Patrick McGoohan, the 80 year old Emmy winning actor of the classic sci-fi/spy series “The Prisoner” has died after a short illness in Los Angeles.
Best known and loved for his role of Number Six in the iconic television series, McGoohan also carried home an Emmy for his performance on the detective television series “Columbo,” which starred the now ailing Peter Falk. Patrick had a long and illustrious career as an actor that spanned five decades beginning in 1954.
He also starred on such sci-fi and genre TV shows and films as “The Phantom,” “Ice Station Zebra” with Rock Hudson and Ernest Borgnine, “Danger Man,” and the big screen Mel Gibson historial epic “Braveheart.” His last public work was doing the voice of Billy Bones for the 2002 animated film “Treasure Planet.”
Sadly, Patrick didn’t live long enough to see the AMC resurrection of “The Prisoner” due out later this year and which will feature award winning actor James Caviezel in the role of Number Six.
I’m usually very good with faces, but it took me a little while to realize it was him in Braveheart.
Did not know much about the man, but he seemed a class act . . . or perhaps it was the accent. Regardless, I’ve liked his work, and wish he had done more.
Man, this is a real bummer. He’s one of my alltime favorite actors.
Having successfully played Danger Man (Secret Agent in the States) he was actually asked to play James Bond at one point, which he turned down.
So they ended up “settling” with a little known actor who goes by the name of Sean Connery. If you’ve never seen PMcG in The Prisoner, I highly recommend you do. It’s one of his best. And Danger Man is one of the earliest and best spy shows ever produced. Particularly the half hour ones. There’s alot of old movies that people have forgotten about that Patrick was in that are quite good. McGoohan was excellent in ALL of them! A real pro, a nice man, and a real loss to the world of cinema and TV. Rest In Peace Patrick.