Gary Collins, Actor and Television Host
In addition to acting roles in such series as The Wackiest Ship in the Army and The Sixth Sense, Collins hosted the syndicated series Hour Magazine and The Home Show, as well as the Mis America pageant.
Gary Collins — actor, television show host and former master of ceremonies for the Miss America Pageant — died October 13, 2012, in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he made his home. He was 74.
According to news reports, he died of natural causes.
As an actor, Collins appeared in feature films like Airport and was a familiar TV presence in the 1960s and 1970s. He had lead roles in the series The Wackiest Ship in the Army, The Iron Horse, The Sixth Sense and Born Free, and did guest spots on many other shows, including Perry Mason, The FBI, The Six Million Dollar Man, Charlie's Angels, Police Woman, Barnaby Jones, The Love Boat, Ironside, Fantasy Island, JAG, Yes, Dear and Dirty Sexy Money. His miniseries roles included the landmark production Roots.
During the 1980s, Collins hosted the Miss America pageant and the syndicated shows Hour Magazine — for which he won a Daytime Emmy in 1983 — and The Home Show.
Collins was married to former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley.
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