As a 12 year old I thought he was so cool in The Professionals...as a 53 Yr old I still think he's cool. He was an influence that showed me what a man should be...strong..dependable..brave & witty. What a sad end to a great man. Miss him.
I was about to say something similar...only I was born the year they started...however caught the re-runs in the 80's. Then rewatched them on DVD, then remarkable Blu-ray....
54 years old here, and same. Massive range for an actor, his camp Sheriff in that Robin of Sherwood is episode incredible! Could sing too, excellent stage actor and a skilled soldier in 'real life'. These are the role models we need.
Yes, I never understood the criticism he was too aggressive..He's an actor! and unfortunately I don't think he found a suitable vehicle to propel him forward..FATE and our loss...
@@paulcarter2907 In the Cuckoo Waltz he wasn't aggressive; he was charming. There must have been some otger reason. Anyway, he was an underutilised talent.
Got quiet emotional watching this . When i was a kid me my brother and my Dad watched this every week mum had already passed . I am 58 now and the last man standing . Lewis should have been a huge star to me he had the same presense and persona as Connery . As Bond he would have rocked RIP Lewis and thanks you were the reason i watched the professionals .
Growing up seeing him in the Professionals with Martin Shaw as Bodie and Doyle they were brilliant. He was like the real life action man figure toy of that era. A true man’s man. RIP Lewis Collins!!!
@@leonskum.5682 Me too. We used to organise our weekly band practice (pipes and drums) around the Professionals as our pipe major was a huge fan (along with half the band).
He was a great guy classy and lovely personality.He should have gone to the very top,far better than many of the so called stars and celebrities.A tragic end R.I,P. Lewis.
Lewis Collins was a childhood hero of mine and and still is. So charismatic and cool he should have been James Bond for sure. I still adore The Professionals over 40 years later and still watch the regularly. They just don’t know how to make TV dramas like that anymore, and even ended up having a silver Ford Capri just like Bodie’s. We lost Lewis way to soon but like all great hero’s the memories will go on. Thanks Lewis. 😉👍
They missed out big time not signing Lewis Collins up to play James Bond, Lewis had all the charisma and toughness required for Bond RIP Lewis Collins 🙏
@@bond0666 He could've delivered the one liners like Sean & Roger but in his own way, now they say you should have someone who actually has a connection to the part they play, Lewis was a Martial Artist, think he could've got his head around the Combat scenes
R I.P. Lewis. A beautiful man and actor, loved his cheeky grin and voice.Such a sad ending to a,wonderful life.Absolutely loved the cast in The Professional's,only Martin left now 🏴🙏♥️👍
I used to watch the professionals as a young girl and Lewis made my heart leap when he did that thing with his eyebrow. He was one very handsome man and a versatile talent to boot.
Yes, we’ll never know how good a Bond he might have made if they hadn’t continued to stick with Roger Moore for most of that 80s period. Same applies to Clive Owen in my opinion but I don’t believe he wanted the role particularly.
@@krishnan-resurrection714 If he is to be and the reports are to be believed, Idris Elba who was being touted for the role has ruled himself out as the next Bond a few days ago. I wouldn’t like to put any money on who will take the role next. It could be a left field selection in many ways as Daniel Craig was initially seen to be by the media.
Met him in the late 70s and conversed by letter a couple of times. He seemed a lovely gentleman, with a cheeky smile and very charismatic. RiP dear Lewis. Always special in my memories.
I remember a story concerning Lewis. He went to the same drop zone, Peterborough Parachute Centre to learn how to sky dive. One day he did a jump and landed very heavily. He shrugged it off and walked back to the packing sheds with his parachute - about half a mile from where he landed. It was only after he'd packed his kit ready for another jump that he checked his leg because it was still aching and it turned out that he'd broken it! The man was hard as nuts. He walked half a mile with a broken leg carrying a heavy parachute and never complained. He truly was as hard as Bodie from the Professionals.
I came across him at headcorn jump centre , he was alone so I invited him to join our small group but he opted to go solo. I think he might have been low experience level at the time, I’ve also had many happy days at Peterborough (sibson) great times and memories 👍
I loved this man. A real man's man and a woman's man. Grew up watching him in The professionals with my brother and dad on a Friday night. My brother and I always wanted to be Bodie. I openly cried when I read the news he died. My hero and part of my life when the world was a better place.
Still can't believe he has gone and still plenty of yrs ahead of him. Just didn't understand how he didnt go onto superstardom..a great actor..fit..a genuine guy easy to work with could do comedy well too..was so good in The Cuckoo Waltz as Gavin.. Rest in Peace Lewis..
So sad but also so good. Unlike most of us, he will be remembered, and he will always have been a loss to the James Bond franchise. Very enjoyable watch.
Thanks for the memories of Lewis Collins. A great part of my youth watching him in the Professionals. I didn't realise he did so many different things in his career. R.I.E.P, gone but never forgotten.
Great tribute - many thanks ! Used to love the Professionals as a kid, and still do now I'm 53. As kids. my mate used to always want to play Doyle, and I by default was Bodie, which I was always extremely happy to be - great quote from Ashes to Ashes from Gene Hunt "We're a team: Bodie and Doyle. I'm the one in the SAS; you can be the one with the girl's hair."
The Professionals was one of the best shows ever. My Dad let me watch it when I was about 10 years old and it has stayed in my heart ever since. God bless Bodie & Doyle and the "Cow" as well !!
Even the Soundtrack is still awesome with the Wah Wah Guitar, rewatching it now thanks to this Clip. Tears of joy and much laughter have ensued, Cheers !! So much good humour. Love when he removes the grenade from the Nurses blouse then dives on her to save from the blast. Afterwards he brushed any dirt from the top of her breasts LOL what a gentlemen.
Was lucky enough to meet Lewis when I was about 8 he was visiting a motor bike shop in South London at the height of the professionals popularity was so nice to me gave me his autograph still have it rest in peace sadly missed🙏💙
Born in 1970 i grew up watching the Professionals. I wanted to be Bodie, Doyle could sling his hook. For years now i've imagined that if ever im in LA, i would go see his resting place. Like many others have said i wished he had of been Bond. I really do think he would have been a fantastic Bond. He was my childhood hero, we all have one dont we ?
That put a tear in my eye…and I’m a 58 year bloke. Great montage and a beautiful tribute to a guy who was a big part of my teenage years in the Professionals…thank you 🇬🇧👍👏
Was on the same recruit carda for the Territorial Parachute Regiment as Lewis, difference was, Lewis wanted to do it and he did very well having a lot to live up too, I scraped through only joined because an acquaintance said "you won't make it" persevered, got through, went on to Parachute, got the wings😳as surprised as my family and people I new at the time were! Lewis you were an inspiration even though I only ever nodded to say hello, your presence made all on that carda including myself, push themselves even harder🙂 RIP!
I've heard a lot of people talk about him in interviews, never heard anyone say a disparaging word about him. And like I said in a previous comment, he was everything he portrayed on screen. We lost a lot when he passed away.
A truly Great British Actor. He was in things that I never even knew about, such as Z cars which I remember very well from when I was a youngster growing up in Liverpool. Lewis was a very versatile Actor and truly a Mans Man, the sort of guy that most young lads would look up to. I thought it was very touching that he took his sons and showed them where he grew up when he knew he was sick. RIP Lewis and thank you for giving us so much enjoyment.
Beautifully said. I was 21 years old when they showed "The Professionals" in Argentina in 1980. It was one of my favourite shows and I remember it with great affection. BTW, here goes a salute to another magnificent actor, the underrated Gordon Jackson (RIP). Lest We Forget.
@@arslongavitabrevis5136 Yes, you are right my friend. Gordon Jackson was another of the greats from an early age. From Upstairs downstairs to films such as The great Escape. RIP .
Thanks for the effort in putting this together for history. RIP Lewis - you brought a lot of people (and teenage kids as Bodie) a great deal of pleasure. WDWs was a great action film, watched it again 2 nights ago.
My brother and I watched The Professionals every week religiously. I was Doyle and he was Bodie. It worked because I had curly hair and he bloody looked like him. Anyway, loved his work. And yes, he would have been an awesome Bond. Very sad he's no longer with us.
Not only Brits. I'm from Trinidad and Tobago and cried when I heard he had passed. I have the DVD series of The Professionals and re-watch them from time to time.
I never realised he had passed away, how sad; maybe I’d forgotten, happens at a certain age. I grew up watching The Professionals and Lewis was always supercool, with those dry humoured comments of his. I never realised he’d actually passed selection for the territorial SAS and was only rejected because he was a famous face. That gives his portrayal as an SAS trooper in Who Dares Wins even more credibility. RIP Lewis, hope you’re somewhere in paradise still giving grief to Cowley. 🙏
He DID NOT pass SAS selection. There's interviews with ex-SAS soldiers explaining what happened; he withdrew during selection. In any case 21 and 23 SAS selection is far removed from 22 SAS selection, which is far more arduous.
Thank you for showing us this, he was a great actor and he would have been great as Bond. I loved watching him in the professionals. RIP Lewis you are not forgotten! xx
I gave my eldest son the middle name 'Lewis' after Lewis Collins. I was 19 when the Professionals appeared and I was mesmerized by him...I had a crush on him. I still have the Professionals annual/book from that time. That's staying with me...lol I agree with other comments on here about his ability to be James Bond. "They" should have signed him up... A side note...I was in Bidston recently. My Mother came from there... Thank you for posting this video...
In my 20's I loved watching the Professionals, I was into cars and was going out enjoying myself. The Professionals were about that and the guys had a great sense of humour. Lewis was the type of guy I wanted to be and now at the age of 69 I find it so sad that he has gone. Many thanks for this great and interesting video which included parts of his life I never knew.
From an age of when actors portrayed men of morals, perfect for role models much needed today. You will be missed but never forgotten. R.I.P. Lewis Collins
God I remember back in the day me and my two brothers diving around the living room to the opening music of the professionals like we where CI5 operatives, happy days didn't realise Lewis Collins had passed away though, thanks for the memories Lewis R.I.P.
God bless him , he had a beautiful singing voice & a brilliant actor !! We never will get another fabulous actor & singer like Lewi Collins xxx God rest his soul , if he has passed over ?? Love him xx Helen Kirrage xx
I knew Lewis he was such a Great man a lot of fun had big respect for women and never a foul word came from him. Lewis was an excellent parachutist, many times I sat in the co-pilots seat climbing to 12000. feet then Lewis and all the other lads would depart the aircraft (Islander) to Free-fall. It is a VERY sad day having now learnt that Lewis is no longer with us. Lewis and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. And also All at the parachute club. Thank you Lewis for being you. RIP. JB. East Surrey. UK.
As an ex squaddie, he’s one of the few actors that can play a soldier and look realistic whilst doing it. Because he was the real thing, tough enough to join the Para’s and knew what it took to earn that red cap.
I used to love this guy! I watched the Professionals with my dad when I was a nipper and was fascinated by it all. I loved the old cars, the Capris and the Cortinas I remember them well my dad used to spray them sometimes. Such a sad loss he was a great guy Lewis and a lovely person. Always witty and funny. Thanks for uploading this!
Could never understand why he wasn't huge. Always seemed like he was about to hit big, but then... Could easily have been Bond. Deserves a decent biography.
Excellent video - thank you! What a handsome, charismatic and multi talented actor Lewis was! Surpasses many of today’s breed of performers. RIP Lewis!
I didn't realize that Lewis Collins could sing ? & Did so much in his early career,I only remember him in the professionals, & who dares wins ,went to see it with my sister in the 80 's sad really. Great video, really enjoyed it.💖💖 R.i .p Lewis Collins.🙏
Loved The Professionals as a kid, looking back the action was so exciting. Lewis left it to go to to LA way too late, might've done really well on TV shows there as his younger self. Massive charisma. Stallone is an enigma but I'm sure all of you out there can easily name a handful of young action stars that did not transition to mainstream no matter what their talent. Lewis did so many 'commando' movies that he was typecast out of what he may have wanted to move on to. Thanks for the memories & RIP
What a great biography/tribute. I learned a good few things I hadn't seen or read before. Thank you! Such an ironic shame that Lewis, a genuine action man (whether he liked that epithet or not!) was turned down as Bond for being _"too aggressive"_ at a time when the franchise had veered away from the character's gritty origin and become something of a fey comedy series prior to going down the toilet - only to re-emerge years later with Daniel Craig successfully revitalising the role as an aggressive blunt instrument. It seems Mr. Collins was ahead of his time! As testament to this, watch his "This Is Your Life" episode (I think it's still on YT), and see how his previously jovial expression changes when a clearly unwanted (and entirely irrelevant to Lewis Collins' life and career) Jimmy Savile is unexpectedly introduced. Lewis Collins - sadly missed.
Sad that he died far too soon. Nice to discover that he achieved success in things other than just The Professionals….I think he may well have made a good Bond.
