Lewis Collins Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Lewis Collins — At a Glance

• Full name: Lewis Collins

• Birthdate / Birthday: May 27, 1946 

• Date of death: November 27, 2013 

• Estimated net worth (at time of passing): ≈ US$5 million 

• Spouse: Michelle Larrett (married 1992) 

• Children: Three sons — Elliot, Oliver, and Cameron 

From Birkenhead Beginnings to Silver-Screen Reality

Born in a modest family home at 6 Gautby Road in Bidston, Birkenhead — a district of Merseyside — on May 27, 1946, Lewis Collins grew up far from the glitz of show business. As a boy, he was drawn to music; under his father’s influence, he learned drums and by his early teens was already playing in a band.  For a brief period, music seemed like his path, even sharing stages near those of early legends. 

But the restless charm of performance called him elsewhere. After some time working unglamorously — reportedly as a hairdresser — Collins sought a broader creative outlet. A bold decision followed: he auditioned for and secured a place at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).  What began as a search for identity soon blossomed into the launch of a serious acting career.

Crafting a Screen Identity — Tough, Charismatic, Unforgettable

Collins’ early acting years were modest, filled with theatre work at venues such as the Royal Court and Glasgow Citizens Theatre. His first television appearance came in 1974 with the police drama Z‑Cars.  Soon after, he landed a recurring role as Gavin Rumsey in the sitcom The Cuckoo Waltz (1975–1977), where his flair for both charisma and comedic timing first caught attention.

Then came the turning point: in 1977, Collins was cast as William “Bodie” Bodie in The Professionals. The series — a fast-paced crime-action drama — struck a chord with audiences, and Collins’ portrayal of the rugged, sharply dressed, morally ambiguous “hard-man” turned him into a household name. Over six remarkable years, Bodie and his partner Doyle became Britain’s answer to Starsky and Hutch, drawing up to 12 million weekly viewers at the show’s peak.

The role revealed more than just acting chops: Collins did many of his own stunts, brought his real-life toughness (he held a black belt in jujitsu and was a trained shooter) to bear, and anchored a persona that was part star, part mythic action-hero.  For a time, he was even considered a candidate to succeed Roger Moore as James Bond — though producers reportedly felt he was “too aggressive” for the role.

Life Beyond the Buzz: Choices, Family, and a Quiet Fade

After the final season of The Professionals in 1983, Collins’ career never quite returned to its former heights. He took on assorted roles — including a stint as Philip Mark (brief sheriff of Nottingham) in Robin of Sherwood (1986) and appearances in other films — but none matched the cultural impact of Bodie.

In 1992, Collins married Michelle Larrett, a schoolteacher.  Together they had three sons — Elliot, Oliver, and Cameron.  In later years, Collins relocated to the United States, stepping away from acting and reportedly running a small business dealing in computer equipment. 

The Final Curtain and the Legacy Left Behind

Cancer, diagnosed several years before, ultimately claimed Lewis Collins on November 27, 2013. Though the world lost him, the memory of Bodie — equal parts charm, danger, and star-power — endures. At the time of his death, estimates put his net worth around US$5 million. 

For many, his birthday — May 27, 1946 — remains a moment to remember the actor whose vigorous energy defined a generation of British television action thrillers. The gravitas of his screen presence, paired with evident real-life toughness and discipline, makes his story one that blends aspirational ambition with grounded humanity.

Why Lewis Collins Still Matters

Collins’ journey — from a Liverpool-area childhood to becoming Britain’s 1980s macho icon — reflects a rare mix of talent, grit, and timing. In an era before over-the-top CGI and blockbuster franchises, he embodied a primal version of “cool”: an actor who could fight, charm, and carry a scene with equal ease. His legacy lives on not just in reruns of The Professionals, but in the DNA of action-heroes who followed him. For fans of classic television, and for anyone drawn to stories of reinvention and ambition, Lewis Collins remains a figure worth revisiting.