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 th ... e 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.
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| Organization | Category | Movie |
|---|
Return of the Saint
as Simon Templar
Episodes: 24
First Aired: Sep 10, 1978
I, Claudius
as Drusus
Episodes: 12
First Aired: Sep 20, 1976
Malibu Shores
as Marc Delacourt
Episodes: 10
First Aired: Mar 09, 1996
The Spoils of Poynton
as Owen Gereth
Episodes: 4
First Aired: Apr 26, 1970
Murder, She Wrote
as Harold Baines
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 30, 1984
Diagnosis: Murder
as Jerry Lane
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Oct 29, 1993
Campion
as Jimmy Sutane
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Jan 22, 1989
Caroline in the City
as Mr. Spencer
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 21, 1995
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
as Sterling
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 27, 1993
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
as Furlong
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Aug 27, 1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
as Shredder Stonham
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 21, 1993
Dharma & Greg
as Geoffrey
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 24, 1997
Robin of Sherwood
as Lord Edgar
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 28, 1984
JAG
as Jeffrey Mason
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 23, 1995
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Edward VIII
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Dec 24, 1951
Diagnosis: Murder
as Lyle Fairbanks
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 29, 1993
BBC Play of the Month
as Candide
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 19, 1965
Diagnosis: Murder
as Larry Duggin
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 29, 1993
BBC Play of the Month
as Thomas Aimwell
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 19, 1965
Babylon 5
as Lord Jano
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 26, 1994
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
as Dr. Smallwood (voice)
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Aug 26, 1996
Burke's Law
as Romeo
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 07, 1994
The Man In Room 17
as Pedro Da Silva
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jun 11, 1965
Hope and Gloria
as David Kirkwood
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Mar 09, 1995
BBC Play of the Month
as Rev. Gavin Dishart
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 19, 1965
Time for Murder
as Max Donaldson
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Nov 09, 1985
Murder, She Wrote
as Peter Templeton
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 30, 1984
Murder, She Wrote
as Lawson Childress
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 30, 1984
Murder, She Wrote
as Wade Foster
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 30, 1984
The Avengers
as Baron Von Curt
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 07, 1961
Tom, Dick and Harriet
Episodes: 12
First Aired: Sep 13, 1982
Upstairs, Downstairs
as self
Episodes: 7
First Aired: Oct 10, 1971
Affairs of the Heart
Episodes: 6
First Aired: Aug 23, 1983
Melrose Place
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Jul 08, 1992
Q.E.D.
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Mar 23, 1982
Early Edition
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 28, 1996
The Parkers
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Aug 30, 1999
I, Claudius
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 20, 1976
Baywatch
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 23, 1989
P.S. I Luv U
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 15, 1991
Detective
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Mar 30, 1964
Ripping Yarns
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 07, 1976
One West Waikiki
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Aug 04, 1994
Eurotika!
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 03, 1999
The Morecambe and Wise Show
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 03, 1980
Popularity History
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| 2024 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 9 |
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| 2024 | 8 | 12 | 26 | 5 |
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| 2024 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 11 | 21 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
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| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 4 | 13 | 1 |