Gary Collins Dead America's First Miss America Host

TV SHOW HOST, ACTOR and MASTER OF MISS AMERICA PAGEANT DIES

• His Acting Roles included being on:
• Perry Mason, Ironside, The Love Boat, Charlie's Angels and Fantasy Island
• Well, he may not have been the first master of ceremonies of the Miss America Pageant, but he certainly is one of the most memorable and number one in many of Miss America fans over the years before Donald Trump enterprises became King of ownership of the Miss America pageants.  Last news I saw about Mr. Collins is when he was arrested on a DUI where his blood level was .29 and then again on a felony charge because he refused to pay for a dinner bill of offer $50.00.  At that time, he was arrrested, given a $5,000 bond and charged on a felony charge.  A huge offense and may sound a bit extreme. But in Mississipi where he was living at the time, walking out on a bill more than $25.00 is a felony.  Can you imagine?

On the most positive tips about Gary Collins is the legendary moments he left as a host, actor and entertainer.  Mr. Collins was only 74 years old when he past on Saturday which is being reported as natural causes.  His career in the 1960's included many roles in movies and TV shows.  He had married Mary Anne Mobley in 1967 who was a former Miss America.  They were considered, as doing my research on Collins death seem to imply to be like a Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; a real America's sweetheart couple.

Collins died in Mississipi.  He married former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley, who represented Mississipi in 1959.  The couple had one child together and it was just last year that they separated. You can view a picture them a few years ago together below.  They were married for 40 years.  Collins has continued to act having appeared in a movie during 2009.

As for the wife of Gary Collins, Ms. Mobley was diagnosed in 2009 for Stage 3 breast cancer and has been in remission.  She too did quite a bit of acting and films and many of the most popular television shows over the decades dating from the 1980's and back mostly.  One of the most popular ones was a show called, Love American Style.  Gary Collins, dead at age 74 from natural causes; another symbol of an era gone.

CLASSIC HOUR MAGAZINE EPISODE with Gary Collins and Mr. Ed (the horse)

Gary Collins and Mary Ann Mobley

LOVE AMERICAN STYLE episode with recently deceased Davy of the Monkees

copyright 2012 Sharon L. West