Patrick McGoohan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrick McGoohan
McGoohan in All Night Long (1962)
Born	(1928-03-19)March 19, 1928 New York City, U.S.
Died	January 13, 2009(2009-01-13) (aged 80) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor writer producer director
Years active	1948–2002
Spouse(s)	Joan Drummond ​ (m. 1951)​
Children	3, including Catherine

Patrick Joseph McGoohan (born March 19, 1928 – died January 13, 2009) was a talented Irish-American actor, director, screenwriter, and producer. He was known for his exciting roles in movies and television shows.

Born in the United States to Irish parents, Patrick grew up in Ireland and England. He became famous in the 1960s for playing the secret agent John Drake in the TV show Danger Man. He then created and starred in the unique series The Prisoner, where he played Number Six, a spy held captive in a strange village.

Later in his career, McGoohan worked often on the detective show Columbo with his friend Peter Falk. He also had memorable movie roles, like Dr. Paul Ruth in Scanners (1981) and the powerful King Edward I in Braveheart (1995). He won several awards, including a BAFTA Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Patrick Joseph McGoohan was born in New York City on March 19, 1928. His parents, Thomas and Rose McGoohan, were Irish immigrants. Soon after he was born, his family moved back to Ireland. They lived in a place called Mullaghmore in County Leitrim.

Seven years later, they moved to England and settled in Sheffield. Patrick went to several schools there. During World War II, he was sent away for safety to Loughborough. He was good at math and boxing.

At 16, he left school and worked different jobs. He was a chicken farmer, a bank clerk, and a lorry driver. Then, he got a job at the Sheffield Repertory Theatre as a stage manager. One day, an actor got sick, and Patrick stepped in to replace him. This was the start of his acting career!

Becoming a Star

Early Roles and Big Breaks

In 1955, Patrick McGoohan acted in a play called Serious Charge in London's West End. He played a Church of England vicar. The famous director Orson Welles was very impressed by Patrick's acting. Welles even said Patrick "intimidated" him with his strong stage presence. He cast Patrick in his play Moby Dick—Rehearsed. Welles believed McGoohan could have been one of the biggest actors of his time.

Patrick's first TV appearance was in 1954. He also had small parts in movies like The Dam Busters (1955). In this movie, he played a guard with a short but memorable line. He also appeared in other films and TV shows during the 1950s.

Patrick signed a contract with the Rank Organisation, a big movie company. They often gave him roles as villains. After some disagreements, he left Rank. In 1960, he won a BAFTA Award for his acting.

His favorite stage role was in the play Brand by Henrik Ibsen. He won an award for this performance. This was his last stage role for many years.

Danger Man and Becoming a Spy Icon

Lew Grade, a TV production boss, asked Patrick McGoohan to star in a new spy series. Patrick agreed, but he had some important rules. He insisted that his character, John Drake, would always use his brain to solve problems, not just violence. And, surprisingly for a spy show, there would be no kissing!

The show, called Danger Man, started in 1960. It was a half-hour show made for American audiences. It became quite popular. After 39 episodes, the first series ended.

Patrick was even considered for the role of James Bond in Dr. No. However, being a Catholic, he turned down the role because of his moral beliefs. The success of the Bond movies, though, helped bring Danger Man back!

The Return of Danger Man and The Prisoner

In 1964, Danger Man returned as a one-hour show. Patrick had even more control over the series this time. The show became very popular, making him the highest-paid actor in the UK. It ran for almost three more years.

After filming the last episodes of Danger Man, Patrick told Lew Grade he wanted to try something new. Grade asked him to work on another project. Patrick then described an idea for a new series: a secret agent quits his job and is kidnapped. He wakes up in a strange, cheerful village where he is a prisoner. Grade loved the idea, and they shook hands on the deal. This became the famous show The Prisoner.

In The Prisoner, Patrick McGoohan was not only the main actor, playing Number Six, but also an executive producer. He wrote and directed several episodes too. Number Six spends the series trying to escape from "The Village" and find out who runs it. The show was filmed in the beautiful Italian-style village of Portmeirion in North Wales.

Later Career and Famous Roles

While making The Prisoner, Patrick also starred in the action movie Ice Station Zebra (1968). Critics praised his performance as a British spy.

In the 1970s, McGoohan began a long and successful connection with the TV series Columbo. He worked with his good friend Peter Falk, who played Columbo. Patrick won two Emmy Awards for his work on Columbo. He directed five episodes and appeared in four of them. He even wrote and produced some. His daughter, Catherine McGoohan, appeared with him in one episode.

Patrick also played villains in movies like Silver Streak (1976) and Escape from Alcatraz (1979), where he played the prison warden.

In the 1980s, he appeared in the science fiction movie Scanners (1981). In 1985, he was in his only Broadway play, Pack of Lies, and was nominated for an award.

In the 1990s, Patrick played King Edward I in the Oscar-winning movie Braveheart (1995). This role helped bring him back into the spotlight. He then appeared in A Time to Kill (1996) and The Phantom (1996).

His final acting role was in 2002, as the voice of Billy Bones in the animated movie Treasure Planet. That same year, he received an award for The Prisoner.

Personal Life

Patrick McGoohan married actress Joan Drummond on May 19, 1951. They had three children, including their daughter Catherine McGoohan. For many years, they lived in London. In the mid-1970s, they moved to Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles.

Death

Patrick McGoohan passed away on January 13, 2009, in Santa Monica, California. He was 80 years old. His family stated he died after a "short illness."

Filmography

Television Roles

Theatre Roles

Awards

• 1960: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor – Won
• 1975: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (for Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light) – Won
• 1990: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (for Columbo: Agenda for Murder) – Won