Patrick McGoohan 1928-2009

[redheadlvr]

Patrick McGoohan, a celebrated actor,died in Santa Monica, California after a short illness. He was 80 years old. He appeared in movies like 'Scanners', 'Ice Station Zebra', 'Escape from Alcatraz' with Clint Eastwood, 'A Time to Kill', 'Braveheart' with Mel Gibson. On television, he won two Emmys for his work on Columbo, and during the James Bond era of the 1960s, he played secret agent John Drake in Danger Man (Secret Agent in the USA)

But the one role he will be forever remembered....is that of playing a number.McGoohan played Number 6, a secret agent who resigned, but was abducted and sent to an idillic yet subversive island called 'the Village' in the legandary cult classic and many say televisions very first masterpiece, The Prisoner. A show he created and wrote many of its 17 episodes.


And finally,Patrick McGoohan (Number 6) and Leo McKern (Number 2) will finally have that game of chess in that Village in the sky. :(

[mal123]

Couldn't agree more with your post-in my opinion a vastly underated actor. Will be sadly missed.

[kkdowning]

Oh, even as a german i always loved this tv-series, it was very strange and
the last time they aired it was in the early 90s on pro7.

british tv-series of the late 60´s and early 70´s were always second to none.

so rust in peace number6!

kkd

[gordian_knot]

I grew up with him as Danger Man and then the Prisoner. I don't remember him ever turning in a bad performance. He was one of those actors whose presence just naturally grabbed the screen whoever he was playing alongside.

He could have been Bond but his legacy as the Prisoner will be much greater.

[elf4736]

Love the scene in Brave Heart when he throws the guy out the window.

Classic:D

Be seeing you.

[Futuro]

He directed one episode of Columbo, and acted on few other episodes. He had an part as a CIA agent, and his not-so-lucky-agent colleague was some guy called Leslie Nielsen. It`s one of my favourite episodes of Columbo, because of Goohan`s superb acting.

The Prisoner-Opening titles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AL7npkSXZE

[ralphvoss]

he played secret agent John Drake in Danger Man (Secret Agent in the USA)

It was known as both in the USA. The half-hour episodes aired as Danger Man. The hour-long episodes aired as Secret Agent with the Johnny Rivers theme song.

Yes. Patrick was a powerful actor. Magnetic presence..we'll miss him but at least we have the shows to rewatch.

[Bluesteve32]

"The trouble with Scotland is that there are too many Scots," was his best line in Braveheart when he played Edward Longshanks.

[LeroyLargeCar]

He directed one episode of Columbo, and acted on few other episodes. He had an part as a CIA agent, and his not-so-lucky-agent colleague was some guy called Leslie Nielsen. It`s one of my favourite episodes of Columbo, because of Goohan`s superb acting.

According to an article I read minutes ago, he directed 5 episodes of 'Columbo', played the bad guy 4 times in that series, and won 2 Emmy awards for his work opposite Peter Falk. The Emmy's came 15-16 years apart. I always liked his work in that series but my favorite role will always be that of Doctor Christopher Syn, 'The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh'.

Speaking of "some guy called Leslie Nielsen", surely you jest. (and don't call him surely!) ;););)

[gt60x]

He was very underated as an actor.

"Be seeing you"

[ralphvoss]

Yes! Sean Connery, William Hartnell, Sid James, David McCallum, Alfie Bass, George Murcell and Peggy Cummins were also in Hell Drivers. There are a couple of clips on youtube, where he does nasty things to Stanley Baker.

[beemerider500]

Such a terrific actor... I awaited each episode of the series "Secret Agent" & "Prisoner" with timely anticipation. He was quite good in both and the work he did in "Braveheart" made you want to hate him. His kind of acting transcends the media presenting it (i.e. TV, theatre, movie screen). He is but another acting icon that we have lost in recent years and will be greatly missed.

[jokerman]

I am not a number I'm a free man. As the prisoner said.
He was actually offered for the part of James Bond. But he turned it down for personal reasons. He didn't like the idea of playing a serial womaniser.
Where ever you are Patrick. You'll always be remembered.

[purplecloud]

A very fine and under rated actor. I was always impressed by the way he used his voice particularly when his character was angry. The Prisoner is AMAZING and one of the best tv programs ever!
The Hell Drivers is an entertaining movie and worth seeking out just to see that memorable cast.

[Lowry]

2- you're waiting for someone, Mr Tuxedo ? Or expecting someone ?
6- Mr Peter Pan.
2- So it seems.
6- With his shadow...
2- You're beeing hostile again. What were you looking at ?
6- A light.
2- A star.
6- A boat.
2- An insect.
6- A plane.
2- A flying fish.
6- Somebody who belongs to my world.
2- This is your world. I am your world. If you insist on, living a dream, you may be taken for mad.
6- I like my dream.
2- Then you are mad.