---
name: "Simon MacCorkindale"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/simon-maccorkindale"
fi1m_id: "simon-maccorkindale"
imdb_id: "nm0531546"
tmdb_id: 24743
wikidata_id: "Q608022"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 February 1952"
died: "14 October 2010"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 57
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-04T18:11:04.523157+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Simon MacCorkindale

## Identity

Simon MacCorkindale

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/simon-maccorkindale
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** simon-maccorkindale
- **IMDb ID:** nm0531546
- **TMDB ID:** 24743
- **Wikidata ID:** Q608022
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_MacCorkindale, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q608022, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0531546/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24743

Actor. Born 12 February 1952 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. Died 14 October 2010.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 February 1952, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
- **Died:** 14 October 2010
- **Active:** 1976–1983
- **Also known as:** Simon Mac Corkindale, Simon McCorkindale,  Simon Maccorkindale
- **Average Fi1m score:** 57, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 90 (1), 1980s 40 (2)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Horror 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Drama 1, Fantasy 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $127m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_MacCorkindale, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q608022, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0531546/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24743

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Sword and the Sorcerer*](https://film.one/film/the-sword-and-the-sorcerer.md) (45)
- **Netflix:** [*Jaws 3-D*](https://film.one/film/jaws-3-d.md) (36)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Simon MacCorkindale

> Simon MacCorkindale's cultivated English delivery suited men accustomed to giving orders. We find the appeal real but limited: his formal manner needed decent dialogue, and poor writing could leave him sounding painfully stiff.

Simon MacCorkindale's cultivated voice is well suited to characters who expect to be listened to. Adventurers, lawyers and consultants can all make use of that certainty. It becomes a problem when a script mistakes speaking formally for having something worth saying. As Mikah in *The Sword and the Sorcerer* (1982), he has too many lines that sound difficult to deliver and little opportunity to make them seem natural. We find the manner useful, but it needs writing that allows some ease.

His breakthrough as Simon Doyle in *Death on the Nile* (1978) put that English charm to better use within a busy ensemble. The American work that followed included *Jaws 3-D* (1983) and the television series *Manimal* (1983), in which he played Dr Jonathan Chase. He kept his British accent rather than adapting it for American roles. The casting offered adventures and improbable situations, although it did not turn him into a major film leading man.

In Albert Pyun's *The Sword and the Sorcerer*, the difficulty is shared by his fellow actors. Lee Horsley's Talon needs conviction or humour to carry the heroic declarations, and Kathleen Beller's Alana is no better served by the dialogue. We were frustrated by Mikah because the effort of making the lines sound grand kept getting in the way of what he meant. MacCorkindale deserves some allowance for the writing, though the performance does too little to loosen it. A formal delivery can help establish a character quickly; here we kept waiting for him to sound less burdened by it.

Television gave him longer runs: two seasons in *Falcon Crest* (1984–1986), then Harry Harper in *Casualty* (2002–2008). Between those roles, he shifted towards producing and directing through Amy International Artists from the late 1980s. Harper, an autocratic medical consultant, gave the commanding delivery an everyday purpose, though the loudness could become wearing. Sustained television work suited an actor whose authority needed little introduction, even if it could become overbearing. Start with *Death on the Nile*; the fantasy can wait.

## Biography

Simon MacCorkindale was a British actor, director, writer and producer. Born in Ely, Cambridgeshire, in 1952, he trained at the Studio 68 of Theatre Arts in London and made his West End debut in 1974.

He appeared in television series including *I, Claudius* (1976) and *Jesus of Nazareth* (1977). His film roles included Simon Doyle in *Death on the Nile* (1978), Mikah in *The Sword and the Sorcerer* (1982) and a part in *Jaws 3-D* (1983). He starred as Jonathan Chase in the series *Manimal* (1983) and as Greg Reardon in *Falcon Crest* (1984–1986), and later played Harry Harper in the BBC drama *Casualty* (2002–2008).

MacCorkindale directed and produced stage, television and film productions through his company Amy International Artists. He was married to actress Susan George from 1984 until his death in London in 2010.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, theguardian.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Jaws 3-D* (1983), Fi1m 36, as Philip FitzRoyce — [page](https://film.one/film/jaws-3-d.md)
- *The Sword and the Sorcerer* (1982), Fi1m 45, as Mikah — [page](https://film.one/film/the-sword-and-the-sorcerer.md)
- *I, Claudius* (1976), Fi1m 90, as Lucius — [page](https://film.one/tv/i-claudius.md)

## Complete filmography (61)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *A Closed Book* (2012), as Andrew Boles
- *13Hrs* (2010), as Duncan
- *Blizzard: Race to the Pole* (2007), series, as Narrator
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Sir David Bryant
- *Adventure Inc.* (2002), series, Producer
- *The Dinosaur Hunter* (2000), as Jack McCabe
- *Relic Hunter* (1999), series, as Tafik / Fabrice De Viega · Producer
- *The Girl Next Door* (1999), as Steve Vandermeer
- *Mentors* (1999), series, as Oscar Wilde
- *Wing Commander* (1999), as Flight Boss
- *Such a Long Journey* (1998), Producer
- *Running Wild* (1998), as Walton Baden Smythe
- *Water War* (1998), as Peter Gregory
- *Earth: Final Conflict* (1997), series, as Dennis Robillard
- *Night Man* (1997), series, Director
- *La Femme Nikita* (1997), series, as Alec Chandler
- *While My Pretty One Sleeps* (1997), as Jack Campbell
- *Family of Cops* (1995), as Adam Novacek
- *At the Midnight Hour* (1995), as Richard Keaton
- *The Way to Dusty Death* (1995), as Johnny Harlow
- *No Greater Love* (1995), as Patrick Kelly
- *The House that Mary Bought* (1995), Director
- *Counterstrike* (1990), series, as Peter Sinclair
- *Twist of Fate* (1989), series, as Manley-Jones
- *That Summer of White Roses* (1989), Writer, Producer
- *Shades of Love: Sincerely, Violet* (1987), as Mark Jamieson
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Harry Harper
- *Obsessive Love* (1984), as Glenn Stevens
- *Natural World* (1983), series, Actor
- *Manimal* (1983), series, as Jonathan Chase
- *Jaws 3-D* (1983), as Philip FitzRoyce — Fi1m 36, [page](https://film.one/film/jaws-3-d.md)
- *The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die* (1983), Actor
- *Robbers Of The Sacred Mountain* (1982), as Hank Richards
- *An Outpost of Progress* (1982), Actor
- *Matt Houston* (1982), series, Actor
- *The Sword and the Sorcerer* (1982), as Mikah — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/the-sword-and-the-sorcerer.md)
- *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as Greg Reardon · Director
- *The Manions of America* (1981), series, as David Clement
- *Dynasty* (1981), series, Actor
- *Macbeth* (1981), as Macduff
- *Visitor from the Grave* (1980), as Harry
- *Hammer House of Horror* (1980), series, as Harry
- *Caboblanco* (1980), as Lewis Clarkson
- *Quatermass* (1979), series, as Joe Kapp
- *The Quatermass Conclusion* (1979), as Joe Kapp
- *The Riddle of the Sands* (1979), as Arthur Davies
- *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, Actor
- *Death on the Nile* (1978), as Simon Doyle
- *Will Shakespeare* (1978), series, as Sir Thomas Walsingham
- *The Doombolt Chase* (1978), series, Actor
- *Jesus of Nazareth* (1977), series, as Lucius
- *Romance: Three Weeks* (1977), as Paul Verdayne
- *Romance* (1977), series, as Paul Verdayne
- *Beasts: Baby* (1976), as Peter Gilkes
- *Beasts* (1976), series, as Peter Gilkes
- *Romeo and Juliet* (1976), as Paris
- *I, Claudius* (1976), series, as Lucius — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/i-claudius.md)
- *Juggernaut* (1974), as No. 1 Helmsman
- *Hawkeye, the Pathfinder* (1973), series, as Lieutenant Carter
- *Late Night Theatre* (1972), series, as The pilot
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Rolf Hornblower

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/simon-maccorkindale