Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Joan Collins
Joan Collins Facts
| Sign | Gemini |
| Born |
May 23, 1933 Paddington, London |
| Age | 93 |
| Total Facts | 37 |
A doll and an action figure were made in the likeness of her character on "Star Trek" (1966), Edith Keeler.
Affectionately known as "The British Open" because of her liberal lifestyle.
At the age of 16, she was courted by 19-year-old Larry Hagman. He had to be very respectful and report to her father.
Became a grandmother on 5 October 1998. But Joan, being Joan, refuses to be called "Grandma"; Miel Celeste Adam calls her "DoDo" instead.
Best known for her role in "Dynasty" (1981)
Brother William Collins Jr. (b. 1946) is a real estate agent.
Children: Tara Newley (b. 12 October 1963) and Alexander Newley (b. 8 November 1965) by Anthony Newley; Katyana Kass (born Kennedy "Katy" Kass, b. 20 June 1972) by Ronald S. Kass.
Daughter Tara Newley is a news anchor in England, UK. Son Alexander Newley is an artist. Daughter Katyana Kass is an actress and a theatrical production assistant. [May 2000]
First husband Maxwell Reed tried to sell her to an Arab sheik for £10,000, just seven months after their wedding.
Former stepmother of Robert Kass.
Great admirer of former Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher.
Has been good friends with Dame Shirley Bassey for many years. Shirley sang at her wedding to Percy Gibson.
Has described herself as "right-wing" [politically], although she once collected welfare in the U.S. per her own biography.
Has three grandchildren: Miel and Weston by daughter Tara Newley, and Ava Grace Newley (born July 2004), by son Alexander Newley and daughter-in-law Angela Tassoni.
Her father is South African, and her mother is British.
Her first agent was her father Joe Collins in London. Later in her career her agent was the well-regarded Irving Paul Lazar (aka "Swifty" Lazar), until his death in 1993.
Husband Percy Gibson is two years younger than her daughter Tara Newley and the same age as her son Alexander Newley.
In Italy, almost all her films were dubbed by Dhia Cristiani, except Land of the Pharaohs (1955) and Sea Wife (1957) where she was dubbed by Clelia Bernacchi and Lidia Simoneschi respectively.
Is portrayed by Rachel Scobie in The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004) (TV)
Lived with art dealer Robin Hurlestone for 13 years.
Met her fifth husband, theatre manager Percy Gibson, when Collins appeared in a touring production of the play "Love Letters" in the United States. Gibson helped edit Collins's new novel, "Star Quality". She was 68 and he was 36.
Older sister of Jackie Collins.
Once engaged to Warren Beatty.
Only appeared in 13 of 22 episodes during the final season of "Dynasty" (1981) because the producers told her they couldn't afford to pay her every week.
Pulled in a reported $120,000 per episode as "Dynasty" (1981)'s super- bitch, Alexis.
Refused to return to work on "Dynasty" (1981) at the beginning of the 1985-1986 season until she was given a raise, forcing the writers to write her out of the first episode of the season. It was a bold move on her part, because the previous season's cliffhanger was the infamous "Moldavian Massacre", in which all the characters were shot. It would have been very easy for the producers to fire her and eliminate the character of Alexis by having her being killed in the shootout. However, she successfully negotiated a raise to around $60,000 per episode and returned to work, missing only one episode.
She had affairs with Dennis Hopper, Arthur Loew Jr, Sydney Chaplin, Ryan O'Neal and George Englund (Cloris Leachman's husband).
She is allergic to shellfish.
She is one of only 9 actors to have played "Special Guest Villains" in "Batman" (1966) who are still alive, the others being Malachi Throne, Julie Newmar, John Astin, Eli Wallach, Glynis Johns, Barbara Rush, Dina Merrill and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
She studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England.
She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1997 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to Drama.
Split permanently with first husband Maxwell Reed on her 21st birthday.
Starred with Leonard Rossiter in Cinzano alcohol commercials on television.
The eldest of three children.
The second volume of her autobiography was called "Second Act" and was released in 1996, following her successful court battle against her publisher, Random House. The company had demanded that Joan return the $2-million advance it had given her for two novels, as it claimed her submissions were "substandard". The New York judge ruled in her favor.
Turned down Frank Sinatra, Robert F. Kennedy, Darryl F. Zanuck and Dean Martin.
Two of her childhood wishes came true when she made her debut on Broadway (wish #1) in 1991 in Noel Coward's "Private Lives" and starred as Amanda (wish #2).