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Patrick McGoohan : Biography, Pictures, Photos, Trivia, Address, Filmography (The Prisoner, danger man)

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Patrick McGoohan

N°6 in The Prisoner, John Drake in danger man

Photos Patrick McGoohan Birth name: Patrick McGoohan
Birth date: 1928/03/19
Date of death : 2009/01/13 (81 years old)
Birth place : Astoria

French Traduire

Biography for Patrick McGoohan

Though born in America, Irish actor Patrick McGoohan rose to become the number one British TV star in the 1950s to 1960s era. His parents moved to Ireland when he was very young and McGoohan acquired a neutral accent that sounds at home in British or American dialogue. He was an avid stage actor and performed hundreds of times in small and large productions before landing his first TV and film roles. McGoohan is one of few actors who has successfully switched between theatre, TV, and films many times during his career. He was often cast in the role of Angry Young Man. In 1959, he was named Best TV Actor of the Year in Britain. Shortly thereafter, he was chosen for the starring role in the "Secret Agent" TV series (AKA "Danger Man") which proved to be an immense success for three years and allowed the British to break into the burgeoning American TV market for the first time. McGoohan became bored of the limiting role of spy and turned in his resignation right after the first episode of the fourth year had been filmed ("Koroshi"). McGoohan set up his own production company and collaborated with noted author and script editor George Markstein to sell a brand new concept to ITV's president Lew Grade. McGoohan starred, directed, produced, and wrote many of the episodes, sometimes taking a pseudonym to reduce the sheer number of credits to his name. Thus, the TV series "The Prisoner" came to revolve around the efforts of a secret agent, who resigned early in his career, to clear his name. His aim was to escape from a fancifully beautiful but psychologically brutal prison for people who know too much. The series was as popular as it was surreal and allegorical and its mysterious final episode cause such an uproar that McGoohan was to desert England for more than 20 years and seek relative anonynmity in LA, where celebrities are "a dime a dozen".

During the 70s, he appeared in two episodes of the TV detective series "Columbo", for which he won an Emmy Award. His film roles lapsed from prominence until his powerful performance as King Longshanks in Mel Gibson's production of "Braveheart" (1995). As such, he has solidified his casting in the role of Angry Old Man.

Featured actor of the Destination Danger and prisoner series (where he is doubled by Jacques Thébault). He also participated in several episodes of the Columbo series by playing the role of the murderer four times and producing several episodes.

His most important role in the cinema was in Braveheart in 1995. He also played a memorable role of prison director in the film by Don Siegel L’Escadé d'Alcatraz.

Patrick McGoohan was an American-Irishman known for his role in the cult television series "The Prisoner", where he embodies a man known as number six. McGoohan was born on March 19, 1928 in Astoria, in New York State. He grew up in Ireland before returning to the United States to continue his studies. He graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he studied theater.

McGoohan began his acting career in the theater, before winning roles on television and cinema. He appeared in films like "Les Teeth de la Mer" and "Braveheart", as well as in television series like "the invaders" and "Columbo". His most famous performance is undoubtedly that of number six in "The Prisoner", which was broadcast for the first time in 1967.

The series was an immediate success and was welcomed by criticism for its unique and daring approach to science fiction and mass surveillance. McGoohan wrote and produced several episodes of the series, and won an Emmy for his performance in 1968. The series was broadcast worldwide and has gained great popularity with science fiction and mystery fans.

Despite the success of "The Prisoner", McGoohan has chosen not to confine himself to one role and continued to explore new opportunities in the world of cinema and television. He appeared in films as "melody for a murder" and "scanners II: heritage", as well as in television series like "the incorruptibles" and "the mysteries of the West".

Apart from his acting career, McGoohan was also a political activist and a human rights defender. He was involved in causes such as freedom of expression and environmental protection, and was a fervent opponent of war in Iraq. He died on January 13, 2009, at the age of 80, after a disease. His career of more than five decades has earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and fans around the world.

Photos

Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10 Photos Patrick McGoohan n_10

Filmography

Title Role
Treasure Planet (2002) (voice) Billy Bones
The Simpsons - The Computer Wore Menace Shoes (2000) TV Episode (voice) Number Six
Columbo: Ashes to Ashes (1998) (TV) Eric Prince
Hysteria (1998) Dr. Harvey Langston
A Time to Kill (1996) Judge Omar Noose
The Phantom (1996) Phantom's Dad
Braveheart (1995) Longshanks, King Edward I
The Best of Friends (1991) (TV) George Bernard Shaw
Columbo: Agenda for Murder (1990) (TV) Oscar Finch
Murder, She Wrote - Witness for the Defense (1987) TV Episode Oliver Quayle
The Laughing Prisoner (1987) (TV) Number Six
Trespasses (1987) Fred Wells
Of Pure Blood (1986) (TV) Dr. Felix Neumann
Jamaica Inn (1985) (TV) Joss Merlyn
Three Sovereigns for Sarah (1985) (TV) Chief Magistrate
Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) Doctor Eric Kiviat
Six Into One: The Prisoner File (1984) (TV) Patrick Mc Goohan
Kings and Desperate Men (1981) John Kingsley
Scanners (1981) Dr. Paul Ruth
Escape from Alcatraz (1979) Warden
The Hard Way (1979) (TV) John Connor
Brass Target (1978) Col. Mike McCauley
Rafferty (1977) (TV) Dr. Sid Rafferty
The Man in the Iron Mask (1977) (TV) Fouquet
Rafferty (1977) TV Series Dr. Sid Rafferty
Silver Streak (1976) Roger Devereau
Genio, due compari, un pollo, Un (1975) Major Cabot
Columbo: Identity Crisis (1975) (TV) Nelson Brenner/Colorado
Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light (1974) (TV) Col. Lyle C. Rumford
Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) James Stuart
The Moonshine War (1970) Frank Long
Ice Station Zebra (1968) David Jones
The Prisoner The Prisoner/Number Six
Danger Man John Drake
Journey Into Darkness (1968) Host
Koroshi (1966) (TV) John Drake
The Three Lives of Thomasina (1964) Andrew McDhui
Disneyland
The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1964) (TV) Dr. Christopher Syn
The Prisoner (1963) (TV) The Interrogator
The Quare Fellow (1962) Thomas Crimmin
Life for Ruth (1962) Doctor Brown
The Shadow of the Pale Horse (1962) (TV) The Prosecutor
Danger Man John Drake
Sergeant Musgrave's Dance (1961) (TV) Musgrave
Two Living, One Dead (1961) Erik Berger
Armchair Theatre
All Night Long (1961) Johnnie Cousin
Dead Secret (1961) (TV)
Tales of the Vikings
Terminus Number One (1959) (TV)
The Iron Harp (1959) (TV)
Brand (1959) (TV) Brand
The Big Knife (1959) (TV) Charles Castle
Nor the Moon by Night (1958) Andrew Miller
The Vise
The Gypsy and the Gentleman (1958) Jess
Rest in Violence (1958) (TV)
This Day in Fear (1958) (TV) James Coogan
Greatest Man in the World (1958) (TV) Jack 'Pal' Smurch
Hell Drivers (1957) C. 'Red' Redman, Foreman (Truck 1)
High Tide at Noon (1957) Simon Breck
The Third Miracle (1957) (TV)
The Adventures of Aggie
Disturbance (1957) (TV)
Rendezvous (1957) TV Series
The Little World (1957) (TV)
Zarak (1956) Adj. Moor Larkin
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot - The Outcast (1956) TV Episode Sir Glavin
The Makepeace Story (1956) TV Series Seth Makepeace
Passage Home (1955) McIssacs
The Dark Avenger (1955) (unconfirmed)
I Am a Camera (1955) Swedish Water Therapist
All My Sons (1955) (TV)
Moby Dick Rehearsed (1955) (TV) A Serious Actor/Starbuck

Trivia

Best known for his starring role as Number 6 in the surreal science fiction allegory series, "The Prisoner" (1967)

Used his real birthdate and publicity photo for the character he played ("No. 6") in the TV series "The Prisoner" (1968)

He was the first choice for the roles of Gandalf in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy (which went to Ian McKellen) and Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" films (which went to Richard Harris and later to Michael Gambon after Harris' death) but turned them down.

Was at one point considered to replace Peter Falk as Columbo.

Appeared in three different productions with the same name: the "Danger Man" (1960) episode "The Prisoner", The Prisoner (1963) (TV) and "The Prisoner" (1967). Although they were all completely unrelated, the latter two had many similarities.

Played the same regular character (John Drake) on two different series of Danger Man: "Danger Man" (1960) and "Danger Man" (1964). His "The Prisoner" (1967) character, Number Six, may also have been intended to be Drake (although McGoohan himself has always denied this while George Markstein who co-created the series with him continually said he was).

Directed at least one episode of all four series in which he starred: "Danger Man" (1960), "Danger Man" (1964), "The Prisoner" (1967) and "Rafferty" (1977).

Was the title character of all four series in which he starred: "Danger Man" (1960) (John Drake), "Danger Man" (1964) (John Drake), "The Prisoner" (1967) (Number Six) and "Rafferty" (1977) (Dr. Sid Rafferty).

Two of his most famous characters, Number Six in "The Prisoner" (1967) and the Warden in Escape from Alcatraz (1979), were not given names.

Reprised his "The Prisoner" (1967) character (Number Six) in "The Simpsons" (1989) episode "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes."

Played four different murderers in four different episodes of "Columbo": Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light (1974) (TV), Columbo: Identity Crisis (1975) (TV), Columbo: Agenda for Murder (1990) (TV) and Columbo: Ashes to Ashes (1998) (TV). He also directed all of these except the first as well as Columbo: Last Salute to the Commodore (1976) (TV) and Columbo: Murder with Too Many Notes (2000) (TV).

Turned down two roles that eventually went to Roger Moore: Simon Templar in "The Saint" (1962) and James Bond in Live and Let Die (1973).

Has worked with two actors with a glass eye: Leo McKern in "The Prisoner" (1967) episodes "The Chimes of Big Ben", "Once Upon A Time" and "Fall Out" and Peter Falk in Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light (1974) (TV), Columbo: Identity Crisis (1975) (TV), Columbo: Last Salute to the Commodore (1976) (TV), Columbo: Agenda for Murder (1990) (TV), Columbo: Ashes to Ashes (1998) (TV) and Columbo: Murder with Too Many Notes (2000) (TV).

Has been the honourary president of Six of One, the official appreciation society for "The Prisoner" (1967), since its foundation in 1977.

Is a close friend of Peter Falk.

Has appeared in four different productions with Aubrey Morris: The Quare Fellow (1962), "Danger Man" (1964), "The Prisoner" (1967) and Columbo: Ashes to Ashes (1998) (TV).

Although he is erroneously listed as being American on numerous websites, he is, in fact, Irish.

Likes to drink Irish whiskey at 217 bar in Santa Monica, owned by burlesque great Betty Rowland

Family

Spouse : Joan Drummond (19 May 1951 - present) 3 children

Father of Catherine McGoohan and Anne McGoohan.

His parents' names were Thomas McGoohan and Rose Fitzpatrick McGoohan.

He has five grandchildren.

His granddaughter, Sarah, was born in 1979.

Author of the card

  • Creation date: 01/07/2003 by Alexlewebmaster

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