Bill Collins (television presenter)
Encyclopedia
William Roderick Collins OAM (born 4 December 1934) is an Australia
n film critic and television presenter.
Bill Collins was born in Sutherland
, Sydney
and was educated at Canterbury Boys' High School
and the University of Sydney
. Originally a school teacher, Collins' appreciation of cinema led him to write reviews in the early 1960s and resulted in him working as a film presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
. He moved from the ABC to the commercial station TCN Channel 9 working there between 1967-74; later moving on to ATN Channel 7 Sydney and working there from 1975 to 1979. In 1980 he moved to the Ten Network to present movies nationally. He is currently presenting movies on the FoxTel movie network.
Widely recognised in Australia for his passionate enthusiasm for films, his profile allowed him to meet and become acquainted with a range of film makers from the "Golden Age of Hollywood". His presentations usually consist of a brief review of the film and its actors, specific discussion of filming techniques as well as personal recollections and quotes from the film makers he had interviewed. Since 23 October 1995 he has presented films for the Foxtel
cable television
network FOX Classics
.
His celebrity status has allowed him to take cameo roles in film and television, notably Prisoner
(1985) and Howling III
(1987).
Collins resides in Berry, New South Wales
with his wife, Joan. In addition to his television work, he lectures at the University of Sydney
on film and related subjects. In 1987, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
(OAM) for services to film and television. Also in 1987, his book of film reviews and essays, Bill Collins Presents "The Golden Years of Hollywood", was published.
In 2009, Collins was inducted into the Logies
Hall of Fame.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n film critic and television presenter.
Bill Collins was born in Sutherland
Sutherland, New South Wales
Sutherland is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sutherland is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Sutherland Shire....
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and was educated at Canterbury Boys' High School
Canterbury Boys' High School
Canterbury Boys' High School is a public, secondary, day school for boys, located in Canterbury, a south-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located near the Canterbury Park Racecourse and next to Canterbury Girl's High School.Established in January 1918 as the Canterbury...
and the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. Originally a school teacher, Collins' appreciation of cinema led him to write reviews in the early 1960s and resulted in him working as a film presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. He moved from the ABC to the commercial station TCN Channel 9 working there between 1967-74; later moving on to ATN Channel 7 Sydney and working there from 1975 to 1979. In 1980 he moved to the Ten Network to present movies nationally. He is currently presenting movies on the FoxTel movie network.
Widely recognised in Australia for his passionate enthusiasm for films, his profile allowed him to meet and become acquainted with a range of film makers from the "Golden Age of Hollywood". His presentations usually consist of a brief review of the film and its actors, specific discussion of filming techniques as well as personal recollections and quotes from the film makers he had interviewed. Since 23 October 1995 he has presented films for the Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network FOX Classics
FOX Classics
Fox Classics is an Australian cable and satellite channel that specializes in showing classic movies and television series from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and some content from the 80s and 90s.-History:...
.
His celebrity status has allowed him to take cameo roles in film and television, notably Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
(1985) and Howling III
Howling III
Howling III is a 1987 Australian horror sequel to The Howling, directed by Howling II: Stirba - Werewolf Bitch director Philippe Mora and filmed on location in and outside Sydney, Australia...
(1987).
Collins resides in Berry, New South Wales
Berry, New South Wales
Berry is a small Australian town in the Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast in the state of New South Wales, located south of the state capital, Sydney. The indigenous people of the area were the Wodi Wodi people. In the 1810s, George William Evans, Government Surveyor, reported on the Berry...
with his wife, Joan. In addition to his television work, he lectures at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
on film and related subjects. In 1987, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM) for services to film and television. Also in 1987, his book of film reviews and essays, Bill Collins Presents "The Golden Years of Hollywood", was published.
In 2009, Collins was inducted into the Logies
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
Hall of Fame.