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| Professionals star Lewis Collins dies | Professionals star Lewis Collins dies |
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| The Professionals star Lewis Collins has died aged 67, his agent has said. | The Professionals star Lewis Collins has died aged 67, his agent has said. |
| The actor, who played Bodie in the cult 1970s TV series, alongside Martin Shaw, died in Los Angeles after a five-year struggle with cancer. | The actor, who played Bodie in the cult 1970s TV series, alongside Martin Shaw, died in Los Angeles after a five-year struggle with cancer. |
| His agent said: "He died peacefully at his LA home surrounded by his family. Privacy is asked for at this very sad time." | His agent said: "He died peacefully at his LA home surrounded by his family. Privacy is asked for at this very sad time." |
| The Professionals was based around the adventures of a fictional crime fighting unit called CI5. | The Professionals was based around the adventures of a fictional crime fighting unit called CI5. |
| The ITV show became huge hit in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Collins's other notable roles included SAS captain Peter Skellen in 1982's Who Dares Wins. | The ITV show became huge hit in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Collins's other notable roles included SAS captain Peter Skellen in 1982's Who Dares Wins. |
| Shaw, currently appearing in a West End production of 12 Angry Men, said he was saddened by the news of his co-star's death. | |
| "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," he said. | |
| "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." | |
| Bond audition | |
| Collins was born in May 1946 in Cheshire, and worked as a drummer and a hairdresser before breaking into acting. | |
| Early work included roles in popular TV series such as Z Cars and The New Avengers, as well as a recurring role in The Cuckoo Waltz. | |
| However, he became a household name with the debut of The Professionals in 1977, which ran for six years and won him a global following as hard man William Bodie. | |
| Towards the end of The Professionals, Collins played the lead in the British thriller Who Dares Wins, as an SAS soldier who infiltrates a terrorist group. | |
| Around this time, he auditioned for the role of James Bond: "I was in Albert R Broccoli's office for five minutes, but it was really over for me in seconds," he is reported to have said. | |
| "He's expecting another Connery to walk through the door and there are few of them around." | |
| Unlike his co-star, Collins was never able to match his success in The Professionals. | |
| He continued working across the '80s and '90s and was last seen on screen in 2002 in The Bill. | |
| Collins leaves his wife, Michelle - whom he married in 1992 - and three sons. | |
| The Professionals is currently being re-run on ITV4. |