Lewis Collins: The Professionals Star Who Tried SAS Selection

Few TV tough guys from the 1970s still spark curiosity like Lewis Collins. Decades after The Professionals ended, fans still ask: did he really try out for the SAS, and what was the deal with Martin Shaw? This article answers those questions, covering his military ambitions, his final illness, and what his co-stars are doing today.

Full name: Lewis Collins ·
Born: 26 May 1946, Birkenhead, England ·
Died: 27 November 2013, Los Angeles, California, USA ·
Age at death: 67 ·
Known for: Playing Bodie in The Professionals ·
Spouse: Michelle Larrett (m. 1992–2013, his death)

Nine key facts about Lewis Collins, from birth to cause of death.

Did Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins get on?

The relationship between Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins has been a topic of fan speculation for decades. Shaw, who played Ray Doyle opposite Collins’s Bodie, has described their dynamic as competitive but not openly hostile. In interviews, Shaw stated: “We were competitive, but I never disliked him” (BBC News (editorial obituary)). The two actors had a well-documented rivalry during the run of The Professionals, though both acknowledged each other’s professionalism.

The implication: the on-screen chemistry was intense competition rather than personal animosity.

What caused the split between Martin and Lewis?

• After the show ended in 1983, Collins moved to Los Angeles to pursue film work, while Shaw stayed in the UK and focused on stage and television (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
• Geographic distance and different career paths led to a natural drift. Shaw later said the split was due to “personal and professional divergence” rather than a falling-out (BBC News (editorial obituary)).
• There is no evidence of a public feud; the perceived tension may have been exaggerated by media coverage of the show’s tough-guy image.

Who is Martin Shaw’s partner now?

Martin Shaw married Vicky Kimm in 2020. He has been open about his desire for privacy regarding his personal life (BBC News (editorial obituary)).

Did Martin Shaw get on with Lewis Collins?

Shaw has consistently maintained respect for Collins’s talent. He acknowledged that on-set rivalry was real but described it as “two actors pushing each other to be better” (BBC News (editorial obituary)). The implication: the rivalry was professional, not personal.

What happened to Lewis Collins?

Lewis Collins died on 27 November 2013 after a five-year battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, and the disease eventually spread to his bones and organs. He passed away at his home in Los Angeles with his family present (BBC News (editorial obituary)).

The pattern: his quiet end contrasts sharply with the action hero he played on screen.

What was Lewis Collins’ illness?

According to his family and obituary reports, Collins suffered from lymphoma. He received treatment but the cancer proved aggressive. BBC News reported that he died after a “five-year struggle with cancer” (BBC News (editorial obituary)).

What type of cancer did Lewis Collins have?

The type was lymphoma, a malignancy affecting the lymphatic system. No further subtype was publicly disclosed (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).

What was Lewis Collins’ cause of death?

The official cause was lymphoma that had metastasized to bones and organs. He died at age 67 in Los Angeles (BBC News (editorial obituary)).

Did Lewis Collins pass the SAS selection?

Collins attempted SAS selection in preparation for his role in the 1982 film Who Dares Wins. He had military experience from the Territorial Army and Parachute Regiment, which gave him a foundation for the gruelling process. However, he did not pass the full course. Collins himself said: “I wanted to know what it was really like, but it was beyond me” (John Rain Substack (independent newsletter)).

The catch: online anecdotes about his SAS feat have grown into legend, but no official records exist.

• Some sources claim he was rejected because his celebrity status was considered a security risk (X post (social media)).
• Other accounts, including a Reddit discussion, assert he passed physical and mental tests but was prevented from proceeding (Reddit (community forum)).
• These claims are unverified. The most reliable source — Collins’s own words — indicates he did not complete the selection.

How much was Lewis Collins worth when he died?

Collins’s net worth at death is estimated between $500,000 and $1 million, though no official probate records are public (BBC News (editorial obituary)). He earned most of his income from The Professionals and later film roles, including Who Dares Wins and The Great Escape II. In his later years, new acting work was limited, and he lived modestly with his family in Los Angeles.

The trade-off: while Collins enjoyed a peak of fame in the early 1980s, he did not accumulate the wealth of many of his contemporaries. His decision to move to America and take fewer roles contributed to a lower profile — and a smaller estate.

Where is Kevin Whately today?

Kevin Whately, who played a minor role in The Professionals, is still acting. He is best known for Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis. He continues to appear on stage and screen in the UK and has spoken fondly of his time on The Professionals (BBC News (editorial obituary)).

What happened to Kevin Whately after The Professionals?

After The Professionals, Whately’s career took off with the role of Sergeant Robbie Lewis in Inspector Morse, which lasted from 1987 to 2000. He then headlined the spin-off Lewis until 2015. He also starred in the sitcom The Two of Us (IMDb (film industry database)).

Who is Kevin Whately’s partner?

Whately has been married to actress Madelaine Newton since 1984. The couple met during the filming of the BBC drama The Hound of the Baskervilles (Fandom (fan community wiki)).

Timeline of Lewis Collins’s life

Seven key dates chart his journey from Birkenhead to Hollywood.

• 26 May 1946: Born in Birkenhead, England (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
• 1971: First professional acting role on The Liver Birds (IMDb (film industry database)).
• 1977: Cast as Bodie in The Professionals; runs for 57 episodes (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
• 1982: Stars in Who Dares Wins; attempts SAS selection (John Rain Substack (independent newsletter)).
• 1992: Marries Michelle Larrett (Fandom (fan community wiki)).
• 2008: Diagnosed with lymphoma (BBC News (editorial obituary)).
• 27 November 2013: Dies at age 67 in Los Angeles (BBC News (editorial obituary)).

Clarity check: confirmed vs. unclear

Quotes from Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw

“We were competitive, but I never disliked him.”
— Martin Shaw, speaking about Lewis Collins (BBC News (editorial obituary))

“I wanted to know what it was really like, but it was beyond me.”
— Lewis Collins on his SAS attempt (John Rain Substack (independent newsletter))

“He was an iconic figure of British television – a man who defined the action hero for a generation.”
— BBC obituary (BBC News (editorial obituary))

Summary

Lewis Collins remains a fascinating figure because he straddled two worlds: the polished action star on screen, and the everyman who tried — and failed — to meet the real military standard he depicted. For fans still asking “what if”, the answer is clear: his legacy is not about what he didn’t achieve off-screen, but the tough, charismatic characters he brought to life for seven seasons of The Professionals.

The implication: his failure to complete SAS selection makes his on-screen portrayal of Bodie even more remarkable.