Born in Cambridge, England in 1952, Simon MacCorkindale's first career choice was to follow in his Air Force pilot father's bootsteps, but his deteriorating eyesight forced him to choose an alternative vocation. He took drama classes following high school graduation and put in much time on the repertory theatre stage, culminating in an appearance in the highly acclaimed production of "Pygmalion" with Alec McCowen and Diana Rigg in 1974. Simon later appeared in several classical TV productions, such as I, Claudius and Jesus of Nazareth. His major breakthrough in film was as a charming and cunning murderer in Death on the Nile, with similar roles in such films as The Riddle of the Sands. Hollywood became an option for him in the 80s and he found his patrician good looks well suited for TV, with series roles in soap operas ("Falcon Crest") as well as adventures ("Manimal"). Since then Simon has delved into stage projects featuring as both director and actor, notably in "Macbeth" and "The Merchant of Venice". Divorced during his early career from actress Fiona Fullerton, he subsequently married Brit actress Susan George, also producing a few of her films. He focused for a time as a producer/director/writer on a variety of personal projects, but has since concentrated again on performing.


In between marriages, he was romantically involved with actress Linda Purl. They worked together on TV and stage, he directing her in the play "A Doll's House" in Los Angeles.