Michael Billington (actor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Billington (born on December 24, 1941 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England; died on June 3, 2005 in the UK) was a popular British film and television actor.
Billington was best known for his role as Colonel Paul Foster in the 1970 science fiction series, UFO, and for creating the character of Daniel Fogarty in the 1971-1974 historical drama, The Onedin Line. He also appeared as Sergeant Jacko Jackson of the Royal Wessex Rangers in the series Spearhead and as Czar Nicholas II in the mini-series "Edward VII" (1975).
Billington's final television role was in the 1986 BBC drama The Collectors (TV series).
Billington was screen tested for the role of James Bond more than any other actor and was said to have been Albert R. Broccoli's first choice had Roger Moore not appeared in 1981's For Your Eyes Only. Billington also screen tested for Live and Let Die (1973), Moonraker (1979), and Octopussy (1983). He ultimately appeared in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, playing Sergei Barsov, Agent XXX's ill-fated lover, at the start of the film.
Billington died of cancer at the age of 63, and predeceased one of his UFO co-stars, Ed Bishop, by five days.
[edit] External links
- Fanderson.com obituary and tribute
- Michael Billington at the Internet Movie Database
- Mike Billington's fans website
