroni combat' films shot primarily in the Philippines.
Codename Wild Geese, Commando Leopard & The Commander saw Collins battling terrorists and dictators in South East Asia alongside Lee van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine and Klaus Kinski in a trip of entertaining actioners.
Collins' subsequent work includes Jack the Ripper with Michael Caine, appearances in Robin of Sherwood, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Cluedo The Series, Tarzan, as well as episodes of The Grimleys, with his final TV appearance being in The Bill in 2002. Collins had moved behind the camera in recent years, basing himself in Los Angeles for the last few years.
Sadly Collins passed away yesterday following a long battle with cancer.
"We spent a very tough four years together in making The Professionals, and shared in the production of what has become an icon of British television," Martin Shaw said in a statement to the BBC. "He will be remembered as part of the childhood of so many people, and mourned by his fans. I send my love and condolences to his family, and the great many who will miss him."
We offer our condolences to his family and friends - and tonight we'll be raising a glass and toasting young Master Collins as we revisit his career, which is all available on DVD or Blu-Ray and well worth exploring...
THE PROFESSIONALS OPENING CREDITS...
WHO DARES WINS TRAILER...
