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| Professionals star Lewis Collins dies | Professionals star Lewis Collins dies |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| Brian Clemens, creator of The Professionals, said Collins brought a "Bond-ian quality" to the role of Bodie. | |
| "I thought he would have made a marvellous Bond," he told the BBC. "He was tough and he could fight, he looked good, he was handsome and he had this nice sense of humour. | |
| "I knew he had auditioned [for James Bond] and I think they were wrong not to take him up." | |
| Mr Clemens recalled that Collins also undertook a lot of physical training for the role of Bodie. | |
| "He took up parachute jumping soon after joining The Professionals. It was the sort of thing you would expect a Marine to indulge in. He was a method actor in a sense." | |
| Bond audition | Bond audition |
| Collins was born in May 1946 in Cheshire, and worked as a drummer and a hairdresser before breaking into acting. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | He continued working across the '80s and '90s and was last seen on screen in 2002 in The Bill. |
| Former Doctor Who star Colin Baker tweeted: "Sad to hear that Lewis Collins has died. He was the year below me at drama school. Had style!" | Former Doctor Who star Colin Baker tweeted: "Sad to hear that Lewis Collins has died. He was the year below me at drama school. Had style!" |
| Brian Conley, who co-starred with Collins in the 1999 TV series The Grimleys, also paid his respects: "God bless Lewis Collins, my dad in The Grimleys. A great actor and a lovely man." | Brian Conley, who co-starred with Collins in the 1999 TV series The Grimleys, also paid his respects: "God bless Lewis Collins, my dad in The Grimleys. A great actor and a lovely man." |
| "The man who should have been Bond," tweeted Gary Kemp. "RIP Lewis Collins. You were supercool." | "The man who should have been Bond," tweeted Gary Kemp. "RIP Lewis Collins. You were supercool." |
| Collins leaves his wife, Michelle - whom he married in 1992 - and three sons. | Collins leaves his wife, Michelle - whom he married in 1992 - and three sons. |
| The Professionals is currently being re-run on ITV4. | The Professionals is currently being re-run on ITV4. |