By Alex Simon
British actor Patrick McGoohan has died at age 80 after a short illness, according to a representative for his family. Once a front-runner for the role of James Bond in 1962, McGoohan found stardom instead on television, where he went on to portray spy John Drake on the hit British series "Danger Man" (aka "Secret Agent" in the U.S.). But it was McGoohan's turn in the 1967 cult series "The Prisoner," which he created, that truly cemented his status as a pop cultural icon.
Patrick McGoohan as Number Six in "The Prisoner."
"The Prisoner" told the Kafkaesque story of a British spy who resigns for unknown reasons, is kidnapped by his former employers, and is whisked away to "The Village" a picturesque, but remote, seaside enclave where all its denizens are given numbers instead of names. Every episode, a new actor would play the role of "Number Two," and would try to get Number Six to reveal why he resigned through a series of ingenious, and often surreal, means. The series remains a cult classic to this day, and is currently being remade by American Movie Classics for broadcast later this year.
McGoohan as King Edward Longshanks in "Braveheart."
McGoohan also appeared in such diverse fare as "Silver Streak," "Escape From Alcatraz," and as the evil King Edward Longshanks in Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning "Braveheart." His final role was the voice of Billy Bones in 2002's "Tresure Planet." He also appeared in, and directed several episodes of, the hit series "Columbo." The 6'2 McGoohan was an imposing presence with a stentorian voice who specialized in playing villains as opposed to heroes later in his career.
Thank you for it all, "Paddy Fitz." Be seeing you...
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