Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jackie Collins

Role / Field:

Iconic English romance novelist and actress, celebrated for best-selling works.

Born:

1937-10-04

Died:

2015-09-19

Century / Era:

1937s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jacqueline Jill Collins (4 October 1937 – 19 September 2015) was an English romance novelist and actress. She moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and spent most of her career there. She wrote 32 novels, all of which appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. Her books have sold more than 500 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Eight of her novels have been adapted for the screen, either as films or television miniseries. She was the younger sister of Joan Collins. Collins was born on 4 October 1937, in Hampstead, London, the younger daughter of Elsa (née Bessant) Collins (died 1962) and Joseph William Collins (died 1988), a theatrical agent whose clients later included Shirley Bassey, the Beatles, and Tom Jones. Collins's South African-born father was Jewish, and her British mother was Anglican. A middle child, Collins had an elder sister, Joan Collins (actress and author), and a younger brother, Bill (who became a property agent).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Collins attended Francis Holland School, an independent day school for girls in London and was expelled at age 15. During this period, she reportedly had a brief affair with 29-year-old Marlon Brando.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alain Badiou — Contemporary (Born in 1937) (1937): Influential French philosopher known for 'Being and Event' and universalism.
• Aleksandr Medved — Contemporary (Born in 1937) (1937): Legendary Soviet/Belarussian freestyle wrestler, celebrated for Olympic dominance.
• Alfred Adler — Contemporary (Died in 1937) (1937): Founder of Individual Psychology, emphasizing social interest and belonging.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Adrian Frutiger — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Pioneering Swiss typeface designer, master of sans-serif aesthetics.
• Al Arbour — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Pioneering Canadian hockey player, coach, and executive known for leading the Islanders.
• Alexandros Papagos — Shared historical date (10-04 · Died) (1955): Greek military leader and politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece (1952-1955).
• Alice Stewart — Shared historical date (10-04 · Born) (1906): Pioneering British epidemiologist known for social medicine and radiation health studies.
• Adam West — Shared historical date (09-19 · Born) (1928): American actor best known for portraying Batman in the 1960s and extensive voice work.
• Al Oerter — Shared historical date (09-19 · Born) (1936): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• 1937 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1937
• October 4 (10-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 4
• 2015 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2015
• September 19 (09-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Jackie Collins