Simon Cowell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Simon Cowell 19 April 1952 Essex, England |
| Education | City of London Freemen's School |
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge (PhD) |
| Occupation(s) | TV presenter, conservationist, author |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Organization | Wildlife Aid Foundation |
| Spouse |
Jillian Geraldine Cowell
(divorced) |
| Children | 2 |
Simon Maxwell Cowell MBE (born 19 April 1952)[4][1][5] is a British conservationist, television presenter, and author best known for hosting the Animal Planet documentary series Wildlife SOS from 1996–2014.[6] He is the founder of Wildlife Aid Foundation, originally titled Wildlife Aid, which is a charitable organization dedicated to the "rescue, rehabilitation, and release of British wildlife".[7]
Biography
In his early life, Cowell suffered from stuttering, and enjoyed singing. He attended the City of London Freemen's boarding school,[8] and took part in multiple choirs and school musicals.[6]
Cowell earned a PhD in biological sciences at Jesus College, Cambridge, and worked a commodities trader through the 1980s. He has two daughters. He and his former wife Jill co-founded the Wildlife Aid Foundation animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in 1983,[2] several years after setting up a wildlife sanctuary on the grounds of his home.[1] The organisation's activities were the subject of the television series Wildlife SOS, and subsequently a Youtube channel series with entries being released to the present day.[9]
Cowell endured a self-described nervous breakdown in 1994,[6] after which he decided to dedicate "all his time" to the Wildlife Aid charity. As part of his efforts as a conservationist and animal-rights activist, he has campaigned for PETA.[6] Cowell has been described as a "forthright, witty character" who is "not averse" to profanity. Costar Ricky Gervais once described him as "David Attenborough with Tourette's". He was awarded a prestigious Order of the British Empire award in 2006 for his "services to wildlife".[6][4] As an author, Cowell released a memoir entitled My Wild Life: The Story of a Most Unlikely Animal Rescuer in 2016.[1]
He resides in Leatherhead, Surrey, and Wildlife Aid Foundation is run out of his home.[10]
Health
In July 2022, it was announced through his foundation that in late June 2022 he was diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal form of lung cancer.[11] A donation campaign for his organisation entitled "Simon's Last Wish" was launched on 15 July.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Wildlife crusader Simon Cowell: 'When I collapsed from executive burn-out I realised that I really wanted to work with injured animals'". Belfast Telegraph. 25 August 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022.
- 1 2 de Muth, Susan (22 December 1993). "On the Wild Side: Jill Cowell". Independent. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ↑ "Wild Productions Limited". Companies London. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- 1 2 "Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood" (PDF). news.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 11 June 2005.
- ↑ @wildlifeaid (19 April 2016). "Happy birthday to our founder, Simon Cowell. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for wildlife!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Cowell, Simon (11 June 2020). "I'm Simon Cowell – but I can't rocket you to stardom". Metro. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ↑ "Wildlife Aid Foundation | Find Out More From WAF..." Wildlifeaid.org.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ↑ "The Ashtead Link". The Ashtead Link - Journal of the Old Freemen's Association (27): 12–13, 16–17. March 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ↑ "Wildlife Aid – YouTube (channel)". Youtube. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- 1 2 "Simon's Last Wish". Wildlifeaid.org.uk.
- ↑ @wildlifeaid (15 July 2022). "Simon Cowell, our founder, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer that is terminal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.