Do you remember when a famous actor/TV host was arrested after dining at Jazzeppi’s?

The announcement that Jazzeppi’s is closing its doors after 30 years of service in Biloxi brought up memories of a time in 2011 that the restaurant was the center of the tabloid world.

Below are the Sun Herald’s stories from the day Gary Collins was arrested in Biloxi, and from when charges were later dropped.

Jan. 4, 2011: Gary Collins arrested in Biloxi

Former TV host and actor Gary Collins was arrested in Biloxi on Tuesday night after he walked out of a restaurant without paying the bill, Police Chief John Miller said. Collins ordered a meal for $59.35 at Jazzeppi's restaurant on Porter Avenue and failed to pay, even though employees followed him out into the parking lot asking that the bill be paid, Miller said.

Restaurant employees called police around 6:45 p.m. The restaurant is near the police station downtown. Officers found him in a Ford Bronco parked in the driveway of Collins' rental home on Cherokee Street.

Police arrested him on a charge of defrauding an innkeeper. State law makes the charge a felony when the alleged loss exceeds $25.

Collins told a detective he had ordered a steak, bread and salad, and was drinking alcoholic beverages while waiting on his steak.

"He told me they were taking too long to bring his steak and he did not eat his steak. He said he was afraid he would be too drunk to drive by the time they brought it so he decided to leave," Detective Tim McKaig said.

Patrol officers did not perform a DUI test because Collins "was not in physical operation of the vehicle when they found him," McKaig said.

He was booked at the Harrison County jail later Tuesday night and held on $5,000 bond set by Harrison County Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain.

Collins, a six-time Emmy Award nominee, married actress Mary Ann Mobley, a former Miss America from Brandon. He was in Brandon in November when Jackson police arrested him on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Reports show Collins paid a $500 fine two weeks later and did not appear in court.

He has two prior DUI convictions, according to news and entertainment reports.

Collins is known from his TV show-host work with "Hour Magazine" and as host of the Miss America pageant, both in the 1980s. He starred in the TV series "The Sixth Sense" in the 1970s and "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" in the '60s. He guest-starred in movies including "Airport" and "Angel in My Pocket."

Jan. 5, 2011: Judge dismisses charges against Collins

Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain has dismissed a felony charge that accused longtime actor Gary Collins of skipping out on an unpaid tab of $59.35 at a Biloxi restaurant and martini bar.

An employee of Jazzeppi’s on Wednesday told the judge he wanted to withdraw the affidavit that led to Collins’ arrest the night of Jan. 4.

The 72-year-old Collins paid the tab within a few days, according to the county prosecuting attorney.

“It was the employee’s choice to withdraw his affidavit,” police Sgt. Tim McKaig said. “He didn’t say why he wanted to withdraw it, but the judge questioned him, asking if anyone had threatened him.”

The judge determined the employee made the decision voluntarily.

Collins could not be reached for comment. Nor could David Mattina, co-owner of the restaurant. After Collins’ arrest, Mattina said it wouldn’t have happened if he or his wife had been at the restaurant.

Police found Collins parked in the driveway of his residence, a nearby rental home. Officials said he wasn’t given a DUI test because he wasn’t operating the vehicle when they found him.

McKaig, case detective, said Collins told him he left without paying because the staff was taking too long to bring his steak. Collins had a salad, bread and a couple of alcoholic beverages, McKaig said, but decided he could be too drunk to drive if he waited for his steak.

Collins faced a charge of defrauding an inn-keeper. Under state law, it’s a felony to skip out on a bill of $25 or more.

Collins spent a night at the county jail and was released on $5,000 bond.

Collins told the Sun Herald he had moved to Biloxi three weeks earlier and wanted to make the Coast his home. He is married to former actress and 1959 Miss America Mary Ann Mobley of Brandon.

Collins starred in the television series “The Sixth Sense” and “Born Free” in the 1970s, appeared in many other shows, and had roles in “Airport” and other movies. He hosted a TV talk show and the Miss America Pageant in the 1980s.

His singer-actress wife made frequent guest-star appearances in the 1970s. She starred in the final season of “Different Strokes” and had a recurring role in “Falcon Crest” in the 1980s.

Collins was convicted on two misdemeanor DUI charges in 2007, both in California. He was recently fined $500 in Jackson for leaving the scene of an accident.