Biography
Collins won the Ivor Novello and Robert Donat Scholarships to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, RADA. After graduating he went on to run the Summer Theatre at Frinton-on-Sea, Essex for three years and then went to work in the first season of the Nottingham Playhouse. In his early years he made a number of films including the Hammer Film Productions, Hammer Film ''Dracula Has Risen from the Grave'' (1968), the film versions of ''Till Death Us Do Part (film), Till Death Us Do Part'' (1969) and ''Dad's Army (1971 film), Dad's Army'' (1971), ''The Adventures of Barry McKenzie'' (1972), ''The Ghoul (1975 film), The Ghoul'' (1975), and ''The Boys in Blue'' (1982), and also many plays for Granada Television. As a vicar in ''Coronation Street'', he failed to marry Albert Tatlock. For ten years he worked with Spike Milligan as his assistant director and as an actor, in ''Son of Oblomov'' and ''The Bed-Sitting Room (film), The Bed-Sitting Room''. He also appeared with Milligan in his Q (TV series), Q’ series'' on television. He became a regular cast member of two television series – ''A Family at War'' and also with Robert Lindsay (actor), Robert Lindsay in ''Get Some In!''. He first worked for David Croft (TV producer), David Croft in the film version of ''Dad's Army'' in 1971, and subsequently was cast in episodes of ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'', ''Hi-de-Hi!'', ''Are You Being Served?'' and ''Oh, Doctor Beeching!'', as well his regular role in '''Allo 'Allo!'' and the recurring character of Jerry in ''You Rang, M'Lord?''. Other TV work includes ''The Brittas Empire'', ''On the Up'', ''Birds of a Feather (TV series), Birds of a Feather'', ''Trial & Retribution'', ''Peak Practice'', ''Ain't Misbehavin' (TV series), Ain't Misbehavin''', ''Harry's Mad (TV series), Harry's Mad'', ''Wycliffe (TV series), Wycliffe'', ''Mosley (TV serial), Mosley'', ''Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'', ''The Sweeney'', ''Secret Army (TV series), Secret Army'', ''Citizen Smith'', ''Yes Minister'', the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''Arc of Infinity'', ''Only Fools and Horses'' and ''Lovejoy''. Other theatre credits includes the tour of ''When Did You Last See Your Trousers?'', ''The Winslow Boy'', ''That's Showbiz'', ''Richard III (play), Richard III'' and the title role in ''King Lear''. He has also played the role of Mr. Paravicini in the record-breaking production of ''The Mousetrap'' at St Martin's Theatre, London. Collins has appeared in a number of pantomimes as Abanazer and as an ugly sister in ''Cinderella''. He has narrated ''The Snowman'', ''Carnival of the Animals'', ''Peter and the Wolf'' and William Walton's ''Façade (entertainment), Façade'' and has also recorded a Shakespearean CD with the Gesualdo Consort. He has just played the voice of God in ''Noye's Fludde'' by Benjamin Britten and has been appearing regularly as Henry VIII of England, Henry VIII at the banquets in the Old Palace at Hatfield House. Collins made two appearances in the British BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', initially in the episode "Ashes to Ashes (Only Fools and Horses), Ashes to Ashes", as a river policeman who informs Del and Rodney that they have to have river permission to empty ashes into a river (St. Katharine Docks). He then appeared in the later episode "Sleeping Dogs Lie (Only Fools and Horses), Sleeping Dogs Lie" as the Veterinarian. Collins has also appeared in BBC children's programme, including ChuckleVision as a flying instructor in the 1996 episode Dear Diary.Filmography
Film
Television
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, John D. 1942 births Living people English male television actors English male stage actors English male film actors Male actors from London Alumni of RADA