Biography
American actor Gary Collins spent most of his childhood moving back and forth between California and Nevada with his mother. He finished his education at Santa Monica College as an accounting major, never contemplating an acting career until he became involved with camp shows in the army. Hanging around in Paris after his army hitch, he picked up pocket money dubbing English dialog to French films, then moved back to the states, where he was cast in the first play for which he auditioned, The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore. After a stint on the TV daytime serial
The Doctors, Collins worked in stock theatre and returned to Europe, where he showed up in an award-winning "art film" titled
Stranded. In 1965, Collins was cast in a supporting role in
The Wackiest Ship in the Army, the first of many one-season TV assignments for the actor. During the next fifteen years, Collins starred in the series
The Iron Horse,
Sixth Sense and
Born Free, none of them lasting beyond their first year (
Born Free operated under the handicap of being scheduled opposite
Monday Night Football. Upset at the progress of his career, Collins accepted a hosting job on the syndicated talkfest
Hour Magazine in 1980. At long last, the actor found steady professional work; he proved an above-average emcee, and stayed with
Hour until its cancellation in 1989--after which he spent two years hosting the ABC daytime magazine
The Home Show. Since 1967, Gary Collins has been married to his second wife, actress and former Miss America
Mary Ann Mobley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide