Uncharted Mysteries

Season 1 History Channel (*186) 20:15 Doccie (See sidebar)

What it’s all about: ex-Egoli actor Cliff Simon goes on scary adventures searching for paranormal answers. Episode 1 Cliff is in Hawaii to meet with spiritual gurus and help better understand the “Night Marchers”.

Season 1 History Channel (*186) 20:15 Doccie

Hollywood has been home for SA-born actor Cliff Simon since 2000 and for his next big adventure, he’s taking on all things that go bump in the night for brand-new doccie series Uncharted Mysteries. “This is the show that I have always wanted to do,” says Cliff. “I’m the kind of person who wants to know what’s making noises in the dark. I’ve had army training, so I can take care of myself pretty well. But man, it’s intense and very different to scripted shows.”

Playing bad guys has been a feature of Cliff’s career from when he was on Egoli (1991-2010) as Mitch from 1992 to 1999. He played conman jewel dealer Dirk van der Goes in Nash Bridges (1996-2001) in 2000, as well as a Mossad agent in spy drama The Americans (2013-2018) in 2014.

The 57-year- old is an adrenaline junkie. “I love to paddle surf and kiteboard as many days a week as I can. I used to be a paraglide pilot, jumping from mountain tops. I love motorcycles and ride whenever I can,” says Cliff. He was almost an Olympic swimmer and gymnast for Britain after his family emigrated there in 1975. Cliff nearly qualified for the 1984 Olympic Games in LA but quit swimming. “I was burnt out. Six hours of training a day had taken the fun out of the sport.” After doing his army conscription he moved to Paris, France in 1988 to work in the Moulin Rouge cabaret show for four years. “I sold everything in my possession and could just afford the ticket,” says Cliff. “It was an opportunity no stage actor can pass up.”