John Christopher Dixon (born 2 December 1942), billed as John D. Collins, is a British actor, perhaps best known for appearing in the BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! in which he played Flt. Lt. Fairfax, a stranded British airman in occupied France during World War II. He is the actor to have been cast most frequently in writer/producer David Croft's hit sitcoms: a total of six different series and ten characters.

John D. Collins
Born
John Christopher Dixon

(1942-12-02) 2 December 1942 (age 81)
London, England
Occupation(s)Actor, narrator
Years active1965–2007

Biography

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Collins won the Ivor Novello and Robert Donat Scholarships to RADA. After graduating he went on to run the Summer Theatre at Frinton-on-Sea, Essex for three years and then went to work in the first season of the Nottingham Playhouse.

In his early years he made a number of films including the Hammer Film Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), the film versions of Till Death Us Do Part (1969) and Dad's Army (1971), The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972), The Ghoul (1975), and The Boys in Blue (1982), and also many plays for Granada Television. As a vicar in Coronation Street, he failed to marry Albert Tatlock.

For ten years he worked with Spike Milligan as his assistant director and as an actor, in Son of Oblomov and The Bed-Sitting Room. He also appeared with Milligan in his 'Q’ series on television.

He became a regular cast member of two television series – A Family at War and also with Robert Lindsay in Get Some In!. He first worked for David Croft in the film version of Dad's Army in 1971, and subsequently was cast in episodes of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi!, Are You Being Served? and Oh, Doctor Beeching!, as well his regular role in 'Allo 'Allo! and the recurring character of Jerry in You Rang, M'Lord?. Along with several other cast members of 'Allo 'Allo, Collins had previously appeared in Secret Army, the series of which 'Allo 'Allo was a parody.

Other TV work includes The Brittas Empire, On the Up, Birds of a Feather, Trial & Retribution, Peak Practice, Ain't Misbehavin', Harry's Mad, Wycliffe, Mosley, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, The Sweeney, Secret Army, Citizen Smith, Yes Minister, the Doctor Who serial Arc of Infinity, Only Fools and Horses and Lovejoy.

Other theatre credits includes the tour of When Did You Last See Your Trousers?, The Winslow Boy, That's Showbiz, Richard III and the title role in King Lear. He has also played the role of Mr. Paravicini in the record-breaking production of The Mousetrap at St Martin's Theatre, London.

Collins has appeared in a number of pantomimes as Abanazer and as an ugly sister in Cinderella. He has narrated The Snowman, Carnival of the Animals, Peter and the Wolf and William Walton's Façade and has also recorded a Shakespearean CD with the Gesualdo Consort. He has just played the voice of God in Noye's Fludde by Benjamin Britten and has been appearing regularly as Henry VIII at the banquets in the Old Palace at Hatfield House.

Collins made two appearances in the British BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, initially in the episode "Ashes to Ashes", as a river policeman[1] who informs Del and Rodney that they have to have river permission to empty ashes into a river (St. Katharine Docks). He then appeared in the later episode "Sleeping Dogs Lie" as the Veterinarian.

Collins has also appeared in BBC children's programme, including ChuckleVision as a flying instructor in the 1996 episode Dear Diary.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1968 Dracula Has Risen from the Grave Student
1968 Till Death Us Do Part RAF Officer at Tube Station
1970 Trog TV Crewman Watching Monitor Uncredited
1971 Dad's Army Naval Officer - Lt. Short
1972 The Adventures of Barry McKenzie Toff at Young Conservatives' Ball
1975 The Ghoul Young Man
1979 Le Pétomane Unknown Short film
1982 The Boys in Blue Customs Officer

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 The Flying Swan Gerald Episode: "The Diamond Pendant"
1966 The Liars Henry Bulkeley Episode: #1.5
1966 The Man in Room 17 Bob Henty Episode: "How to Rob a Bank - And Get Away with It"
1966 Theatre 625 Arkwright's son Episode: "Girl of my Dreams"
1965–1966 ITV Play of the Week Stephen Whittington

Towneley

2 episodes
1969 The Saint Chick Episode: "The Man Who Gambled with Life"
1969 Coronation Street Rev. Vernon Lingard 2 episodes
1971 A Family at War Peter Bryant 6 episodes
1972 The Pathfinders Flight Sergeant Taffy Williams Episode: "One Man's Lancaster"
1973 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Dr. Boyde 2 episodes
1975 The Venturers Dr. Tate Episode: "Gentleman's Agreement"
1975 The Changes Unknown Episode: "The Cavern"
1975 The Sweeney Stephen Vane Episode: "Poppy"
1976 When the Boat Comes In Freddy Calderbeck Episode: "King for a Day"
1975–1977 Get Some In! Squadron Leader Baker

Medical Officer

7 episodes
1979 Feet First Michael Overton Episode: #1.4
1979 Dick Barton: Special Agent Miles 4 episodes
1978–1979 Q6 Various 11 episodes
1979 Rings on Their Fingers The Estate Agent Episode: "Home Market"
1978–1979 Secret Army Inspector Paul Delon 5 episodes
1979 Citizen Smith Army Officer Episode: "The Glorious Day"
1978–1980 Bernie Unknown 2 episodes
1980 Flesh and Blood John Ewing 2 episodes
1980 Yes Minister BBC Interviewer Episode: "Jobs for the Boys"
1980 Grundy City gent Episode: "What You Don't See, Ask For"
1980 Cowboys TV Reporter Episode: "Remember Honky Stubbs"
1981 The Dick Emery Show Unknown Episode: #19.3
1981 Jackanory Playhouse Vishikhila Episode: "The Mouse, the Merchant and the Elephant"
1981 Coming Home Assistant bank manager Episode: #1.3
1981 Chintz Joe Wilson Episode: #1.2
1981 Shillingbury Tales Arthur Warwick M.P. Episode: "The Shillinhbury Daydream"
1980–1981 It Ain't Half Hot Mum Capt Hutchins

Charles Medical Officer

4 episodes
1981 Seconds Out Sgt. Grimson

The Television Reporter

2 episodes
1982 Shine on Harvey Moon Harry Episode: "In Sickness and in Health"
1982 The New Adventures of Lucky Jim Charles Seymour Episode: "The Big Smoke"
1982 Hi-de-Hi! Bailiff Episode: "Trouble and Strife"
1983 Doctor Who Talor Episode: "Arc of Infinity: Part One"
1983 Tears Before Bedtime Estate agent Episode: "Home from Home"
1981–1983 Are You Being Served? 2nd Waiter

Doctor Secretary at Number Ten

3 episodes
1983 Triangle Geoff Brooks 8 episodes
1984 Grandad Mr Carter Episode: #4.5
1984 Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Estate Agent Episode: "In Possession"
1984 Chance in a Million Thames News Reporter Episode: "Stuff of Dreams"
1982–1985 Only Fools and Horses Mr. Collins, the Vet

River Policeman

2 episodes
1985 The Kenny Everett Television Show Various Episode: #3.5
1988 Rude Health Agincourt Episode: "Civil Defiance"
1991 Lovejoy Reg Episode: "One Born Every Minute"
1992 The Brittas Empire Mr Kitson Episode: "An Inspector Calls"
1992 On The Up Drunken Guest Episode: "Temporary Secretary"
1982–1992 'Allo 'Allo Flying Officer Fairfax 64 episodes
1988–1993 You Rang, M'Lord? Jerry 10 episodes
1993 The Real McCoy Unknown Episode: #3.5
1995 Peak Practice David Cornish Episode: "Other Lives"
1996 ChuckleVision Pilot Episode: "Dear Diary"
1995–1996 Oh Doctor Beeching! Passenger 2 episodes
1997 Birds of a Feather Chemist Episode: "Relative Strangers"
1997 Ain't Misbehavin' Medical Officer Episode: #1.1
1997 Wycliffe Armstrong Episode: "Old Crimes, New Times"
1998 Mosley Toastmaster Episode: "Rules of the Game"
1998–1999 Trial & Retribution Clerk of Court 2 episodes
2003 Fortysomething MIddle Aged Man Episode: #1.2
2007 The Return of 'Allo 'Allo! Flying Officer Fairfax Television film
2022 'Allo 'Allo! Forty Years of Laughter Himself/Flying Officer Fairfax Documentary

References

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  1. ^ "The Ghost of Del, Ashes to Ashes, Series 2, Only Fools and Horses – BBC One". BBC. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
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