Colin Rance was born on January 19th 1973 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, to Frances Welham (née Wheeler), a personal assistant, and Michael Edward Rance, an accountant. His first job, at 12 years old, was as an apprentice gunsmith for his stepfather. He went on to attain a degree in law and worked as a police officer, attained a degree in chiropractic and worked as a chiropractor (his 40th job and for which he is still registered) before finding a love for acting. He studied acting at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in Sidcup, Kent whose alumni includes Gary Oldman, Anthony Daniels, Tom Baker and Stephen Graham.