| Gene Collins |
- Gene Collins is in reality a 73-year-old kid, who refuses to grow up. He left a 20-year career in Pharmacy to
seek a new life in the theatrical world. At 45 he was selected to study at the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts, the country’s oldest drama school. In a short time he was appearing in plays and on TV as a
genuine character actor.
He has appeared on General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, Young and the Restless, Capitol, Happy Days,
LaVerne and Shirley, Archie Bunker’s Place, and Hardcastle and McCormick as well as many “industrial”
how-to films, but his first love has always been the stage. He has appeared in more than 100 stage
productions, including summer stock in West Virginia, dinner theater in Orange County and many
Hollywood drama productions. In all, he has appeared on stage more than 40,000 times and shows no signs
of stopping.
He became interested in American History while employed at Knott’s Berry Farm as a melodrama villain
and 1850's medicine man. He first portrayed Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, and later Benjamin Franklin and
he became a born-again Patriot, Franklin was an ever-changing renaissance man, a printer, philosopher,
statesman, inventor, philanthropist, author, and yes, ladies man. His 84 years encompassed some of the
most important times of our country’s beginnings and indeed he was the only man in our history to sign The
Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the United States Constitution, and the Paris
Peace Treaty that finally enabled us to emerge as a world power.
Gene has studied Franklin’s life through books, films and first-hand visits to Franklin’s Philadelphia. His
admiration for the man and his life works has continued to grow as his studies increase. His dedication to
this man’s legacy continues with his one-man show of Benjamin Franklin. He hopes that his portrayal will
inspire you to learn more about this man and our Country’s rich history.
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