TIWH: February 17th

February 17, 2010 | by Tia Ayers

February 17, 2002
Joan Collins & Percy Gibson

On this day in 2002, Joan Collins walked down the aisle in a silk lilac gown for the fifth time. The 68-year-old actress/novelist married Percy Gibson, a theater manager, 32 years her junior.

The couple met while Collins was appearing in a US tour of the play, Love Letters. As their friendship grew, she began writing the novel Star Quality, which he helped edit.

In May 2001, Gibson proposed to Collins in New York. They married nine months later at the Claridge’s Hotel in London. They renewed their vows last year.

Collins has kept a good sense of humor about her May-December romance with Gibson. In an interview with a British television show shortly after the marriage, she remarked, “Look, I’ll tell you about the age thing – if he dies, he dies!”

On a more romantic note, Collins has said, “Percy is such a special human being. I think this person is more in tune with me than anybody I’ve ever met. I feel more myself with Percy Gibson than I ever have with anyone.”

And despite her track record with past marriages, Collins may be right this time. Her longest marriage lasted nine years. Today, marks the couple’s eighth anniversary.

Our best wishes go out to the couple, in hopes that five times is a charm!