ACTOR Simon MacCorkindale, who lived in Withiel Florey with his actress wife Susan George, has died after a long battle with cancer.

The actor revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2006 but was told it was terminal after it spread to his lungs 12 months later.

Most recently, Mr MacCorkindale took to the West End stage in The Sound of Music, having previously starred in the BBC One medical drama Casualty as Dr Harry Harper for six years.

He had also appeared in numerous television and film roles, including the 1980s series Falcon Crest and the 1978 Agatha Christie film Death on the Nile.

He and Miss George moved their Arabian stud farm to Withiel Florey several years ago.

His publicist Max Clifford said he died in his wife's arms last Thursday night in a London clinic.

Miss George said: "No-one could have fought this disease any harder than he did since being diagnosed four years ago.

"He fought it with such strength, courage and belief. To me, he was simply the best of everything and I loved him with all my heart."