About Simon Ward
Simon Anthony Fox Ward (16 October 1941 – 20 July 2012) was a British stage and film actor from Beckenham, England. He was known chiefly for his performance as Winston Churchill in the 1972 film Young Winston. He played many other screen roles, including those of Sir Monty Everard in Judge John Deed and Bishop Gardiner in The Tudors. == Early life and education == Simon Ward was born on 16 October 1941 in Beckenham, the son of Leonard Fox Ward, a car dealer, and his wife Winifred. From an early age he wanted to be an actor. He received his formal education at Alleyn's School, London, where from the age of 14 he was one of the founding members of its drama group that became the National Youth Theatre, and stayed for eight years. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1961. == Career == Ward made his professional stage debut with the Northampton Repertory in 1963, and his London theatrical debut one year later in The 4th of June. He worked in repertory in Northampton, Birmingham and Oxford and occasionally in London's West End. His big break in theatre came in 1966 when he played Dennis in Joe Orton's Loot, which led to a number of small film and television roles.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.