Noel Harrison

The son of Oscar winning actor Sir Rex Harrison, Noel Harrison spent part of his childhood in Switzerland where he began to ski. As a teenager he became part of the Great Britain ski team and was chosen to compete in all three alpine events at the 1952 Winter Games though without great success. He won the British giant slalom national title in 1953 and was chosen for a second Olympics in 1956.

After serving his compulsory military service he opted for a career in show business, firstly in Britain and then, after 1965, in the United States and Canada. Harrison had a pair of minor hit records in the USA before he recorded the song The Windmills of Your Mind for the soundtrack of the film The Thomas Crown Affair which became a top ten hit in the UK and several other countries. Harrison also branched out into acting and after guest starring in the The Man from U.N.C.L.E. he became a regular cast member of the spin-off show The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.. He appeared in musical theatre from the 70s onwards whilst continuing a recording career and making occasional screen appearances. After many years in North America he returned to England in 2003.