Ian Ogilvy

Ian Ogilvy

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.

Acting

2025

Knightfall
Movie

Charles Knight

2017

2009

My Life in Ruins
Movie

Mr. Stewart Tullen

1999

1997

1996

1995

JAG
Tv

Jeffrey Mason

1994

1994

Babylon 5
Tv

Lord Jano

1994

1993

Eddie Presley
Movie

Captain Starch

1993

Walker, Texas Ranger
Tv

Shredder Stonham

1989

Campion
Tv

Jimmy Sutane

1988

Maigret
Movie

Daniel Portman

1984

Murder, She Wrote
Tv

Harold Baines

1984

Murder, She Wrote
Tv

Lawson Childress

1984

1984

Murder, She Wrote
Tv

Peter Templeton

1978

1976

1976

1974

Zodiac
Tv

Martin Seacombe

1974

1970

Waterloo
Movie

De Lancey

1970

1968

Witchfinder General
Movie

Richard Marshall

1967

1967

1965

BBC Play of the Month
Tv

Rev. Gavin Dishart

1965

1965

1965

The Man in Room 17
Tv

Pedro Da Silva

1964

1964

1961

1961

The Avengers
Tv

Baron Von Curt

Infos

Full Name
Ian Ogilvy
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
9/30/1943
Also Known As

Иан Огилви

Ian Raymond Ogilvy