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Ian Ogilvy
Actor

Ian Ogilvy

30 Sep 1943Born
83Age
87Credits
Woking, Surrey, England, UKBirthplace

Biography

Ian Raymond Ogilvy (born 30 September 1943) is an English film and television actor. He is best known as the star of the TV series Return of the Saint (1978–79), in which he assumed the role of Simon Templar from Roger Moore (1962–69).

The role led to his being considered a leading contender for the role of James Bond in the early 1980s, when Moore announced his intention to leave the role. He never played the part (in part due to Moore reconsidering his resignation on several occasions), although he did play a Bond-like character in a series of North American TV commercials broadcast in the early 1990s.

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At least once, in an episode of Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, "Dragon's Wing II", he played a Bond-like British agent, complete with white dinner jacket.

He was a friend of film-maker Michael Reeves and starred in all three of Reeves's films: Revenge of the Blood Beast (1966), The Sorcerers (1967), and Witchfinder General (also known as The Conqueror Worm, 1968). He guest-starred in The Avengers in the 1968 episode "They Keep Killing Steed" as Baron Von Curt, and on the BBC in Somerset Maugham's The Door of Opportunity, opposite Marianne Faithfull.

He appeared in the films Stranger in the House (1967), and The Day the Fish Came Out (1967), and had a major role in the epic film Waterloo (1970).

In 1976, he featured in the pilot episode of the television comedy series Ripping Yarns. He also appeared in I, Claudius (1976, as Drusus), and guest-starred in 6 episodes of Murder, She Wrote and 4 episodes of Diagnosis Murder. He appeared as Edgar Linton in a film version of Wuthering Heights (1970) and as Owen Gereth in BBC dramatization of The Spoils of Poynton (also 1970).

In the 1990s, he guest-starred in the TV series Babylon 5 (1998). The series' star, Bruce Boxleitner, is the former husband of Ogilvy's second wife, actress Kathryn Holcomb. He also had a role in the short-lived 1990s American soap opera, Malibu Shores. He appeared as Lawrence Kirbridge in the series Upstairs, Downstairs. He's had roles in over 100 TV shows, often appearing as a guest star. He then co-starred with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in Death Becomes Her (1992); and with Richard Dreyfuss and Nia Vardalos in My Life in Ruins (2009), among others.

He has had an extensive career in the theatre playing leading roles in many London West End productions, including Design for Living, Happy Family, Three Sisters, Rookery Nook by Ben Travers, Run for Your Wife, The Millionaires by Shaw, The Waltz of the Toreadors, and others. He has also worked widely in the American theatre.

He is a playwright and novelist, currently working on a series of children's books: Measle and the Wrathmonk, Measle and the Dragodon, Measle and the Mallockee, Measle and the Slitherghoul, and Measle and the Doompit. He has written and published two novels – Loose Chippings and The Polkerton Giant – and two plays: A Slight Hangover and Swap!. His memoir, Once a Saint, was published in May 2016. His book of film reviews 'Withering Slights', based on his Facebook page, was published in 2020.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 87 credits.

  1. TBAThe Athena SyndromeFilm: Sir Peter William Bromville GCMG
  2. 2025KnightfallFilm: Charles Knight
  3. 2022RenegadesFilm: Peck
  4. 2018MistrustFilm: Ian
  5. 2017The SaintFilm: The Fixer
  6. 2017We Still Steal the Old WayFilm: Richie Archer
  7. 2014We Still Kill the Old WayFilm: Richie Archer
  8. 2009My Life in RuinsFilm: Mr. Stewart Tullen
  9. 2007After MidnightFilm: Dennis
  10. 1999Horse SenseFilm: Miles
  11. 1999Fugitive MindFilm: Dr. Grace
  12. 1999The ParkersSeries (1 episode)
  13. 1997Dharma & GregSeries: Geoffrey (1 episode)
  14. 1997The Disappearance of Kevin JohnsonFilm: Gary
  15. 1996Early EditionSeries: Clive Harbison (1 episode)
  16. 1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestSeries: Dr. Smallwood (voice) (1 episode)
  17. 1996Malibu ShoresSeries: Marc Delacourt (10 episodes)
  18. 1995JAGSeries: Jeffrey Mason (1 episode)
  19. 1995Caroline in the CitySeries: Mr. Spencer (2 episodes)
  20. 1995Hope and GloriaSeries: David Kirkwood (1 episode)
  21. 1994Puppet Master 5Film: Dr. Jennings
  22. 1994One West WaikikiSeries (1 episode)
  23. 1994Babylon 5Series: Lord Jano (1 episode)
  24. 1994Burke's LawSeries: Romeo (1 episode)
  25. 1993Diagnosis: MurderSeries: Lyle Fairbanks, Larry Duggin, Jerry Lane (1 episode)
  26. 1993The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.Series: Furlong (1 episode)
  27. 1993Eddie PresleyFilm: Captain Starch
  28. 1993Walker, Texas RangerSeries: Shredder Stonham (1 episode)
  29. 1993Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesSeries: Sterling (1 episode)
  30. 1992Invasion of PrivacyFilm: Brian
  31. 1992Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & BlueFilm: Interviewer
  32. 1992Death Becomes HerFilm: Chagall
  33. 1992Melrose PlaceSeries (2 episodes)
  34. 1991P.S. I Luv USeries (1 episode)
  35. 1989BaywatchSeries (1 episode)
  36. 1989CampionSeries: Jimmy Sutane (2 episodes)
  37. 1988Menace UnseenSeries: Duncan Free (3 episodes)
  38. 1988MaigretFilm: Daniel Portman
  39. 1986MaggieFilm: Denholm Sinclair
  40. 1985Time for MurderSeries: Max Donaldson (1 episode)
  41. 1985Anna KareninaFilm: Stiva
  42. 1984Murder, She WroteSeries: Harold Baines, Peter Templeton, Wade Foster, Lawson Childress (2 episodes)
  43. 1984Robin of SherwoodSeries: Lord Edgar (1 episode)
  44. 1982Tom, Dick and HarrietSeries (12 episodes)
  45. 1982Q.E.D.Series: Lord Sidney Sarandon (1 episode)
  46. 1979The Saint and the Brave GooseFilm: Simon Templar
  47. 1978Return of the SaintSeries: Simon Templar (24 episodes)
  48. 1976I, ClaudiusSeries: Drusus (1 episode)
  49. 1976Tomkinson's SchooldaysFilm: Grayson
  50. 1976Ripping YarnsSeries (1 episode)
  51. 1975Moll FlandersFilm: Humphrey Oliver
  52. 1975The Little MinisterFilm: Rev. Gavin Dishart
  53. 1975A Man in the ZooFilm: John Cromartie
  54. 1974The Gathering StormFilm: Edward VIII
  55. 1974Affairs of the HeartSeries: Dr Morris Townsend (1 episode)
  56. 1974ZodiacSeries: Martin Seacombe (1 episode)
  57. 1974From Beyond the GraveFilm: William Seaton
  58. 1973No Sex Please - We're BritishFilm: David Hunter
  59. 1973And Now the Screaming Starts!Film: Charles Fengriffen
  60. 1973Armchair 30Series: A Man (1 episode)
  61. 1970WaterlooFilm: De Lancey
  62. 1970The Invincible SixFilm: Ronald
  63. 1970Wuthering HeightsFilm: Edgar Linton
  64. 1970The Spoils of PoyntonSeries: Owen Gereth (4 episodes)
  65. 1970Wine of IndiaFilm: Sam
  66. 1969W. Somerset MaughamSeries: Alban Torel (1 episode)
  67. 1969Liar!Film: Herbie, RB34
  68. 1968Witchfinder GeneralFilm: Richard Marshall
  69. 1967The Day the Fish Came OutFilm: Peter
  70. 1967ITV PlayhouseSeries: Lord Windermere (1 episode)
  71. 1967Boy Meets GirlSeries: André (1 episode)
  72. 1967The SorcerersFilm: Mike Roscoe
  73. 1967Stranger in the HouseFilm: Desmond Flower
  74. 1967Half Hour StorySeries: Ed (1 episode)
  75. 1966The She BeastFilm: Philip
  76. 1966The ConnoisseurFilm: Viscount Ballantyne
  77. 1966The LiarsSeries: Rupert (13 episodes)
  78. 1965BBC Play of the MonthSeries: Candide, Rev. Gavin Dishart, Arthur Gower, Thomas Aimwell (1 episode)
  79. 1965Thirty-Minute TheatreSeries: Peter (1 episode)
  80. 1965Out of the UnknownSeries: Herbie, RB34 (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.