Michael Billington (actor)

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Michael Billington

Born	December 24, 1941 Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Died	June 3, 2005 (aged 63)

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 last major television role was in the 1986 BBC drama The Collectors (TV series), (though his final appearance on TV was in an episode of early 1990s TV series 'Maigret' as the villain.)

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.