# Gary Collins (actor)
**Gary Collins** (born Gary Ennis Collins; April 30, 1938 – October 13, 2012) was an American actor and television host who spent two decades trying to establish himself as a prime-time leading man before finding his lasting success as the host of the syndicated talk show *Hour Magazine* and as master of ceremonies of the Miss America Pageant.[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/gary-collins/) He died in [Biloxi, Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/biloxi-mississippi), at 74.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and dates | Gary Ennis Collins, April 30, 1938, Venice, California – October 13, 2012, Biloxi, Mississippi (natural causes, age 74)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004833/bio/) |
| Signature series roles | Lieutenant Richard P. "Rip" Ripley in *The Wackiest Ship in the Army* (1965), parapsychologist Dr. Michael Rhodes in *The Sixth Sense* (1972), and wildlife conservationist George Adamson in *Born Free* (1974)[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gary-collins/) • [5](https://walkoffame.com/gary-collins/) |
| Hosting career | Host of *Hour Magazine* from 1980 to 1988, winner of a Daytime Emmy; emcee of the Miss America Pageant from 1982 to 1990 by one account[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html) • [6](https://abcnews.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/10/actor-and-miss-america-host-gary-collins-dead-at-74) |
| Notable films | *The Longest Day* (1962) and *Airport* (1970), both nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004833/bio/) |
| Military start | Two years in the U.S. Army, where he worked as an announcer and disc jockey for Armed Forces Radio and began acting[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html) |
| Marriage | Married Mary Ann Mobley, Miss America 1959, in 1967; they later separated[6](https://abcnews.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/10/actor-and-miss-america-host-gary-collins-dead-at-74) |
| Hollywood Walk of Fame | Star in the Television category at 6922 Hollywood Blvd., ceremony date September 18, 1985[5](https://walkoffame.com/gary-collins/) |
## Early life and military service
Collins was born in Venice, California, and enrolled in Santa Monica City College before joining the Army.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html) He served for two years, and while in uniform he discovered performing, working as a radio and television personality for the Armed Forces Network.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004833/bio/) After his service ended he stayed in Europe for a time, dubbing English dialogue for French films in Paris, before returning to the United States, where he was cast in the first play for which he auditioned, *The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore*.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-collins-mn0001846485) Early stage work included a stint on the daytime serial *The Doctors* and seasons in stock theater.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-collins-mn0001846485)
## Acting career
**Television series.** Collins landed a starring role in the 1965 sitcom *The Wackiest Ship in the Army*, a short-lived television adaptation of the 1960 [Jack Lemmon](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-lemmon) comedy, playing Lieutenant Richard P. "Rip" Ripley.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gary-collins/) He followed with regular roles in *The Iron Horse* (1966–68), *The Sixth Sense* (1972), in which he played parapsychologist Dr. Michael Rhodes in a supernatural mystery series, and *Born Free* (1974), in which he played wildlife conservationist George Adamson.[8](https://www.caymancompass.com/1992/05/15/talk-show-host-actor-gary-collin) • [5](https://walkoffame.com/gary-collins/) None of these series lasted long; the *Born Free* remake, filmed on location in [East Africa](https://www.edgepedia.org/east-africa), ran for 13 episodes and was scheduled opposite *Monday Night Football*.[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/gary-collins/) • [7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-collins-mn0001846485)
**Guest roles.** Between and after these series, Collins made guest appearances on dozens of prime-time programs from the 1960s through the 1990s, including *Perry Mason*, *The FBI*, *Hawaii Five-O*, *The Six Million Dollar Man*, *Barnaby Jones*, *The Love Boat*, *Charlie's Angels*, *Fantasy Island*, *Roots*, *JAG*, *Friends*, and *The Young and the Restless*.[9](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-tv-host-gary-collins-dies-at-74/) His last credited appearance of note was on the short-lived ABC drama *Dirty Sexy Money* in 2009.[6](https://abcnews.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/10/actor-and-miss-america-host-gary-collins-dead-at-74)
**Films.** His film work included *The Longest Day* (1962), in an uncredited role as an officer on a bridge behind a destroyer commander, and the 1970 disaster drama *Airport*, in which his military background helped him win the part of a second officer.[10](https://fmdb.mov/en/people/152666-gary-collins) • [4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gary-collins/) *[Airport](https://www.edgepedia.org/airport-1970-film)* earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and Collins also appeared in *The Pigeon That Took Rome*, *Angel in My Pocket*, *Stranded*, *Killer Fish*, *Hangar 18* (1980), and the 2000 film *Beautiful*, in which he played a beauty pageant host.[9](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-tv-host-gary-collins-dies-at-74/) • [6](https://abcnews.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/10/actor-and-miss-america-host-gary-collins-dead-at-74)
## Hosting career
Collins turned to hosting in 1980, accepting the job on the syndicated daytime talk show *Hour Magazine* after growing frustrated with his acting career.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-collins-mn0001846485) The show ran from 1980 to 1988 and was deliberately a gentler entry in the genre, avoiding the confrontational topics of competitors such as [Phil Donahue](https://www.edgepedia.org/phil-donahue) and [Geraldo Rivera](https://www.edgepedia.org/geraldo-rivera); the Los Angeles Times described it as a bridge between traditional talk shows and news magazines, with Collins moving easily from celebrity interviews to more serious stories.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html) • [1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/gary-collins/) He won a Daytime Emmy for the series; the Television Academy dates the award to 1983, while [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) lists his win in 1984 among nominations in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, and 1987.[11](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/news/gary-collins-actor-and-television-host) • [12](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/gary-collins/bio/3000139457/) A notable week of the show came in 1984, when he spent a full week speaking with Nancy Reagan about drug abuse.[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/gary-collins/)
After *Hour Magazine* was canceled, he spent two years hosting the ABC daytime magazine *The Home Show*.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-collins-mn0001846485) He also served as emcee of the Miss America Pageant; ABC News gives the span as 1982 to 1990, while Rotten Tomatoes gives 1985 to 1989.[6](https://abcnews.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/10/actor-and-miss-america-host-gary-collins-dead-at-74) • [13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/gary_collins) Collins himself described his on-air persona as "inquisitive, sensitive, caring, likable, nonconfrontational," telling [The Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-times) in 1989 that hard-edged television "was never *Hour Magazine*."[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html)
## Personal life and later years
Collins married the actress and television personality [Mary Ann Mobley](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-ann-mobley), Miss America 1959, in 1967; they had one daughter, Clancy Collins White, later a senior vice-president with MGM Television, and he had two children from a previous marriage to Susan Patricia Peterson.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004833/bio/) He and Mobley were involved with the [March of Dimes](https://www.edgepedia.org/march-of-dimes) for more than 20 years and volunteered with relief organizations working to end world hunger.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004833/bio/) ABC News reports that the couple separated in 2010, while AllMusic places the separation in 2011.[6](https://abcnews.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/10/actor-and-miss-america-host-gary-collins-dead-at-74) • [7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-collins-mn0001846485)
His public image suffered at times from run-ins with the law. He pleaded no contest to DUI in 2007 and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence in Santa Barbara in 2009, his third offense; in 2010 he was fined for leaving the scene of a traffic accident in [Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mississippi), and charges that he left a Biloxi restaurant without paying his bill were dismissed after the restaurant employee asked to withdraw the complaint.[14](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-passings-20121014-story.html)
In 2011 Collins moved to Mississippi, his wife's home state.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html) He died of natural causes on October 13, 2012, shortly after being brought to Biloxi Regional Medical Center, according to Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove.[9](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-tv-host-gary-collins-dies-at-74/)
## References
1. [Gary Collins, Hollywood Star Walk, Los Angeles Times](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/gary-collins/)
2. [Gary Collins, actor and TV host, dies at 74, Los Angeles Times (October 13, 2012)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-oct-13-la-et-st-gary-collins-dead-20121013-story.html)
3. [Gary Collins Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004833/bio/)
4. [Gary Collins, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gary-collins/)
5. [Gary Collins, Hollywood Walk of Fame](https://walkoffame.com/gary-collins/)
6. [Actor and Miss America Host Gary Collins Dead at 74, ABC News (October 15, 2012)](https://abcnews.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/10/actor-and-miss-america-host-gary-collins-dead-at-74)
7. [Gary Collins Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-collins-mn0001846485)
8. [Talk-show host actor Gary Collins, The Cayman Compass (May 15, 1992)](https://www.caymancompass.com/1992/05/15/talk-show-host-actor-gary-collin)
9. [Actor, TV host Gary Collins dies at 74, CBS News (October 13, 2012)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-tv-host-gary-collins-dies-at-74/)
10. [Gary Collins, FMDb](https://fmdb.mov/en/people/152666-gary-collins)
11. [Gary Collins, Actor and Television Host, Television Academy (October 14, 2012)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/news/gary-collins-actor-and-television-host)
12. [Gary Collins Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/gary-collins/bio/3000139457/)
13. [Gary Collins Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/gary_collins)
14. [Gary Collins dies at 74; actor and TV host, Los Angeles Times obituary (October 13, 2012)](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-passings-20121014-story.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1940s to 1960s › Surnames Br to C*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license