The sudden spread of the news that announced Joan Collins' death in early September shocked fans worldwide.

The news about the actress' purported passing received nearly one million likes on a Facebook page. The "R.I.P. Joan Collins" page provided a description of her passing, "At about 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday (September 06, 2022), our beloved actress Joan Collins passed away."

The announcement mentioned how she would be missed but not forgotten before asking readers to "show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page."

Some followers trusted the message and began posting condolence notes on the post. However, few others were immediately doubtful of the story. After all, death hoaxes are not new in Hollywood. They claimed that the news was a hoax because no major British network had reported it.

Is Joan Collins Still Alive?

Fortunately, the Dynasty actress is alive and still in good health. The September 2022 report was a total fabrication.

On September 7, 2022, Collins' representatives formally announced that she was still alive. "She joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. She's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet," the statement read.

The death hoax was probably believable to many because the Hollywood legend, born on May 23, 1933, is 89 as of 2022. 

That being said, Collins is paying any heed to her age. In an interview with Saga Magazine(via Dailymail), she said she still considered herself to be 40 years old.

She argued that age was unimportant because her focus was on how she "looks, feels, and behaves," and it was "tremendously disrespectful" to question a lady her age."My mother's generation never did it. But you know, people have been calling me an older woman since I was 38," Collins said.

Thankfully, the actress is going strong in both her professional and personal life.

She is set to star as Wallis Simpson for her upcoming project, In Bed with the Duchess. "I play the Duchess of Windsor from the time that the Duke died right up until her death. It's a fabulous story," she said of the script.

As for her love life, she has been relishing her marriage with husband Percy Gibson, who is 32 years younger than her. The couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary later this year. 

Joan Collins with her husband

Collins with her husband, Percy Gibson, in August 2022. (Source: Joan Collins/ Instagram)

She raved about how "fortunate" she was to be married to the producer.

"He takes care of everything. He takes care of my children and all our finances. He's the love of my life. It's a great marriage, a great relationship," Collins said.

While she is definitely living her best in her 80s, she has faced some health issues in the past. In July, Collins had to be air-lifted to a hospital in Monte Carlo after suffering from a pinched nerve in her leg.