(Jan. 14) - Patrick McGoohan, the Emmy-winning actor who created and starred in the cult classic television show "The Prisoner" and later landed a major role as the brutal king in "Braveheart," died on Tuesday after a short illness, his family has announced. He was 80.
Ricardo Montalban, Jan. 14: The Emmy-winning actor, best known for his role on 'Fantasy Island' died of natural causes at his Los Angeles home. He was 88 years old.
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Patrick McGoohan, Jan. 13: The veteran actor built a huge following in the 1960's with TV shows 'The Prisoner' and 'Secret Agent,' pictured, but is perhaps best best known to young fans as Longshanks, the ruthless king in 'Braveheart.' McGoohan died in LA after a short illness. He was 80.
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Jon Hager, Jan. 10: The Hager Twins made millions laugh on hit syndicated TV show 'Hee-Haw' for nearly two decades. Jon, shown at right, was found dead in his Nashville apartment. No cause has been given, but Hager was said to have been ill and depressed since his identical twin, Jim, died last May.
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Cheryl Holdridge, Jan. 6: The 'Mickey Mouse Club' Mouseketeer, seen in 1956 and again in 2001, went on to appear as Wally's girlfriend in 'Leave It to Beaver' and had roles on 'Bewitched' and 'The Dick Van Dyke Show.' The actress died after a two-year battle with lung cancer. She was 64.
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Steven Gilborn, Jan. 2: With Alice Hirson by his side, Gilborn played Ellen DeGeneres's dad on the hit sitcom, 'Ellen.' His other TV credits are much too long to list, but include stints on 'The Practice,' 'L.A. Law,' 'ER' and 'Wonder Years.' The actor died after battling cancer. He was 72.
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Bernie Hamilton, Dec. 30: The actor known mostly for his role as Captain Harold Dobey on the '70s TV show 'Starsky and Hutch' died at the age of 80 due to cardiac arrest.
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John Costelloe, Dec. 18: The character actor (right) who played Vito's lover on the sixth season of 'The Sopranos' was found dead in his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Dec. 18: The widow of the late 'Star Trek' creator Gene Roddenberry died at the age of 76 from leukemia.
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Todd Homme, 23: Homme died in his sleep in his Manhattan apartment; the cause of death is still unknown. Homme was one of three finalists on 'Blush: The Search for the Next Great Make-Up Artist.'
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Beverly Garland, Dec. 5: The 'My Three Sons' actress, who also starred in several B-movie classics, died at age 82 after a long illness.
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The actor was in Los Angeles when he died, his son-in-law, film producer Cleve Landsberg, said.
McGoohan won two Emmys for his work on the Peter Falk detectivedrama "Columbo," and more recently appeared as King EdwardLongshanks in the 1995 Mel Gibson film "Braveheart."
But he was most famous as the character known only as Number Sixin "The Prisoner," a sci-fi tinged 1960s British series in whicha former spy is held captive in a small enclave known only as TheVillage, where a mysterious authority named Number One constantlyprevents his escape.
McGoohan came up with the concept and wrote and directed severalepisodes of the show, which has kept a devoted following in theUnited States and Europe for four decades.
Born in New York on March 19, 1928, McGoohan was raised inEngland and Ireland, where his family moved shortly after hisbirth. He had a busy stage career before moving to television, andwon a London Drama Critics Award for playing the title role in theHenrik Ibsen play "Brand."
He married stage actress Joan Drummond in 1951. The oldest oftheir three daughters, Catherine, is also an actress.
His first foray into TV was in 1964 in the series "DangerMan," a more straightforward spy show that initially lasted justone season but was later brought back for three more when itspopularity - and McGoohan's - exploded in reruns.
Weary of playing the show's lead John Drake, McGoohan pitched toproducers the surreal and cerebral "The Prisoner" to give himselfa challenge.
The series ran just one season and 17 episodes in 1967, but itscultural impact remains.
He voiced his Number Six character in an episode of "TheSimpsons" in 2000. The show is being remade as a series for AMCthat premieres later this year.
"His creation of 'The Prisoner' made an indelible mark on thesci-fi, fantasy and political thriller genres, creating one of themost iconic characters of all time," AMC said in a statementWednesday. "AMC hopes to honor his legacy in our re-imagining of'The Prisoner."'
Later came smaller roles in film and television. McGoohan wonEmmys for guest spots on "Columbo" 16 years apart, in 1974 and1990.
He also appeared as a warden in the 1979 Clint Eastwood film"Escape from Alcatraz" and as a judge in the 1996 John Grishamcourtroom drama "A Time To Kill."
His last major role was in "Braveheart," in what TheAssociated Press called a "standout" performance as the brutalking who battles Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace, playedby Gibson.
In his review of the film for the Los Angeles Times critic PeterRainer said "McGoohan is in possession of perhaps the mostvillainous enunciation in the history of acting."
McGoohan is survived by his wife and three daughters.
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