Arthur Charles Simon Oates was born on 6 January 1932[1] in Canning Town, east London.

[2] Working in theatrical rep during the 1950s, he was leading man at York Theatre Royal for some years before being cast as Dr. John Ridge in the science fiction television series Doomwatch, co-starring John Paul as Dr. Spencer Quist and Robert Powell as Toby Wren.

Oates appeared on the stage in a 1971 adaptation of The Avengers, as John Steed, opposite Sue Lloyd and Kate O'Mara, and in the West End production of the Francis Durbridge thriller Suddenly at Home.

[citation needed] Other sources suggest that Oates was in the running before Roger Moore was confirmed as 007 for Live and Let Die.

[3] In tandem with his straight acting career, Oates also appeared many times as a stand-up comic and compere, working with such stars as Tom Jones, Sandie Shaw, and the Who.