Nick Roman
January 14, 2009
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Actor and director Patrick McGoohan has died in Los Angeles after a brief illness. The 80-year-old McGoohan won two Emmy Awards as a co-star on the detective TV series "Columbo." He was featured in the big screen epics "Ice Station Zebra" and "Braveheart." But KPCC's Nick Roman says McGoohan's greatest accomplishment may have been a TV series 40 years ago.
Nick Roman: When he tired of playing secret agent John Drake on British TV for years, Patrick McGoohan cooked up a new series – "The Prisoner" – about a secret agent who quits but doesn't say why. He's snatched up and deposited in "The Village," a pleasant seaside place with pleasant cottages where the pleasant people are numbered.
Number Six, McGoohan's character, is told by his unnamed captors that he'll stay in "The Village" until he talks. He vows not to, ever.
Patrick McGoohan (as Number Six): I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own.
Roman: Week after week, Number Six realizes that's not true. He plots to escape. His plans are squelched by captors who see all, hear all, explain nothing.
Number Six: Who are you?
Number Two: The new Number Two.
Number Six: Who is Number One?
Number Two: You are Number Six.
Number Six: I am not a number!!! I am a free man!!
(Number Two laughs)
Roman: McGoohan turned out only 17 episodes of "The Prisoner." The British summer import captivated and confounded American TV viewers 40 years ago on CBS... then a decade later on PBS... and now on DVD.
McGoohan, a talented actor, writer and director, never seemed bothered that he was best known for "The Prisoner." He would have been part of AMC's upcoming remake of his classic TV series had his health allowed. The broadcast dates haven't been announced yet.
So until then – as Patrick McGoohan's Number Six would say – "Be seeing you."
