Fast cars judo and karate

Press, 31 May 1982, Page 14

Fast cars judo and karate

Lewis Collins, who plays Bodie in “The Professionals" (on One tonight), was born in 1946 in Birkenhead, England He started his career as a ladies’ hairdresser, then played drums and guitar in pop groups and had a number of jobs before deciding tc become an actor. He trained at the London Academy ol Music and Dramatic ' Art followed by repertory at Chesterfield' and Glasgow. Collins is an expert rifle and pistol shot and driver ol fast cars and motor cycles He also trained in judo and karate: He has made television programmes in "Z Cars." and “The New Avengers." and had a sizeable part in the situation comedy series “The Cuckoo Waltz” before making a name for himself as one of the Professionals. Lewis Collins lives in a converted, still-mobile ambulance and lists his outside interests as squash, tennis, weight-training, swimming, target shooting. motorcycling. judo, writing stories, reading, cooking, playing musical instruments and driving very fast at night down country' lanes.

His ambitions are to have a happy wife and family and to gain recognition as a versatile actor.