PATRICK McGOOHAN
19.03.1928 - 13.01.2009

Patrick McGoohan ist mit NUMMER 6 tatsächlich dorthin gegangen, wo nie ein mensch zuvor gewesen ist. B. Frank

Trotz einer reichhaltigen filmografie wird McGoohan als erfinder, hauptdarsteller und produzent der serie auf immer und ewig mit NUMMER 6 in verbindung gebracht werden, und zwar zu recht.

ARTWORK BY BRIAN GORMAN

Irgendwie ist es bezeichnend, dass nahezu alle anglo-amerikanischen und, soweit gesehen, auch französischen quellen McGoohans leistung bei THE PRISONER verorten, während deutsche standardnachrufe auf einige seiner hierzulande kaum (mehr) bekannten kinofilme als "filmbösewicht" abheben - was für ein quatsch. Der bösewicht, wenn denn einer, war er in den drei episoden der serie COLUMBO, und das ist fernsehen.

NACHRUF VON ROGER LANGLEY (ENGLISCH)
MICHAEL BRÜNE: WÜRDIGUNG IN VERSEN DEUTSCH - ENGLISCH
McGOOHANS FILMOGRAFIE
McGOOHAN ALS BRAND
LISTE ALLER BEKANNTEN McGOOHAN-INTERVIEWS
McGOOHAN KONDOLENZBUCH (PDF)
HORST NAUMANN, NUMMER SECHS-SYNCHRONSPRECHER
MEHR: 2019 - 50 JAHRE NUMMER 6
QUELLEN: VILLAGE BOOKSHELF

PATRICK McGOOHAN:
EINE WÜRDIGUNG IN VERSEN

Von Michael Brüne

1. Danke, Herr Jedermann,
für Ihre ANKUNFT in unserer schönen neuen Welt.
Ihre Herausforderung für denkende Menschen ist der Ruf zur Freiheit,
dargestellt im eindrucksvollen ABC des GEFANGENEN NUMMER 6.

2. Ihre Village-Welt hat uns den Entwurf der Zukunft gezeigt:
eine Gesellschaft, in der das Individuum SCHACHMATT gesetzt wird.
Wie ein HAMMERSCHLAG AUF DEN AMBOSS werden Menschen manipuliert
und durch Anwendung von Technik und Psychologie ständig kontrolliert.

3. Ich hoffe, Sie haben in Ihrem Leben gefunden, was bisher noch fehlte,
und es richtig eingesetzt, um wieder zu LEBEN IN HARMONIE.
Ich bin sicher, Sie brauchen keinerlei VERÄNDERUNG IM DENKEN,
um das Recht des Individuums zu beanspruchen, FÜR ALLE FREI, der wahre Freie zu sein.

4. Weder DER GENERAL, noch die FRAU IN WEISS, DIE SICH TOD NENNT,
und auch nicht DER SCHIZOIDE sind in der Lage Ihr Werk zu zerstören.
Da ist der TOTENTANZ und jetzt sogar – voll Trauer – IST IHR BEGRÄBNIS.
Aber Ihr Geist ist weiterhin lebendig – bei uns und noch mehr bei der wahren Nummer Eins, dem Herrn!

5. Sir, Sie hatten völlig recht, immer wieder vehement zu protestieren:
„ICH BIN KEINE NUMMER! ICH BIN EIN FREIER MENSCH!“
Und ich denke, einige frühere Freude werden Ihnen heute zustimmen,
wie der ewige Geheimagent, Dr. Syn und Rafferty und all die anderen.

6. Mögen DIE GLOCKEN VON BIG BEN zu Ihrer ewigen Heimkehr läuten
und die Sonne nun Ihr Herz und Ihre Seele für immer erleuchten!
VERLASS MICH NICHT, MEIN LIEBLING! wird Ihre Familie Ihnen jetzt nachrufen.
Und wir werden in jedem März an Sie denken und danken: HERZLICHEN GLÜCKWUNSCH!

7. ES WAR EINMAL und wird auch wieder sein, dass wir alle im Frieden sind.
Denn nach dem großen ABGANG ist nun auch der Himmel offen.
Alles was, wir im Leben brauchen, ist Liebe – immer und überall!
Und so hoffe ich, WIR SEHEN UNS dereinst im Himmel wieder

WALK OF FAME:EIN STERN FÜR PATRICK McGOOHAN SEIT 2011 AM BAHNHOF
ELSTREE-BOREHAMWOOD IN LONDON

JOAN DRUMMOND, PATRICK'S WITWE,
GAB DIESE ERKLÄRUNG AB:

Patrick suchte bekanntheit und wertschätzung für seine arbeit, nicht als star. Mit dem, was er tat, bezog er sich immer auf das leben. Und im leben haben wir nicht für alles eine antwort. Die größte ehre, die man Patrick erweisen kann, ist schlicht: "Erfahre es!" Das leben ist ein mysterium.

NACHRUF (AUSSCHNITT) DER PACIFIC PALISADES POST VOM 22.01.2009 -
DER ZEITUNG VON McGOOHANS KALIFORNISCHEM WOHNORT

Contact Imminent, die SIX OF ONE-mitgliederzeitschrift, veröffentlichte eine die Tribute Edition. Darin enthalten sind kommentare von beteiligten schauspielern wie Peter Wyngarde (Nummer Zwei in "Schachmatt"), Jane Merrow (Alison in "The Schizoid Man"), Ian L. Rakoff, (co-autor der episode "Hamony"), Tony Sloman (musikarchivar), John S. Smith (tonmeister) und Dave Barrie, gründer der Prisoner Appreciation Society SIX OF ONE u.v.a. einträge von fans auf der SIX-OF-ONE-homepage. Roger Langley, langjähriges SIX OF ONE- teammitglied und McGoohans biograf, hat eine titelbildgalerie mit McGoohan-covers verschiedener zeitschriften und magazine zusammengestellt. Darunter auch das titelbild der TV-beilage des deutschen magazins Stern, erschienen anlässlich der ausstrahlung von NUMMER 6 beim sender Arte im Juli und August 2010.

Patrick McGoohan zum 6. todestag am 13. Januar.
Grafik von Manfred Brand

Ein Nachruf von Roger Langley

Langley ist mitglied langjähriges organisationsmitglied von SIX OF ONE The Prisoner Appreciation Society, und McGoohans biograf: "Patrick McGoohan: Danger Man or Prisoner?" Das buch basiert auf Langleys langjährigen kontakten und gesprächen mit dem schauspieler. Der nachruf steht nur auf englisch zur verfügung.

Obituary of the screen star and theatrical actor

The passing of actor Patrick Joseph McGoohan, on 13th January, 2009, not far short of his eighty-first birthday, will be seen as both a great loss within theatrical and entertainment circles, as well as amongst worldwide admirers of him as a screen icon and cult figure. McGoohan was the star of and driving force behind two memorable British television classics of the sixties, DANGER MAN (called SECRET AGENT in the US) and THE PRISONER. Although often remembered primarily for those productions, the actor also had many stage and cinema screen roles, as well as assorted directorial and scriptwriting undertakings.

McGoohan was born in the New York neighbourhood of Queens, in the district of Astoria, on 19th March, 1928. His Irish parents, Catholics Thomas and Rose, had emigrated there in 1925, but returned to their native country when their son was six months old. Back in the homeland, a decade followed in which three daughters, Catherine, Anne and Frances, were born. Continuing attempts to make a decent living from farming proved unsustainable, leading to a decision to move to Britain, in the year before the outbreak of war.
The north of England was chosen and the family settled in the city of Sheffield, which remained their home for many years. The young Patrick was evacuated during the war to Ratcliffe College, in Leicestershire and by the time he returned home in 1944, war was over and he was of an age to take a few lowly employments. He tried a spell in a factory, a bank and finally a chicken farm, although an allergy to feathers caused a severe resurgence of achildhood bronchial asthma condition.

The youth turned to acting in his leisure time, finding the experience liberating. After a number of notable youth club and amateur drama roles, one day McGoohan walked into the Sheffield Playhouse theatre, to obtain work within its repertory company. He was taken on and quickly moved up from stagehand to assistant stage manager, gradually taking small parts and latterly becoming a respected regular performer. He became the company’s leading man and at the close of the 1940s, McGoohan met a young actress, Joan Drummond, who had joined the repertory group. After a respectable period of courtship, reflecting Joan’s young age, the couple married in 1951 and in the ensuing years had three daughters. The McGoohans enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage, always keeping their personal lives away from the glare of the showbusiness publicity machine.

Needing more money to maintain his wife and daughters, McGoohan joined other repertory companies around Britain and went on to appear in several productions in London’s West End. He was highly rated in the Orson Welles production of “Moby Dick” (1955) and received excellent reviews for his performance in “Serious Charge” (1955), playing a vicar accused of impropriety. His crowning glory was the portrayal of a tortured priest in Ibsen’s “Brand” (1959), with a performance being screened by the BBC. The run of several weeks gained McGoohan high critical praise and a Best Actor award.

Throughout the 1950s, the actor undertook many roles, often in costume dramas, on both the BBC and emerging ITV channels. He also appeared in some filmed actionadventure series at the time. However, a movie career began slowly, with bit parts such as RAF guard in "The Dam Busters" (1954), seaman in "Passage Home" (1955) and therapist in "I Am a Camera" (1955). These small roles were followed by McGoohan testing for Rank and his entry into their ‘Charm School’ for grooming likely male pin-up material. At the end of the decade he had made a quartet of films with the renowned studio, including “High Tide at Noon” (1957), "The Gypsy and the Gentleman" (1957) and "Nor the Moon by Night" (1958). However, he secured an early release from his contract, disliking all the publicity.

McGoohan received a second Best Actor award for the TV play "The Greatest Man in the World" (1958). He also impressed TV mogul Lew Grade, with his appearance in the ITV play "The Big Knife" (1958). Grade saw the potential of the tall actor’s handsome looks, combined with a strong screen presence and so swiftly signed him up for ATV’s new spy show DANGER MAN. The production ran, with breaks, from 1960 to 1966, its star being the highest paid on television. However, after completion of 86 episodes, McGoohan grew tired of the repetitive format. He moved on to create his own enigmatic work, THE PRISONER (1967), a series still screened regularly around the world and discussed at length. Originally, the show did not enjoy wide critical acclaim, or popular approval, leading to its star leaving Britain. After a spell in Switzerland, the actor relocated to the country of his birth, the United States, where he resided for the rest of his life.

McGoohan landed some good roles in US 1970s movies, including "The Moonshine War" (1970) and "Silver Streak" (1976), as well as a directorial debut with "Catch my Soul" (1974), being a rock adaptation of the successful Jack Good stage musical. However, a big screen break came with the blockbuster "Ice Station Zebra" (1968), in which McGoohan appeared alongside star actors Rock Hudson and Ernest Borgnine. The Cinerama production - about a nuclear submarine conspiracy - became Howard Hughes' favourite
movie, watched obsessively by him, almost a hundred times. During filming, McGoohan had to be rescued from a flooded chamber by a diver who freed his trapped foot, saving his life.

McGoohan’s foray into US television started with the first of several highly popular guest appearances in close friend Peter Falk’s COLUMBO detective mysteries (1974 - 2001).

He was the only guest ever to receive two Emmy awards for different COLUMBO roles. Daughters Catherine and Anne McGoohan appeared in separate COLUMBO stories. The series’ lead star, Peter Falk, said of his friend, "Incidentally, in all my years I have never played a scene with another actor who commanded my attention the way Pat did."
Next, McGoohan took the lead role in a US thirteen part medical drama series, "Rafferty" (1977) and had several other television appearances during the latter part of the last century. In the cinema world the actor did not shy from varied and experimental roles.

He teamed up once more with former fellow Prisoner actor Alexis Kanner, who produced and directed the movie KINGS AND DESPERATE MEN (1981), the men sharing dual lead roles. Other mainstream cinema parts continued to provide work for the actor during the eighties.
In the next decade, McGoohan would find no less than four of his movies being released within a few years: "The Phantom" (1996), "Hysteria" (1998), John Grisham’s thriller "A Time to Kill" (1996) and Mel Gibson’s "Braveheart" (1995), in which McGoohan’s portrayal of Edward I was acclaimed. Participation as a voice actor in cartoon productions such as "The Simpsons" (1999), or the Walt Disney animated movie "Treasure Planet" (2002) also gave McGoohan added strings to his acting bow. However, there were to be no further screen appearances for him in the twenty-first century and although he was rumoured to be offered a cameo part in the coming remake of THE PRISONER, this did not materialise.

Throughout his long career, McGoohan’s roles embraced differing screen genres:
cult shockers like SCANNERS (1981), offbeat dramas such as "All Night Long" (1961) and a pair of early Disney audience-pleasers, "The Three Lives of Thomasina" (1963) and "Dr. Syn - Alias the Scarecrow" (1963). His last filmed interview was for the 2008 DVD release of "Dr. Syn". One other Disney film was the ‘mini monster movie’ "Baby…Secret of the Lost Legend" (1985). In tough guy mode, McGoohan appeared in movies like "Hell Drivers" (1957) and the TV film "The Hard Way" (1979), yet was easily able to embrace sensitive or difficult parts, such as "The Quare Fellow" (1962), or "Life For Ruth" (1962). The former involved playing a prison guard at an execution, the latter portraying a doctor trying to save a dying child.
There were also various costume screen drama roles, including "Mary, Queen of Scots" (1971), "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1976, for TV) and "Jamaica Inn" (1982, a TV mini-series). In these, the actor sometimes did his own stunts, including a risky clifftop sword fight. Away from the cameras, McGoohan took part in radio interviews and a chat session with Canadian students, as part of a sociological educational course based around THE PRISONER. He appeared on ITV in 1982 in the nostalgia show "Greatest Hits", talking on a mocked-up PRISONER set and also collaborated on Channel 4’s 1983 documentary, "Six into One: The Prisoner File". At that time the actor even made his own quirky ‘documentary’ about the cult series, although the material was never screened.

Despite McGoohan’s love of the acting profession, some people in the world of television and film-making found him to be difficult and even outspoken. Others would declare him a joy to work with, a dedicated soul and a man of high principles. In his private life, the actor fiercely protected his family from the media. His religious beliefs, rejection of the material world and condemnation of sexual liberalism, sometimes led to him being cast as a stern or serious character. He turned in a chilling performance as the warden in ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (1979) and a cold portrayal of a strict father in "Trespasses" (1987), shot in New Zealand.

McGoohan made films, or TV programmes, in several countries, including Canada, Africa, Ireland and even a 1970s ‘spaghetti western’, in Italy. Many in the business felt that he could have become the Gielgud or Olivier of his generation. Dismay was expressed when the actor seemed to leave behind the British stage and look towards Hollywood, or the US TV industry. Even his own comments about both establishments were ambivalent,sometimes praising the US system of fast turn-around production, whilst at other times objecting to the ‘conveyer belt’ method of working. His last theatrical role came in 1985, during a Broadway run of "Pack of Lies", a spy drama.

McGoohan accepted the position of honorary president of the official appreciation society for THE PRISONER at the start of 1977. For more than three decades, he received all the mailings and bulletins from the society, as well as regular invitations to attend conventions. Sadly, the actor never returned to the filming location of the cult series, Portmeirion in North Wales, although members of the society Six of One continue to hold annual conventions there and celebrate the actor’s life and screen career. During McGoohan’s later years, living in the plush Pacific Palisades suburb of California, wife Joan enjoyed a career as a successful high-end market realtor. In 2008, at the age of eighty McGoohan became a great-grandfather.
At this time, plans were announced for a remake of THE PRISONER, due to air at the end of 2009, something with which McGoohan would neither be involved, nor see the finished results.

Roger Langley: "I remember the star - a term McGoohan hated - as a man of integrity, a person who retained that 'Irish twinkle in his eye', being even a reluctant mentor for thousands of admirers around the world, as a result of the principled characters portrayed by him and his own moral standpoint. Patrick McGoohan was fond of saying, "The sky’s the limit" and his memorable catchphrase, from THE PRISONER, was "Be seeing you”.

PUBLISHED IN THE SIX-OF-ONE TRIBUTE EDITION, MARCH 2009

PATRICK McGOOHAN
19.03.1928 - 13.01.2009

The creator, main actor and producer of the series, born March 19th, 1928, died January 13th, 2009. Following his death lots of obituaries were published in newspapers and online magazines. The above linklist shows German contributions and only few in English. The appreciative poem is by Michael Brüne (see below).

His ample filmography cannot conceal that he will always be remembered in connection with THE PRISONER. And that's quite alright.

ARTWORK BY STEVE RAINES

ARTWORK BY BRIAN GORMAN

OBITUARY BY ROGER LANGLEY (ENGLISH)
McGOOHAN FILMOGRAPHY
LIST OF KNOWN McGOOHAN INTERVIEWS
McGOOHAN TRIBUTES (PDF)

JOAN DRUMMOND, PATRICK'S WIFE
ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

Patrick wanted to be known and appreciated for his work, not as a star. In his work he tried to relate to life, and in life we don't have all of the answers. The greatest honor that you can pay Patrick is simply, "That you get it!" Life is a mystery!

OBITUARY (CUTOUT) OF THE PACIFIC PALISADES POST DATED JAN. 22nd, 2009,
McGOOHAN'S LOCAL CALIFORNIAN NEWSPAPER

WALK OF FAME:A STAR FOR THE STAR PATRICK McGOOHAN
SINCE 2011 AT ELSTREE-BOREHAMWOOD STATION IN LONDON

Contact Imminent, the SIX OF ONEsociety magazine produced a Tribute Edition. Contained therein are comments by various people like actors Peter Wyngarde (Number Two of "Checkmate"), Jane Merrow (Alison in "The Schizoid Man"), Ian L. Rakoff, (co-author the "Living In Hamony" episode), Tony Sloman (archivist who acquired and administered the music used in the series), John S. Smith (sound editor) and Dave Barrie, founder of the Prisoner Appreciation Society SIX OF ONE and many more fan contributions on the SIX OF ONEwebpage. Long-time team member and McGoohan biographer Roger Langley has compiled a gallery of magazine covers displaying McGoohan's face. Among them one cover of the TV supplement of the German Stern magazine published when THE PRISONER was re-screened on Arte TV station in July and August 2010.

DEDICATED TO PATRICK McGOOHAN

By Michael Brüne

1. Thank You, Mr. Everyman,
for your ARRIVAL in our brave new world.
Your gift to thinking people was the challenge of freedom
with your imagination and impressive A.B.C. of THE PRISONER.

2. Your Village showed us the pattern of the future:
A society in which the individual is given CHECKMATE.
Like a HAMMER INTO ANVIL the people are manipulated
in constant surveillance by many Rovers today.

3. I hope you've found the missing link in your life
and put it together for LIVING IN HARMONY again.
I'm sure, you need no CHANGE OF MIND,
to keep the right of an individual to be FREE FOR ALL.

4. Neither THE GENERAL, nor THE GIRL WHO WAS DEATH,
not even THE SCHIZOID MAN will be able to destroy your work.
There is a DANCE OF THE DEAD and now sadly IT'S YOUR FUNERAL.
But your spirit is still alive - with us and the true Number One, the Lord!

5. Sir, You are right to proclaim:
„I’M NOT A NUMBER! - I'M A FREE MAN! - I'M A PERSON!"
And I think, some former friends of you will agree:
like Danger Man, Dr. Syn and Rafferty.

6. May the CHIMES OF BIG BEN ring to your eternal homecoming
and the sun shine in your heart and your soul forever!
DO NOT FORSAKE ME OH MY DARLING! your family calls.
And we will remember you always in March with MANY HAPPY RETURNS!

7. ONCE UPON A TIME all of us were gathering in peace
and after FALL OUT the sky was no longer the limit.
All we need is love always and everywhere.
And so I hope to BE SEEING YOU once more in heaven!

PUBLISHED IN THE SIX-OF-ONE TRIBUTE EDITION, MARCH 2009