Edwin S. Collier — lover, father, grandfather, performing artist, teacher.

Ed was born in Bellingham, Washington, and spent his formative years in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and the Puget Sound area.

He earned degrees in theater from Lewis & Clark College and Portland State University, and also studied at the University of Washington and the University of Oregon.

He sometimes worked in plywood mills in high school, and later in the woods.

He was a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for 56 years. Ed began his public performing career singing on Seattle TV in the eighth grade. He sang in choirs, bands and combos in high school and college, and played piano, bass and guitar.

Ed began acting at Lewis & Clark College, and he played the lead on their USO tour to East Asia the fall after graduation. He was a screenwriter at Boeing, and also sang in Seattle rock bands.

During graduate school, Ed performed with the American Theater Co., the first professional theater in Oregon, in residence at Portland State, and he was a member of the first Portland State season at the Coaster Theatre in Cannon Beach.

Ed taught theater at Clatsop Community College for several years, and was director of theater at Pacific University for 25 years, where he directed over 75 productions. He also taught film and acting at Portland State, and directed plays there, and at several theater companies in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.

Over the years, Ed appeared in film, television and on stage, and he was the spokesman for the G.I Joe’s stores for 18 years.

Ed had a passion for cars, especially Indy and Formula One racing, which he shared with his brother, Jim. He loved to hang out with his oldest best friend, Jack, and he loved to watch football with his best friend, Cap.

Ed had a lifelong love for the water and all kinds of boats. Ed loved studying history, especially Greek, Roman and World War II, and he loved to travel to new places. Ed loved to build things, from models to furniture to fences to boats.

Ed loved Astoria, where his mother was born, and he was especially proud of his Norwegian heritage. He shared these loves with his family and friends.

Ed is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sarah; children, Jenn Sharp, Mitch Collier and Ann Rigney, and their spouses; his seven grandchildren; and his pup, Charles.

A memorial is planned for the fall.

Cast off, Ed, and smooth sailing. “But I am sailing to Athens. Make voyages! — Attempt them! — there’s nothing else …”

— Tennessee Williams, “Camino Real”