Patrick McGoohan (1928-2009) who starred as a British spy in the 1960s CBS series "Secret Agent" (also known as "Danger Man") and won two Emmys for his guest appearances on the detective drama "Columbo" passed away on January 13th. He was 80. McGoohan most recently appeared as King Edward Longshanks in Mel Gibson's Academy Award-winning film "Braveheart."
McGoohan was most famous as the character known only as Number Six in "The Prisoner," a 1968 British series about a spy who resigns from the intelligence service, only to be abducted and held captive in a mysterious haven known as "The Village." There his overseers strip him of his identity in their attempts to glean information, while thwarting his attempts to escape. The show was a stylistic science fiction fable that was a masterpiece that sadly was misunderstood during it's initial run back in the sixties. AMC is preparing to bring the show back to television in a "reinterpretation" starring Jim Caviezel (The Passion of The Christ) playing the lead, Number Six. Ian McKellan (X-Men, Lord of The Rings) co-stars as No. 2, the mysterious second in-command. The show premieres sometime later this year.
Mr. Magoohan was one of the most brilliant and creative minds in television history and literally an inspiration to a generation, myself included. He was an enigma and a visionary that refused to pander to the dictates of media and instead of doling out mindless drivel disguised as entertainment he choose to create stories that were thought provoking (something that is sadly lacking today) and bold. He successfully combined poetry, philosophy, drama and social commentary like few of his contemporaries in broadcast television and film. Number Six has left "The Village" but he will not be forgotten.
McGoohan was most famous as the character known only as Number Six in "The Prisoner," a 1968 British series about a spy who resigns from the intelligence service, only to be abducted and held captive in a mysterious haven known as "The Village." There his overseers strip him of his identity in their attempts to glean information, while thwarting his attempts to escape. The show was a stylistic science fiction fable that was a masterpiece that sadly was misunderstood during it's initial run back in the sixties. AMC is preparing to bring the show back to television in a "reinterpretation" starring Jim Caviezel (The Passion of The Christ) playing the lead, Number Six. Ian McKellan (X-Men, Lord of The Rings) co-stars as No. 2, the mysterious second in-command. The show premieres sometime later this year.
Mr. Magoohan was one of the most brilliant and creative minds in television history and literally an inspiration to a generation, myself included. He was an enigma and a visionary that refused to pander to the dictates of media and instead of doling out mindless drivel disguised as entertainment he choose to create stories that were thought provoking (something that is sadly lacking today) and bold. He successfully combined poetry, philosophy, drama and social commentary like few of his contemporaries in broadcast television and film. Number Six has left "The Village" but he will not be forgotten.
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