Simon Ward
Simon Ward asArthur Holmwood inBram Stoker's Dracula
Born	Simon Anthony Fox Ward (1941-10-16)16 October 1941 Beckenham,England,United Kingdom
Died	20 July 2012(2012-07-20) (aged 70) Taunton,England,United Kingdom
Resting place	Highgate Cemetery,London,United Kingdom
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1964–2010
Spouse	Alexandra Malcolm ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	3, includingSophie andKitty
Relatives	Michael McIntyre (son-in-law)

Simon Anthony Fox Ward (16 October 1941 – 20 July 2012) was a British stage and filmactor fromBeckenham,England. He was known chiefly for his performance asWinston Churchill in the 1972 filmYoung Winston. He played many other screen roles, including those of Sir Monty Everard inJudge John Deed andBishop Gardiner inThe Tudors.

Simon Ward was born on 16 October 1941^[1][2][3] inBeckenham, the son of Leonard Fox Ward, acar dealer, and his wife Winifred.^[2][4] From an early age he wanted to be an actor. He received his formal education atAlleyn's School,London, where from the age of 14 he was one of the founding members of its drama group that became theNational Youth Theatre, and stayed for eight years. He trained at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1961.^[1]

Ward made his professional stage debut with theNorthampton Repertory in 1963, and his London theatrical debut one year later inThe 4th of June. He worked inrepertory inNorthampton,Birmingham andOxford and occasionally inLondon's West End.^{[citation needed]}

His big break in theatre came in 1966 when he played Dennis inJoe Orton'sLoot,^[2] which led to a number of small film and television roles. All of Ward's major film roles were in the 1970s.^{[citation needed]}

His first film appearance was probably an uncredited role as one of thesociopathic students inLindsay Anderson'sIf.... (1968).^[2] He was primarily a stage actor when selected to play the title role inYoung Winston in 1971, the role which brought him to national prominence. The in-demand Ward starred in several high-profile films during the remainder of the 1970s.^{[citation needed]}

In 1973 he played theDuke of Buckingham inRichard Lester'sThe Three Musketeers and in 1974 appeared in its sequelThe Four Musketeers. Also in 1974 he played author-veterinarianJames Herriot in the successful film adaptation ofAll Creatures Great and Small. He played one of the lead roles (Lt. Crawford) in the 1976World War I filmAces High, then starred as Lt. William Vereker in the 1979 filmZulu Dawn. He was also seen as Captain Hoffmann, a fictionalNazi functionary, inHitler: The Last Ten Days (1973). Later film roles includedZor-El inSupergirl (1984).^[2]

In 1986, Ward starred in the title role ofRoss, the firstWest End revival ofTerence Rattigan's play since its original run in 1960. It toured the UK and, after a run at theRoyal Alexandra Theatre,Toronto, opened atThe Old Vic, featuringMarc Sinden as Dickinson, withDavid Langton,Roland Curram,Bruce Montague andErnest Clark in supporting roles.^{[citation needed]}

Ward made few films after the 1970s, although he did have a major role in theRalph Fiennes version ofWuthering Heights (1992), alongside his daughterSophie Ward.^{[citation needed]}

In 1987 he sustained a serious head injury in a street attack, the circumstances of which were obscure.^[5] He believed the attack, which left him with a broken skull that needed brain surgery, caused the chronic blood disorder,polycythaemia that affected his career.^[6]

In 1995, at very short notice, he took overStephen Fry's role in the playCell Mates, after Fry walked out of the play near the start of its run.^[7]

Between 2001 and 2007, he appeared as Sir Monty Everard in theBBC television seriesJudge John Deed;^[5] between in 2007 and 2010 he starred as BishopStephen Gardiner inThe Tudors.^[2][5]

In 2010, Ward appeared in the title role in the British tour ofAlan Bennett's playThe Madness of George III.^{[citation needed]}

In 1964, Ward married Alexandra Malcolm, whom he met while they were students atRADA. They had three daughters, one being the actressSophie Ward.^[8]

Having been afflicted with ill health in his later years, Ward died aged 70, on 20 July 2012 inTaunton.^[1] His body was buried inHighgate Cemetery in London.^[6]

A memorial service was held in his memory atSt Paul's Church,Covent Garden, London, on 9 July 2013.^[1]

• Simon Ward atIMDb
• Simon Ward at Aveleyman
• Simon Ward atBFI

• 1941 births
• 2012 deaths
• 20th-century English actors
• Burials at Highgate Cemetery
• Male actors from Kent
• Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
• National Youth Theatre members
• British male film actors
• English male stage actors
• British male television actors
• Actors educated at Alleyn's School
• People from Beckenham
• Actors from the London Borough of Bromley

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