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'Prisoner' Star Patrick McGoohan Dies

Actor Portrayed King in 'Braveheart,' Warden in 'Escape From Alcatraz'

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posted: 169 DAYS 22 HOURS AGO

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filed under: Highbrow, Movie News, Obits, TV News

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(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.

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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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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 detective drama "Columbo," and more recently appeared as King Edward Longshanks in the 1995 Mel Gibson film "Braveheart."

But he was most famous as the character known only as Number Six in "The Prisoner," a sci-fi tinged 1960s British series in which a former spy is held captive in a small enclave known only as The Village, where a mysterious authority named Number One constantly prevents his escape.

McGoohan came up with the concept and wrote and directed several episodes of the show, which has kept a devoted following in the United States and Europe for four decades.

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'The Prisoner' -- I Am Not a Number

'Braveheart' -- Longshanks

Born in New York on March 19, 1928, McGoohan was raised in England and Ireland, where his family moved shortly after his birth. He had a busy stage career before moving to television, and won a London Drama Critics Award for playing the title role in the Henrik Ibsen play "Brand."

He married stage actress Joan Drummond in 1951. The oldest of their three daughters, Catherine, is also an actress.

His first foray into TV was in 1964 in the series "Danger Man," a more straightforward spy show that initially lasted just one season but was later brought back for three more when its popularity - and McGoohan's - exploded in reruns.

Weary of playing the show's lead John Drake, McGoohan pitched to producers the surreal and cerebral "The Prisoner" to give himself a challenge.

The series ran just one season and 17 episodes in 1967, but its cultural impact remains.

He voiced his Number Six character in an episode of "The Simpsons" in 2000. The show is being remade as a series for AMC that premieres later this year.

"His creation of 'The Prisoner' made an indelible mark on the sci-fi, fantasy and political thriller genres, creating one of the most iconic characters of all time," AMC said in a statement Wednesday. "AMC hopes to honor his legacy in our re-imagining of 'The Prisoner."'

Later came smaller roles in film and television. McGoohan won Emmys for guest spots on "Columbo" 16 years apart, in 1974 and 1990.

He also appeared as a warden in the 1979 Clint Eastwood film "Escape from Alcatraz" and as a judge in the 1996 John Grisham courtroom drama "A Time To Kill."

His last major role was in "Braveheart," in what The Associated Press called a "standout" performance as the brutal king who battles Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace, played by Gibson.

In his review of the film for the Los Angeles Times critic Peter Rainer said "McGoohan is in possession of perhaps the most villainous enunciation in the history of acting."

McGoohan is survived by his wife and three daughters.

2009-01-14 13:24:23

Dan Steinberg, AP

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thenemo1

04:40 AMApr 25 2009

To many people today have a memory like a fungus a sive,A man that deserved mention.'Prisoner' Star Patrick McGoohan DiesActor Portrayed King in 'Braveheart,' Warden in 'Escape From Alcatraz'PopEater / Wire Servicesposted: 100 DAYS 10 HOURS AGOcomments: 69filed under: Highbrow, Movie News, Obits, TV NewsPrintShareText SizeAAA(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.Skip over this content Recent Losses in TV LandCBS / Getty Images17 photos 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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Jmo1959

09:48 PMJan 16 2009

Where am I?In the village. What do you want?Information.You won't get it!By hook or by crook we will.Whose side are you on?That would be telling.Who are you?The New Number Two.Who is Number One?You are Number Six!I am not a number! I am a free man!Classic, unbeatable stuff. RIP Patrick

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Fran Platt

08:38 AMJan 15 2009

Several people have mentioned his work in a Disney TV drama called "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh," but he was also excellent in a Disney fantasy movie that came out in 1963: "The Three Lives of Thomasina." It involved a reincarnated cat owned by a young Scottish girl named Mary MacDhui & her widowed veterinarian father, played by McGoohan. As a 10-year-old girl, I was exactly the demographic targeted for that movie, so maybe that's why it stuck with me; but I was also impressed by McGoohan's performance (almost as much as the wonderful scene where Thomasina goes to Cat Heaven and is sent back by Bast, the Egyptian Cat Goddess, to finish her work in the world - including reconciling Mary with her father). It was a charming movie.But mostly I will never forget Number Six. Be seeing you, Patrick!

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Madrachod

05:59 AMJan 15 2009

******* amazing!!!!! I can post this bullshit, but not what I've been TRYING to post all ******* day!!!!

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Madrachod

05:54 AMJan 15 2009

Let's see if this'll work now. It hasn't all bloody day!!

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AndrsBckly

04:23 AMJan 15 2009

Number 6 has escaped fromthe village. long live number 1.

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FarhadH016

02:36 AMJan 15 2009

who in the hell you think you are to talk about peter falk or patrick mcgoohan like that?.the real crap is you and people like you.

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DUMBnEASY

11:54 PMJan 15 2009

Not Secret Agent Man! Say it ain't so! Well Patrick, when I was a kid I thought you were terrific. And, you're going out with fine company! R.I.P. and say hello to Ricardo.

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Mosron

11:23 PMJan 15 2009

Two of the best. Their portrayal of villians was especially classic; Montalban as Khan Singh and McGoohan as Edward I . But they played anything well. I really liked Mr. Rourke and The Scarecrow.

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Phkloa11

10:42 PMJan 15 2009

Did his Secret Agent TV show, with its classic theme song, ever get released on DVD? It was one of the better James Bond inspired wannabes after Dean Martin's Matt Helm movies.

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