Acting
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.
Filmography
Knightfall
Film · 2025
The Young General: Reflections on Michael Reeves
Film · 2022
Renegades
Film · 2022
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
Film · 2021
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror
Film · 2021
The Magnificent Obsession of Michael Reeves
Film · 2019
Mistrust
Film · 2018
We Still Steal the Old Way
Film · 2017
The Saint
Film · 2017
We Still Kill the Old Way
Film · 2014
My Life in Ruins
Film · 2009
The Saint Steps In... To Television
Film · 2008
After Midnight
Film · 2007
Tigon Tales of Terror
Film · 2005
Horse Sense
Film · 1999
Fugitive Mind
Film · 1999
The Blood Beast: The Films of Michael Reeves
Film · 1999
The Parkers
Series · 1999
Eurotika!
Series · 1999
The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson
Film · 1997
Dharma & Greg
Series · 1997
Early Edition
Series · 1996
Malibu Shores
Series · 1996
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Series · 1996
JAG
Series · 1995
Hope and Gloria
Series · 1995
Caroline in the City
Series · 1995
Puppet Master 5
Film · 1994
One West Waikiki
Series · 1994
Babylon 5
Series · 1994
Burke's Law
Series · 1994
Eddie Presley
Film · 1993
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Series · 1993
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Series · 1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
Series · 1993
Diagnosis: Murder
Series · 1993
Diagnosis: Murder
Series · 1993
Diagnosis: Murder
Series · 1993
Death Becomes Her
Film · 1992
Invasion of Privacy
Film · 1992
Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue
Film · 1992
Melrose Place
Series · 1992
P.S. I Luv U
Series · 1991
Baywatch
Series · 1989
Campion
Series · 1989
Maigret
Film · 1988
Menace Unseen
Series · 1988
Maggie
Film · 1986
Anna Karenina
Film · 1985
Time for Murder
Series · 1985
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Robin of Sherwood
Series · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Tom, Dick and Harriet
Series · 1982
Q.E.D.
Series · 1982
The Saint and the Brave Goose
Film · 1979
Return of the Saint
Series · 1978
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Film · 1976
Ripping Yarns
Series · 1976
I, Claudius
Series · 1976
The Little Minister
Film · 1975
A Man in the Zoo
Film · 1975
Moll Flanders
Film · 1975
From Beyond the Grave
Film · 1974
The Gathering Storm
Film · 1974
Zodiac
Series · 1974
Affairs of the Heart
Series · 1974
And Now the Screaming Starts!
Film · 1973
No Sex Please - We're British
Film · 1973
Armchair 30
Series · 1973
Upstairs, Downstairs
Series · 1971
Wine of India
Film · 1970
Waterloo
Film · 1970
Wuthering Heights
Film · 1970
The Invincible Six
Film · 1970
The Spoils of Poynton
Series · 1970
Liar!
Film · 1969
W. Somerset Maugham
Series · 1969
Witchfinder General
Film · 1968
The Sorcerers
Film · 1967
Stranger in the House
Film · 1967
The Day the Fish Came Out
Film · 1967
ITV Playhouse
Series · 1967
Half Hour Story
Series · 1967
Boy Meets Girl
Series · 1967
The Connoisseur
Film · 1966
The She Beast
Film · 1966
The Liars
Series · 1966
BBC Play of the Month
Series · 1965
The Man in Room 17
Series · 1965
BBC Play of the Month
Series · 1965
BBC Play of the Month
Series · 1965
BBC Play of the Month
Series · 1965
Out of the Unknown
Series · 1965
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Series · 1965
Theatre 625
Series · 1964
Detective
Series · 1964
Intrusion
Film · 1961
The Avengers
Series · 1961
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Series · 1951
The Athena Syndrome
Film