The Glamorous Joan Collins

Glamorous, sheik, resilient and talented are minor words to describe Joan Henrietta Collins , a mainstay Hollywood actress. Her career spans the vocation of published author, actress and producer.

She has appeared in 95 films and numerous television roles. Now inching her way to 70 her name still appears in gossip columns commanding the camera’s attention.

Born in London, England on May 23, 1933, Joan was the daughter of Joe Collins (a prominent theatrical agent and her first manager) and his wife Elsa (dance teacher).

Joan has one sister, Jackie Collins (aka Jacqueline Jill Collins; actress; born on October 4, 1939) , who is now a major writer of steaming books like Lady Boss, Hollywood Wives and Hollywood Husbands. She has a brother, William Collins Jr. (real estate agent; born in 1946).

Joan Collins found the stage lime light at the age of nine when she performed in Ibsen’s stage play The Doll’s House -- in a male role. Joan was destined to fame as she began as a student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she landed her first contract.

Joan appeared in her first movie role Lady Gadiva Rides Again (1951, comedy). Collin’s career moved rapidly forward co-staring with Hollywood legend Bette Davis in The Virgin Queen (1955) and appearing in dramatic movies like The Girl in the Velvet Swing (1955), Island in the Sun (1957) with James Mason and Dorothy Dandridge and The Bravados (1958, western) with Gregory Peck.

Television was a major boost to Joan’s career appearing in such mass appeal during the 60’s and 70’s as well into the 80’s. Shows like The Virginian (1962), Batman (1966), Star Trek (1966), Ellery Queen (1975), Police Woman (1974), Baretta (1975), Love Boat (1977), Starsky and Hutch (1975) and Fantasy Island (1979).

These popular shows paved way for her main television role on the sizzling night-time soap Dynasty/Colby series as Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan on Dynasty (1981) as Linda Evan’s rival.

Hollywood greats like Kirk Douglas, Joan Fontaine, Bob Hope, Robert Mitchum, Paul Newman, Edward G. Robinson, Rod Steiger and Joanne Woodward have starred beside Joan Collins. Some give her a rating of Queen of the “B” films, but there is far more to her than some so-so films.

Joan Collin’s love life almost reads like one of her sister’s steamy novels. Joan has had multiple marriages starting with her first husband Maxwell Reed (actor; 1952-1957; died in 1974), Anthony Newley (actor; 1963-1971; died 1999), Ronald Kass (film producer; 1972-1983) and Peter Holm (pop singer; 1985-1987). Her current husband is Percy Gibson (38 years old) who is her son’s age which raised many eyebrows and gave the press a field day.

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