English actor Simon Ward, noted for his performance as Winston Churchill in the 1972 film "Young Winston," died July 20 in London following a long illness. He was 70.

Mr. Ward, who received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in "Young Winston," was seen on stage in the West End productions of An Ideal Husband, Don't Dress For Dinner, Ross and Cell Mates as well as a touring production of Alan Bennett's The Madness of King George III. He appeared in the 1979 Broadway production of A Meeting by the River.

In April 2011, Mr. Ward was cast in a West End production of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, but was forced to withdraw from the production due to illness. He was slated to play Alfred, the father of Eliza Doolittle.

His other film credits include "Hitler: The Last Ten Days," "The Three Musketeers," "Supergirl," "Zulu Dawn" and the television movie "All Creatures Great and Small," among others.

On the small screen, Mr. Ward was known for playing the roles of Sir Monty Everard in the BBC crime drama "Judge John Deed" and Bishop Gardiner "The Tudors."

Mr. Ward was born in Beckenham, Kent, in 1941 to Winifred and Leonard Fox Ward, a car dealer. He joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of 13 and later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He made his professional stage debut with the Northampton Repertory in 1963 and went on to work in repertory in Northampton, Birmingham and Oxford as well as London's West End. His big break in theatre came in 1967 when he landed the role of Dennis in Joe Orton's Loot.

He is survived by his wife Alexandra and their three daughters, Claudia Ward, actress Sophie Ward and Kitty McIntyre.