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Ian Ogilvy as Simon Templar pictured on a reprint of an early Saint novel published to coincide with the TV series.

Ian Raymond Ogilvy (born 30 September 1943) is an English film and television actor who was born in Woking, Surrey.

He is the son of advertising executive Francis Ogilvy and actress Aileen Raymond (who was Sir John Mills' first wife).

He is best known as the star of the 1978 - 1979 television series Return of the Saint in which he took over the role of Simon Templar, which Roger Moore played from 1962 to 1969. He also had a role in the short-lived 1990s American soap opera, Malibu Shores.

Ogilvy has had roles in over three dozen television shows. He was a friend of the film-maker Michael Reeves, and starred in all three of the director's films: Revenge Of The Blood Beast, The Sorcerers and Witchfinder General.

He is also 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, and Measle And The Slitherghoul.

The books have been translated into at least 15 languages and Warner Brothers has announced plans to produce a film based upon Measle And The Wrathmonk.

Ogilvy's role in Return of the Saint led to him being considered a leading contender for taking over the role of James Bond in the early 1980s when Moore announced his intention to leave the role.

Ultimately, Ogilvy 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.

Other television series that he has appeared in include Upstairs, Downstairs (as Lawrence Kirbridge), I, Claudius and Babylon 5.

He has one son from his first marriage, which ended in divorce, and he has been married to his current wife, American actress Kathryn Holcomb, since 1992.

• Ian Ogilvy at the Internet Movie Database
• Ian Ogilvy Official web site for Ian Ogilvy