What Happened to Joan Collins? Career, Marriage Details

After seven decades in the entertainment industry, Joan Collins has proven that there is nothing she can’t do. The English actress has starred in more than 100 film and television productions alongside acting greats like Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Elizabeth Taylor. Her path to stardom started when she was just a teen.

Born in 1933 to talent agent Joseph Collins and dance instructor Elsa Collins, Joan grew up surrounded by stars looking for their big break. It was her grandmother who inspired her to chase her dreams and pave a path for herself in Hollywood.

“I blame my grandmother for encouraging me to become an actress,” the Quest for Love star told The Guardian in October 2013. “She taught me to sing, tap dance and even do the splits — which I can still do.”

While Joan had her sights set on show business, growing up in England during World War II caused her family to move around often.

”I was very young when the war broke out, so it’s hard for me to remember how it started,” the Will & Grace alum recalled during a May 2020 interview with Hello! Magazine. “My father had to stay in London because he was putting on shows to entertain people who were staying behind. But I was evacuated constantly. My sister, Jackie, and I were taken by my father to a variety of places – Chichester, Bognor, Brighton and Norfolk. We were all over the place.”

After the war ended in 1945, Joan attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She signed her first film contract in 1950 at the age of 17. Soon after, she cemented her status as one of the starlets of the decade and beyond with roles in films like Land of the Pharaohs, Seven Thieves and Our Girl Friday.

Through all of her career highs and lows, the Emmy nominee has taken away some important life lessons that she has passed down to her friends and family members in the industry.

“One of the things you have to do, once you’ve climbed that ladder and gotten to where you think you want to be, is realize that the only way up is down,” she said during a November 2021 episode of her Life Lessons video series. “You have to take the rough with the smooth.”

Keep scrolling to find out more about what happened to Joan.

Her Big Break

Joan’s big breakout moment came in the 1952 film I Believe in You. While portraying the character Norma Hart, the superstar was recognized for her dynamic acting skills and stunning looks. She earned top billing in a series of British films that followed before landing a contract with 20th Century Fox.

Her success in feature films was only just the beginning of Joan’s Hollywood takeover. She appeared on several American television shows in the ‘60s like her unforgettable role in Batman and a cameo as Edith Keeler on Star Trek. Nearly two decades later, she signed on to Dynasty and fans could not wait to see her character make her big debut in the episode titled “Enter Alexis.”

Successful Reign on ‘Dynasty’

In 1981, Joan made her debut as Alexis Colby on the second season of Dynasty. Her introduction to the soap opera boosted the ratings while the show was in competition with the CBS series Dallas. Dynasty ended in 1989 after nine seasons, with Joan starring in more than 190 episodes. She also appeared in the two-part miniseries, Dynasty: The Reunion, in 1991.

During her time on the hit ABC drama, Joan earned six Golden Globe nominations and won the honor in 1983 for Best Actress in a Television Series. That same year, the Prime Time author received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Love Life and Family

Joan looked for love as she continued to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She married her first husband, Irish actor Maxwell Reed, in 1952. The pair were divorced in 1956 and did not welcome any children together.

After a brief engagement to Warren Beatty, the Pacific Palisades star married singer Anthony Newley in 1963. They welcomed two children together, daughter Tara and son Alexander. Their marriage ended in 1971.

Joan married her third husband, Ron Kass, in 1972. The record executive was known for managing The Beatles before meeting the soap opera star. Their daughter, Katyana, arrived that year. Her third marriage ended in 1983. Joan tied the knot with singer Peter Holm in 1985. Their marriage ended in divorce two years later.

Though her first four marriages ended in divorce, the Revenge star was still open to finding love. She married her fifth husband, Percy Gibson, in 2002. The happy couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in February 2022.

Life After ‘Dynasty’

Joan’s career has not slowed down 70 years after she first made her mark on the film industry. The legendary actress has authored several books, was made a Dame by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2015 and earned several producing credits.

From 2015 to 2018, Joan starred as The Grand Duchess Alexandra of Oxford on The Royals. In 2018, she appeared in American Horror Story: Apocalypse. The mom of three also had several other projects in the works in early 2022 including the series Glow & Darkness.