Patrick McGoohan Dies Aged 80 The star best known for The Prisoner Source: BBC
Patrick McGoohan – the star and co-creator of seminal Sixties TV show, The Prisoner – has died after a short illness. He was 80.
Best known for his TV work, including Danger Man and two Emmy Award-winning appearances as nemeses on Columbo, McGoohan rarely dabbled in cinema, but he still managed to amass a series of notable roles, including the evil King Edward Longshanks in Braveheart, Dr. Paul Ruth in David Cronenberg’s Scanners, British spy Jones in Ice Station Zebra, and the Warden in Escape From Alcatraz.
His last credited role was as the voice of Billy Bones in 2002’s Treasure Planet - and what a voice he had too, shaped by an upbringing in England and Ireland, it was rich, deep, and sonorous, with his strangely neutral accent giving many of his performances a sinister, otherworldly quality.
He often played villains, but his best-known role was as the hero of The Prisoner, the cult series in which he played a man – Number Six – incarcerated in a booby-trap laden village, who constantly made escape attempts while declaring that, “I am not a number – I am a free man!” Ironically, the show itself somewhat trapped and typecast McGoohan, who never quite escaped its shadow.
McGoohan, who was born in New York in March, 1928, actually co-created the show, and produced, directed and wrote several episodes, including some under pseudonyms. He came up with the show after a stint on secret agent show Danger Man, which had been successful enough to put him in the frame to play the first James Bond, before Sean Connery nabbed the role.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan Drummond McGoohan, and their three children.
L: Taz69
I forgot about Hell Drivers as that, and Patrick, is brilliant to and it starred the would-have-been-Bond and Sean Connery
up. That it did. As one of Pat's lackies. A Lorry Driver, funnily enough... which was what Ian Fleming always refered to him as. ... Read More
But a good goodie also, I'm not old enough to remember the Prisoner, but I loved his later cinematic work in the aforementioned Escape from Alcatraz, A Time To Kill and Braveheart, but also as the wise ghostly mentor to The Phantom, kinda like Obi-wan to Billy Zane's Luke if you will. ... Read More
As a master of reflecting restrained violence I know of no-one better. As for the Prisoner I remember being awestruck by it when it first came out,and my dad went up in my estimation as he let me stay up to watch it because he thought it was "interesting" The fact that it stands up well against anything currently on the box is a testament to the creativity of the man.
Like many others I do have serious concerns about the remake...........
I understood he t... Read More
I loved him in a time to kill also but braveheart was still the ace. Best lines: -
Who is this person that speaks to me as though I needed his advice?
A most excellent idea, sire. Is it?
... Read More
You can now actually roll in your grave when this new Prisoners comes out.
The Prisoner is my all time favourite television. It was brimmed with originality (even now), verve, philosophy, intelliegence, stiff upper-lipped britishness, with a large dollop of the fantastical. It spoke to me about the importance of individuality and never letting The Man get you down. Outside of The Village he was great in Escape to Alcatraz, brilliant in Braveheart, and superb in Ice Station Zebra, and Patrick knew how to poke fun at The Prisoner by being in The Simpsons' homage where Ho... Read More
