Patrick McGoohan 1928 - 2008
He was TVs "Secret Agent Man," John Drake, and an early "man in my life." His self possession, his cool, his easy intellect, all marked him as a very interesting fellow. Like "The Prisoner" (1968) I too rebelled against the enforced conformity of my suburban youth. He was a natural ally, a cool guy, who embodied the spirit of the Sixties as much as the Beatles or Emma Peal. He has finally escaped the manipulations and pursuit of Number Two and "The System" R.I.P.
" 'The Prisoner' was a television show of ideas -- the inalienable if inconvenient right to self in a world that demands your cooperation, if not capitulation -- which also distinguished it from pretty much every other television show I had ever seen. The fact that I was just then working out that my own junior high school was a kind of jail made its appearance timely and amplified its meaning, as did most everything else about that chaotic summer of the battlements." "
Robert LLoyd, L.A. Times
I hadn't heard he died. I grew up without a telly, so missed 'Dangerman'. But 'The Prisoner' became compulsive viewing, and retains its cult status all these years on. He made his mark.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I have heard of his death! He was quite a suave but likable character! Thank you for reminding me of some great distant viewing memories!
ReplyDeleteThe Prisoner is one of the top ten best TV series of all time. Iwas in a graduate seminar on Medieval allegory the second time I saw the series. I think I got some of the ideas for papers I wrote from it. Aloha, Cloudia.
ReplyDeleteGosh, he was gorgeous, and I loved his voice. Another good one gone. Aloha, Cloudia, from cold and foggy Seattle.
ReplyDeleteI also watched this serie on the TV.
ReplyDeleteI thought he was a pretty good actor, although I don't remember a lot that he was in.
ReplyDeleteHe was a handsome man and it was a good series .. RIP Mr McGoohan
ReplyDeleteOh my, that really is the passing of a pop culture icon. "The Prisoner" was one freaky show in it's era, all the better for the action being more cerebral than flat-out gore like so many these days. A show like that would never even get green-lighted now.
ReplyDeleteI loved the series The Prisoner. We visited Portmerrion where the Prisoner was filmed, I did a post about it here
ReplyDeletehttp://akelamalu.blogspot.com/2007/03/prisoner.html
if you're interested. x
I had not heard that he died. I liked his shows, but never had a crush on him.
ReplyDeleteI don't know this actor. He looks like he was quite the cool man in his time. Those are some eyes! I can see why he was a crush back then.
ReplyDeleteI just stopped by to soak up some Hawaiian sun. I didn't know he'd passed away. I used to watch him when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteI think, now that you've made me look back, that either my father was also a secret agent or he wished he was (his kids were his #2)...both Secret Agent and The prisoner were compulsory viewing for him.
ReplyDeleteBrother T: Grew up without a telly?! No wonder you know so much poetry and worth-while stuff!
ReplyDeleteGemma: aloha
Grandpa- You're making me feel so smart for enjoying the show!
Gran; ;-)
Claude: In Francais? Cool!
Charles: Thanx for your comment today!
Daryl: We agree on most everything, dont we ;-)
Deborah G: Freaky, cerebral, greenlighted. I love your vocab!
Ake: Cool! Hear that everyone? Let's go check out her post (while I try to figure out how to link to it).
Barbara M: Bet you liked horses better!
Sandy: Aloha! Good to see you here!
Kay: Hurry home to the warm!!
Walking Man: I'm thrilled to stir your memories and to perhaps inspire more of your extraordinary writing. Great stuff.
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ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting for me to read this blog. Thank you for it. I like such themes and everything connected to them. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon.
ReplyDeleteDon't stop posting such themes. I like to read stories like that. BTW add more pics :)
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