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.
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).