Clifton Craig Collins Jr. is an American actor who has had an extensive career in film and television for over 30 years. He was born on June 16, 1970 in Los Angeles, California to a family immersed in the entertainment industry. His grandfather was the famous Mexican actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez.
Collins Jr. made his acting debut at the age of 13 in the award-winning 1983 drama The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. He spent several years acting in various television shows and movies as a child and teenager before deciding to take a break from acting in his early 20s. During this time, he lived and worked all around the world, taking on an array of odd jobs.
In 1996, Collins Jr. returned to acting, appearing in the neo-noir crime film Mulholland Falls. This launched the second phase of his acting career that quickly earned him recognition for his talents. He received critical praise for his supporting role in 1997’s One Eight Seven and went on to act in films like Traffic (2000), Capote (2005), and Star Trek (2009).
Some of his most acclaimed performances have come from his collaborations with director Scott Cooper in films like Out of the Furnace (2013) and the Western drama The Hostiles (2017). He earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Western Heritage Awards for the latter. Other recent notable roles have included parts in the ABC drama American Crime (2015-2017) and the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon (2019).
Over his long career, Collins Jr. has shown himself to be a versatile character actor with incredible range. He disappears seamlessly into any role, whether portraying dangerous criminals or soft-hearted family men. His ability to create layered, emotive characters have made him a valuable player in both leading and supporting roles across television and film. As he continues taking on exciting new projects, Collins Jr. remains a powerful force and captivating talent in Hollywood after over three decades in the business.
