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

Biography

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 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

Film YearTitleRoleNotes1968Dracula Has Risen from the GraveStudent1968Till Death Us Do PartRAF Officer at Tube Station1970TrogTV Crewman Watching MonitorUncredited1971Dad's ArmyNaval Officer - Lt. Short1972The Adventures of Barry McKenzieToff at Young Conservatives' Ball1975The GhoulYoung Man1979Le PétomaneUnknownShort film1982The Boys in BlueCustoms Officer

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1965The Flying SwanGeraldEpisode: "The Diamond Pendant"1966The LiarsHenry BulkeleyEpisode: #1.51966The Man in Room 17Bob HentyEpisode: "How to Rob a Bank - And Get Away with It"1966Theatre 625Arkwright's sonEpisode: "Girl of my Dreams"1965–1966ITV Play of the WeekStephen Whittington Towneley2 episodes1969The SaintChickEpisode: "The Man Who Gambled with Life"1969Coronation StreetRev. Vernon Lingard2 episodes1971A Family at WarPeter Bryant6 episodes1972The PathfindersFlight Sergeant Taffy WilliamsEpisode: "One Man's Lancaster"1973Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'EmDr. Boyde2 episodes1975The VenturersDr. TateEpisode: "Gentleman's Agreement"1975The ChangesUnknownEpisode: "The Cavern"1975The SweeneyStephen VaneEpisode: "Poppy"1976When the Boat Comes InFreddy CalderbeckEpisode: "King for a Day"1975–1977Get Some In!Squadron Leader Baker Medical Officer7 episodes1979Feet FirstMichael OvertonEpisode: #1.41979Dick Barton: Special AgentMiles4 episodes1978–1979Q6Various11 episodes1979Rings on Their FingersThe Estate AgentEpisode: "Home Market"1978–1979Secret ArmyInspector Paul Delon5 episodes1979Citizen SmithArmy OfficerEpisode: "The Glorious Day"1978–1980BernieUnknown2 episodes1980Flesh and BloodJohn Ewing2 episodes1980Yes MinisterBBC InterviewerEpisode: "Jobs for the Boys"1980GrundyCity gentEpisode: "What You Don't See, Ask For"1980CowboysTV ReporterEpisode: "Remember Honky Stubbs"1981The Dick Emery ShowUnknownEpisode: #19.31981Jackanory PlayhouseVishikhilaEpisode: "The Mouse, the Merchant and the Elephant"1981Coming HomeAssistant bank managerEpisode: #1.31981ChintzJoe WilsonEpisode: #1.21981Shillingbury TalesArthur Warwick M.P.Episode: "The Shillinhbury Daydream"1980–1981It Ain't Half Hot MumCapt Hutchins Charles Medical Officer4 episodes1981Seconds OutSgt. Grimson The Television Reporter2 episodes1982Shine on Harvey MoonHarryEpisode: "In Sickness and in Health"1982The New Adventures of Lucky JimCharles SeymourEpisode: "The Big Smoke"1982Hi-de-Hi!BailiffEpisode: "Trouble and Strife"1983Doctor WhoTalorEpisode: "Arc of Infinity: Part One"1983Tears Before BedtimeEstate agentEpisode: "Home from Home"1981–1983Are You Being Served?2nd Waiter Doctor Secretary at Number Ten3 episodes1983TriangleGeoff Brooks8 episodes1984GrandadMr CarterEpisode: #4.51984Hammer House of Mystery and SuspenseEstate AgentEpisode: "In Possession"1984Chance in a MillionThames News ReporterEpisode: "Stuff of Dreams"1982–1985Only Fools and HorsesMr. Collins, the Vet River Policeman2 episodes1985The Kenny Everett Television ShowVariousEpisode: #3.51988Rude HealthAgincourtEpisode: "Civil Defiance"1991LovejoyRegEpisode: "One Born Every Minute"1992The Brittas EmpireMr KitsonEpisode: "An Inspector Calls"1992On The UpDrunken GuestEpisode: "Temporary Secretary"1982–1992'Allo 'AlloFlying Officer Fairfax64 episodes1988–1993You Rang, M'Lord?Jerry10 episodes1993The Real McCoyUnknownEpisode: #3.51995Peak PracticeDavid CornishEpisode: "Other Lives"1996ChuckleVisionPilotEpisode: "Dear Diary"1995–1996Oh Doctor Beeching!Passenger2 episodes1997Birds of a FeatherChemistEpisode: "Relative Strangers"1997Ain't Misbehavin'Medical OfficerEpisode: #1.11997WycliffeArmstrongEpisode: "Old Crimes, New Times"1998MosleyToastmasterEpisode: "Rules of the Game"1998–1999Trial & RetributionClerk of Court2 episodes2003FortysomethingMIddle Aged ManEpisode: #1.22007The Return of 'Allo 'Allo!Flying Officer FairfaxTelevision film2022'Allo 'Allo! Forty Years of LaughterHimself/Flying Officer FairfaxDocumentary

References

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