Ian Ogilvy was born in Woking, Surrey and educated at Eton College. After two years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he went on to a long, successful and continuing career as an actor, and is best known for taking over the part of Simon Templar - The Saint - from Roger Moore. He also appeared in Upstairs Downstairs, I, Claudius, and many other television productions. He has performed in the West End many times and has appeared in a number of films, most of them quite dreadful. His play A Slight Hangover was staged in the UK, and he has published two novels - Loose Chippings and The Polkerton Giant. His series of five children's books about his hero, Measle Stubbs, has been translated into over twenty languages.

Ian Ogilvy lives in California with his wife Kitty, and if you want to know any more about him you really should read his book.