My mom loved to watch the television series The Prisoner. That is where I first say Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan was born March 19, 1928 in Astoria, Queens, New York, but was raised in England and Ireland. He attended Ratcliffe College where is excelled in mathematics and boxing.

When he was sixteen, McGoohan quit school and worked at several different jobs before becoming a stage manager. When one of the actors become sick, McGoohan filled in and started his own acting career. In 1951, he married another actor, Joan Drummond and they had three daughters.

McGoohan worked for a production company in England, but was not thrilled with the work there and the contract was eventually dissolved. He was approached to do a television series called Danger Man. McGoohan insisted that the character use his brains instead of brawn first and there would be no kissing scenes. The series lasted one year.

McGoohan was hired by Disney to star in The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963) and Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. He had previously turned down the role of James Bond and Simon Templar (The Saint) on moral grounds.

Danger Man was given another try and lasted for three seasons. McGoohan didn’t want to do another season, so producer Lew Grade asked if he would work on a new series about an ex-spy who wakes up in a prison disguised as a holiday resort. McGoohan agreed and The Prisoner was born. Unfortunately, McGoohan was always compared to the character on The Prisoner. He was stated “Mel Gibson will always be Mad Max, and me, I will always be a Number,” referring to his character’s name – Number Six.

McGoohan has appeared in numerous films including, Ice Station Zebra, Silver Streak, Braveheart and A Time to Kill.

In 2000, he appeared in an episode of The Simpsons and Number Six. His last appearance was the voice of Billy Bones on Treasure Planet. He tried several times to produce of movie of The Prisoner, but it never came to fruition.

McGoohan died on January 13, 2009 in Santa Monica, California. He was recently retired and living with his wife of 57 years. He has five grandchildren and one great grandchild.