Television personality Gary Collins died early Saturday morning at Biloxi Regional Medical Center in Mississippi. He was 74.
The actor died of natural causes at 1:00 a.m. according to Harrison County Deputy Coroner Brian Switzer.
He served as host of the television talk show ‘Hour Magazine’ from 1980 to 1988, receiving an Emmy in 1983 in the category of Outstanding Talk Show Host.
Collins gained wide popularity while hosted the Miss America Pageant from 1982-1990 and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He leaves behind his wife of 44 years, actress Mary Ann Mobley, who reigned as Miss America in 1959. He is also survived by their daughter Mary Clancy Collins and a son Guy and daughter Melissa from an earlier union.
In the past five years the actor was arrested a number of times for DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, and defrauding an innkeeper. The string of legal issues led to marital discord. Collins and his wife reportedly separated in 2011 but reconciled earlier this year.
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