Simon MacCorkindale, RIP.

Updated on October 16, 2010 By Ken Begg 5 Comments

Gone at the much too early age of 58. Mr. MacCorkindale never really hits the heights of the profession, but was always available to play a certain type of heroically handsome Brit. Sadly, his name is now sort of a punchline because of his having starred in Manimal, although he was hardly the problem with that show.

Even so, I remember one early morning in the late 1990s, when I came across an episode of this dreadful syndicated series called Nightman on WGN. To my bebogglement, there was Simon MacCorkindale, 15 years after the series was cancelled, again playing his Manimal character for a crossover. Really, really weird.

Mr. MacCorkindale had several, if sadly often unimpressive, genre credits on his resume, including the Agatha Christie movie Death on the Nile, The Quatermass Conclusion, The Sword and the Sorcerer, (ugh) Wing Commander, and most notably played the doomed daredevil underwater guy in Jaws 3-D. He also did a lot of TV guest work, and would have been a familial face to TV audiences of the ’80s in particular.

Mr. MacCorkindale is survived by actress Susan George, his wife since (wow) 1984. Sad how few lengthy show business marriages there are, and how many of those are ended by a premature death. Our sympathies to Ms. George.

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  • The Rev.

    I have not seen it in many years, but I recall enjoying “Manimal” as a kid. I remember almost nothing about it, though, except him turning into a panther a couple of times.

    I always liked him in Jaws 3-D, enough that I was very, very angry on his behalf when his character died due to such an unlikely bit of negligence on his part.

    Rest well, sir.

    On a side note: When I first read this, I thought the “ugh” was for The Sword and the Sorceror, and was about to be all up in your grille, as the kids say. Luckily I realized it was for Wing Commander, so any unfortunate instances of up-in-grille-getting have been avoided.

  • Toby Clark

    I don’t know that I’d call Jaws 3D a more notable role than Death on the Nile (my favourite non-David Suchet Poirot movie). I suppose it’s the only one of his you’ve reviewed though.

    RIP Monsieur Doyle.

  • Marsden

    On a side note: When I first read this, I thought the “ugh” was for The Sword and the Sorceror, and was about to be all up in your grille, as the kids say. Luckily I realized it was for Wing Commander, so any unfortunate instances of up-in-grille-getting have been avoided.

    I was about to do the same thing, good thing you’ve got your commas in the right spots.

    I’d like to say something concilitory, but the Sandman is coming for us all, it’s just a matter of when. Maybe I’m too cynical.

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