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Patrick Joseph McGoohanIrish and British actor
Date of Birth: 19.03.1928
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Patrick McGoohan
Patrick McGoohan was an Irish and British actor of American descent, with an extensive list of works on stage and screen. Born on March 19, 1928, in Queens, New York, McGoohan's parents were Irish immigrants who had come to the United States in search of a better life. However, the family returned to their homeland when Patrick was very young, and then moved to Sheffield, England, where he acquired a soft neutral accent that sounded equally native in both Britain and the States.
Early Life and Career
In Sheffield, Patrick attended St Vincent School, but during the start of World War II, children were evacuated to Loughborough, Leicestershire, where he completed his education at Ratcliffe College and excelled in mathematics and boxing. At the age of 16, Patrick left school and returned to Sheffield, where he raised chickens, drove a truck, and worked as a bank clerk before securing a place in the theater. When one of the actors fell ill, Patrick replaced him, thus beginning his acting career.
In 1955, McGoohan played the lead role in the West End production of "Serious Charge" as a priest accused of homosexuality. The play's author, Orson Welles, a famous American director who often worked in Europe, was so impressed by Patrick's performance that he invited him to participate in his theater to perform in the play "Rehearsal for Moby-Dick." Later, a film adaptation was made based on the book, but it has been lost, with no scenes or frames preserved. From this point on, his stage career became brilliant, but Patrick successfully combined stage work with film and television appearances.
Television Successes
One of Patrick McGoohan's most notable roles was that of English King Edward in Mel Gibson's "Braveheart." However, he gained widespread recognition for his roles in classic British television series. "The Prisoner" was a cult series that combines elements of detective, drama, science fiction, adventure, and spy genres. McGoohan played the role of a former military pilot who finds himself in the mysterious Village, where all the residents are identified by numbers instead of names. The main idea of the series is that a person with willpower and spirit cannot be broken by any system. A total of 17 episodes were filmed, with McGoohan himself writing the script for the final episode. The series became so popular and gained such a large fan base that McGoohan lost all hope of a private life and moved to Los Angeles for over 20 years, where celebrities are encountered at every turn, and where the British actor felt much calmer.
In the 1970s, Patrick appeared in four episodes of the police series "Columbo," each time playing a different murderer. For his work in "Columbo," McGoohan received two Emmy Awards. Another memorable role was that of the prison warden in the film "Escape from Alcatraz," in which McGoohan starred alongside Clint Eastwood.
Later Life and Legacy
Interestingly, Patrick McGoohan was originally offered the roles of Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" and Professor Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" film series, but he turned down both offers. In his youth, McGoohan dreamed of becoming a Catholic priest, but to the delight of his numerous fans, this dream did not come true.
In 1951, he married actress Joan Drummond, whom he was so in love with that, it is said, he wrote her love letters every day. The marriage was very happy, and the couple had three daughters - Katherine (1952), who also became an actress, Anne (1959), and Frances (1960).
Patrick McGoohan passed away on January 13, 2009, at the age of 80, at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, after a brief illness. His remains were cremated, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and a lasting impact on the world of television and film.
