Difference between revisions of "Rufus Collins"

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1964: ''The Brig'' - Prisoner<BR>
 
1964: ''The Brig'' - Prisoner<BR>
 
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[[Category:Actors]]

Latest revision as of 21:17, 9 January 2019

Rufus Collins as a Transylvanian

Rufus Collins (August 11, 1935 - November 4, 1996) was an American actor. He played a Transylvanian in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Rufus Collins was a member of the renowned experimental theatre troupe, The Living Theatre, in the late 1960s and studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England, with a background in dance. In 1972, he was the choreographer for Robert Stigwood's U.K. stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar where he worked briefly with Richard O'Brien. Lasting friendship with various persons lead to his appearance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975 and Shock Treatment in 1981. Collins' next project had him join with Jim Sharman and Brian Thomson as director of their stage version Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He followed that up by directing a revival of Hair. Rocky Horror fans may be amused to know he appeared in "The Hunger" with Susan Sarandon and Clifford DeYoung. Collins also appeared in a number of Andy Warhol films, including "Kiss."

Collins died on November 4, 1996 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.

From his funeral program:

"Master Rufus Collins, founder, director, mentor, teacher and student in the United States, Rome, London, Dublin, Bangladesh, Flanders, Holland and Surinam, was born in Harlem, New York. he began so study dance at the age of four. When he was eleven, he was granted a scholarship to the prestigious American School of Ballet which he refused. At the age of twenty Rufus focussed his attention on theatre. He studied drama at New York's Circle in the Square and then joined forces with the anarchist theatre commune The Living Theatre under the artistic guidance of Judith Malina and Julian Beck. At the end of the sixties the group moved to Europe and it was during this time that Rufus first visited Amsterdam. It was to become the city where he, in his own words, 'always felt happiest'. After The Living Theatre dissolved Rufus first settled in London where he directed the musicals 'Hair' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. In 1983 he permanently moved to Amsterdam after a short stay in Belgium where he was director and choreographer at The Royal Ballet of Flanders. In Amsterdam he directed 'The Kingdom', a full scale opera with a cast of forty young amateurs of colour. This opera, about the black independence movement in Haiti, was to become characteristic for his body of work. Time and again his productions would deal with racism and its consequences."

Filmography

1985: Saving Souls (Short) - Phillip
1983: Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series) - Rev. Kenneth Cuazango
1983: The Old Men at the Zoo (TV Series) - Hinkley Barton
1983: The Hunger - Charlie Humphries
1982: Britannia Hospital - Odingu
1982: Play for Tomorrow (TV Series) - Elliot
1981: Shock Treatment - Neely's Camera Crew
1978-1979: The Professionals (TV Series) - Mr. Lemon / Tin Can
1976: Summer of Secrets - Bob
1975: The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Transylvanian
1969: Heads (Short)
1968: Après la Passion selon Sade
1964: Batman Dracula
1964: Naomi and Rufus Kiss
1964: The Brig - Prisoner
1964: Soap Opera