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Ian Ogilvy

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
104

Gender
Male

Birthday
September 30, 1943 (82 years old)

Place of Birth
Woking, Surrey, England, UK

Ian Ogilvy

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. 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

Acting

2025Knightfallas Charles Knight
2022Renegadesas Peck
2022The Young General: Reflections on Michael Reevesas Self
2021Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monsteras Self
2021Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horroras Self / Poem Reader (voice)
2019The Magnificent Obsession of Michael Reevesas Himself
2018Mistrustas Ian
2017The Saintas The Fixer
2017We Still Steal the Old Wayas Richie Archer
2014We Still Kill the Old Wayas Richie Archer
2009My Life in Ruinsas Mr. Stewart Tullen
2008The Saint Steps In... To Televisionas Himself
2007After Midnightas Dennis
2005Tigon Tales of Terroras Himself
1999The Blood Beast: The Films of Michael Reevesas himself
1999Horse Senseas Miles
1999Eurotika!as Self
1999Fugitive Mindas Dr. Grace
1999The Parkersas
1997Dharma & Gregas Geoffrey
1997The Disappearance of Kevin Johnsonas Gary
1996Early Editionas Clive Harbison
1996The Real Adventures of Jonny Questas Dr. Smallwood (voice)
1996Malibu Shoresas Marc Delacourt
1995JAGas Jeffrey Mason
1995Caroline in the Cityas Mr. Spencer
1995Hope and Gloriaas David Kirkwood
1994Puppet Master 5as Dr. Jennings
1994One West Waikikias
1994Babylon 5as Lord Jano
1994Burke's Lawas Romeo
1993Diagnosis: Murderas Jerry Lane
1993Diagnosis: Murderas Larry Duggin
1993Diagnosis: Murderas Lyle Fairbanks
1993The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.as Furlong
1993Eddie Presleyas Captain Starch
1993Walker, Texas Rangeras Shredder Stonham
1993Kung Fu: The Legend Continuesas Sterling
1992Invasion of Privacyas Brian
1992Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blueas Interviewer
1992Death Becomes Heras Chagall
1992Melrose Placeas
1991P.S. I Luv Uas
1989Baywatchas
1989Campionas Jimmy Sutane
1988Maigretas Daniel Portman
1986Maggieas Denholm Sinclair
1985Time for Murderas Max Donaldson
1985Anna Kareninaas Stiva
1984Murder, She Wroteas Harold Baines
1984Murder, She Wroteas Lawson Childress
1984Murder, She Wroteas Peter Templeton
1984Murder, She Wroteas Wade Foster
1984Robin of Sherwoodas Lord Edgar
1983Affairs of the Heartas
1982Tom, Dick and Harrietas
1982Q.E.D.as Lord Sidney Sarandon
1979The Saint and the Brave Gooseas Simon Templar
1978Return of the Saintas Simon Templar
1976I, Claudiusas Drusus
1976Tomkinson's Schooldaysas Grayson
1976Ripping Yarnsas
1975Moll Flandersas Humphrey Oliver
1975The Little Ministeras Rev. Gavin Dishart
1975A Man in the Zooas John Cromartie
1974The Gathering Stormas Edward VIII
1974Affairs of the Heartas Dr Morris Townsend
1974Zodiacas Martin Seacombe
1974From Beyond the Graveas William Seaton
1973No Sex Please - We're Britishas David Hunter
1973And Now the Screaming Starts!as Charles Fengriffen
1973Armchair 30as A Man
1971Upstairs, Downstairsas self
1970Waterlooas De Lancey
1970The Invincible Sixas Ronald
1970Wuthering Heightsas Edgar Linton
1970The Spoils of Poyntonas Owen Gereth
1970Wine of Indiaas Sam
1969W. Somerset Maughamas Alban Torel
1969Liar!as Herbie, RB34
1968Witchfinder Generalas Richard Marshall
1967The Day the Fish Came Outas Peter
1967ITV Playhouseas Lord Windermere
1967Boy Meets Girlas André
1967The Sorcerersas Mike Roscoe
1967Stranger in the Houseas Desmond Flower
1967Half Hour Storyas Ed
1966The She Beastas Philip
1966The Connoisseuras Viscount Ballantyne
1966The Liarsas Rupert
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Arthur Gower
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Candide
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Rev. Gavin Dishart
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Thomas Aimwell
1965Thirty-Minute Theatreas Peter
1965Out of the Unknownas Herbie, RB34
1965The Man in Room 17as Pedro Da Silva
1964Theatre 625as Franz
1964Detectiveas Inspector Appleby
1961Intrusionas
1961The Avengersas Baron Von Curt
1956Armchair Theatreas David Baurmarez-Smith
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas Edward VIII
The Athena Syndromeas Sir Peter William Bromville GCMG

Production