Patrick McGoohan - 1928-2009

We were sad when we learned Ricardo Montalban died on January 14th but upon learning that Patrick McGoohan died a day previous, it sent us into a deep, DEEP period of mourning that will last for some time.

Patrick McGoohan was a classically trained actor who wasn't content playing the standard Shakespeare roles. He sought out challenging roles such as the 1955 play "Serious Charge" where he played a priest accused of being a homosexual.

His penchant for taking risks soon caught the eyes of British cinema (and even Walt Disney for a few films). As the 1960s began, he was soon involved with television and played a varied number of roles. Reportedly, Patrick was asked to play a certain spy with the number 007 and a saintly guy named Templar but refused the roles.

As the James Bond spy craze swept the world, McGoohan decided to play one on television - understated but effective British intelligence agent John Drake in "Danger Man". Reruns of these shows were bundled and repackaged for use in America under the title "Secret Agent Man" (remember the Johnny Rivers song?).

After three seasons of "Danger Man", McGoohan wanted a change and went to TV producer Lew Grade. McGoohan ran down a concept of a seven episode series that seemed so unusual that Grade simply shook hands on it and told Patrick "do what you want."

"The Prisoner" was McGoohan's masterpiece. He wrote, produced, directed and starred in the show as a former top intelligence agent (Drake?) who resigns and is sent against his will to "The Village" where the powers at be give him a number (Number 6) and try to extract information.

The seven episodes expanded to seventeen - all allegories over the right of the individual. It made you think while being entertained - a rare show that gained a cult audience that continues to grow since its initial airings in the 1960s.

Patrick soon heard Hollywood calling and worked on films like "Ice Station Zebra", "Silver Streak", "Braveheart", and several memorable appearances opposite Peter Falk as Columbo on television. But he never escaped the Village completely - the constant questions, the rumors of a "Prisoner" movie, the typecast. He took it all in good stride and made his last appearance as Number 6 on a hilarious episode of "The Simpsons".

My oldest brother Rafael remembers watching "The Prisoner" on its original run in 1967 (it was a summer replacement for "The Jackie Gleason Show"). When reruns popped up on PBS as the cult spread in the 1970s, I was introduced to McGoohan's world and was hooked for life.

When I began dating my wife, we once spent an extended weekend at her parents' lake cottage watching my taped copies of "The Prisoner" and she was hooked for life.

When we planned our honeymoon to England in 1997, we planned on four days in London and four exploring England (Stonehenge, catherdrals, B&B's). The first stop outside of London in a rental car was almost six hours away in a steady drizzle over windy, mountainous roads after dark.

After a night's rest at a B&B, we arrived at "The Village":


McGoohan used the Hotel Portmeiron in Penrhyndeudrath, Wales for exterior shooting of "The Prisoner". It still looked pretty much the way it did when he filmed there 30 years earlier. "Prisoner" fans from around the world were in attendance when we visited on September 24, 1997 - even more still do when an annual convention is held there in the summer.

To honor McGoohan's memory, I offer this:


Ron Grainer - The Prisoner (Main Title Theme)


Listen to this as you look at more holiday snaps I took on that trip. For "Prisoner" devotees, you'll see the Green Dome, the stone boat, the bandstand, and even Number 6's chateau:










A whole new generation will subjected to a remake of "The Prisoner" on AMC in 2009 - I urge anyone who becomes a fan to seek out the original - often imitated, never duplicated.

Thank you Mr. McGoohan for body of work and teaching us the creedo "I am not a number, I am a person." It's prevalent today now more than ever.


Capt