- Born
- Max Allan Collins was born on March 3, 1948 in Muscatine, Iowa, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Road to Perdition (2002), Mommy (1995) and Mommy's Day (1997). He has been married to Barbara Jane Mull since June 1, 1968. They have one child.
- SpouseBarbara Jane Mull(June 1, 1968 - present) (1 child)
- Mickey Spillane was godfather to his son, Nathan.
- His novel "Stolen Away" is the longest first-person private eye novel ever written.
- Wrote the Dick Tracy comic strip begining in 1977 and ending in the early 1990s. he has contributed to a number of other comics as well, including Batman.
- Lists his five favorite private eye television shows as: 'Veronica Mars (2004-2007)', 'City of Angels (1976)', 'Mike Hammer (1956-1959)'(starring Darren McGavin), 'A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2000- )', and 'The Rockford Files (1974-1980)'. The runner-up is 'Peter Gunn (1958-1961)'.
- Is known primarily as a novelist and critic. His most famous series is the "Nathan Heller" series of historical detective novels. He has also written a critical work praising Mickey Spillane.
- Eliot Ness is the most famous real-life detective in American history, but probably no historical figure has been more misunderstood or misrepresented... Surprisingly the real story is more exciting and colorful than the Hollywood version -- Ness fought gangsters, corrupt cops and even America's first serial killer.
- On the making of The Expert (1995): "Lustig and I wanted a cast of character actors - somebody like Ed Ward or Lance Henriksen in the lead, backed up by Fred Williamson and Charles Napier and Robert Forster. Ex-Green Berets on a final mission, invading Death Row after the death penalty is repealed, to perform the executions the state had reneged on. I had this great bit where Williamson was to be the guy who went in to execute everybody; he goes in laden down with weaponry - and promptly gets killed. Then, thanks to him, everybody on Death Row is suddenly armed, and the shit hits the fan."
- I don't really consider 'The Expert' a "bad" experience. Frustrating, yes, but overall constructive, and I still consider Bill Lustig a friend, and a talented filmmaker. We'll probably work together again. It was in the midst of the constant rewrites of 'The Expert'...did you know it was a Dirty Dozen script, for most of its life, until Speakman was cast?
- On completing Mickey Spillane's unpublished Mike Hammer novels: "I am working from substantial partial manuscripts - at least half of each book already written by Mickey. That I will be collaborating with Mickey on at least three Hammer novels is thrilling to me beyond words. This is highly unusual, because I am working not only with his wife Jane's blessing, but Mickey's own: he asked me to complete these novels. First up: "The Goliath Bone," the final Hammer chronologically.'
- On finishing the Mike Hammer series by Mickey Spillane: "Mickey's file of unpublished material was extensive - another trio of Hammers can follow, if these three do well. This is a very big deal - there are only 13 Mike Hammer novels, and adding another three (or six) to the canon is unheard of for so famous a mystery series."
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