Patrick Macnee obit

Patrick Macnee, star of 1960s TV series ‘The Avengers,’ dies

He was not on the list.

Patrick Macnee is best remembered for his role as John Steed, in 1960s spy show The Avengers – and, a decade later, in The New Avengers.

However the bowler-hatted secret agent took centre stage from series two onwards, appearing alongside a succession of female sidekicks including Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson and Diana Rigg as arguably his most famous assistant Emma Peel.

Prior to his breakthrough role in The Avengers, Patrick Macnee appeared in a wide range of television shows such as Kraft Theatre and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Before The Avengers, he had appeared in TV shows such as The Twilight Zone, Rawhide and Playhouse 90, among others.

Macnee passed away from natural causes with his family at his bedside in his home in Rancho Mirage, California. “He left behind a trove of memories and good wishes”. When asked ‘ What are you going to carry?’ he gave an epic answer: “‘An Umbrella”.

Evelyn paid his way to Eton, one of the U.K.’s most prestigious boarding schools, where he developed his acting skills before being expelled for bookmaking and selling erotic pictures to his schoolmates.

Macnee returned to London in the 1960s when production began on The Avengers.

Loosely modeled after James Bond, except with villains and threats that approached comic book and science fiction proportions, “The Avengers” became a showcase for Macnee’s cool understated elegance.

His son, Rupert Macnee, confirmed his death to the media. “I think the sadism in them is horrifying…. “We were very old mate from 1950’s and I have lot of happy moments with him”.

Goodness Gracious Me actor Sanjeev Bhaskar also paid a warm tribute to him, saying: “RIP Patrick Mcnee (sic)”.

He also played a record company boss in the film This Is Spinal Tap.

“The Kumars at No.42″ comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar described Patrick as the “Epitome of the British Gent”.

Filmography



Film

Year Title Role Notes ref

1938 Pygmalion Extra Uncredited

1943 The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Extra Uncredited

1948 The Fatal Night Tony

Hamlet Extra Uncredited

1949 The Small Back Room Man at Committee Meeting Uncredited

All Over the Town Mr. Vince

1950 The Girl Is Mine Hugh Hurcombe

Seven Days to Noon Bit Part Uncredited

Dick Barton at Bay Phillips Credited as Patrick McNee

The Elusive Pimpernel Hon. John Bristow Released in the United States as 'The Fighting Pimpernel

1951 Flesh and Blood Sutherland Uncredited

Scrooge Young Jacob Marley Released in the United States as A Christmas Carol

1955 Three Cases of Murder Guard Subaltern Uncredited

1956 The Battle of the River Plate Lieutenant Commander Ralph Medley

1957 Les Girls Sir Percy Also known as Cole Porter's Les Girls

Until They Sail Pvt. Duff (scenes deleted)

1970 Incense for the Damned Derek Longbow Also released as Bloodsuckers, Freedom Seeker and Doctors Wear Scarlet

1970 Mister Jerico Dudley Jerico

1978 Battlestar Galactica Imperious Leader Voice, Uncredited

1979 The Billion Dollar Threat Horatio Black

King Solomon's Treasure Captain John Good R.N. Macnee replaced Terry-Thomas.

1980 The Sea Wolves Major 'Yogi' Crossley

1981 The Howling Dr. George Waggner

The Hot Touch Vincent Reyblack

1982 Young Doctors in Love Jacobs

1983 Sweet Sixteen Dr. John Morgan

The Creature Wasn't Nice Dr. Stark Also known as Naked Space and Spaceship

1984 This Is Spinal Tap Sir Denis Eton-Hogg

1985 A View to a Kill Sir Godfrey Tibbett

Shadey Sir Cyril Landau

1988 Waxwork Sir Wilfred

Transformations Father Christopher

1989 Chill Factor Carl Lawton

Lobster Man From Mars Professor Plocostomos

Masque of the Red Death Machiavel

Eye of the Widow Andrew Marcus

1992 Waxwork II: Lost in Time Sir Wilfred

1993 King B: A Life in the Movies Himself

1998 The Avengers Invisible Jones, a Ministry Agent Voice only. Adaptation of the 1960s TV series Macnee had starred in

2003 The Low Budget Time Machine Dr. Ballard (final film role)



Television

Year Title Role Notes ref

1953 Tales of Adventure Roger Sudden

1955 On Camera Guest star Recurring

1958 The Veil Constable Hawton Episode: "Vision of Crime"

1959 The Twilight Zone First Officer Episode: "Judgment Night"

Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond Fiancé

1959−60 The Swamp Fox British Captain Main cast

1961−1969 The Avengers John Steed Main cast

1964 The Importance of Being Earnest Algernon Moncrieff TV adaptation for Armchair Theatre

1971 Alias Smith and Jones Norman Alexander 1 episode

1975 Columbo Capt. Gibbon Episode:Columbo: Troubled Waters

1976 Sherlock Holmes in New York Dr. Watson TV film

1976−77 The New Avengers John Steed Main cast

1977 Dead of Night Dr. Gheria TV film

1978 Evening in Byzantium Ian Waldeigh TV film

Battlestar Galactica Imperious Leader / Count Iblis

1980 The Littlest Hobo Elmer Episode: "Diamonds Are a Dog's Best Friend" (S 1:Ep 18)

1982 Rehearsal for Murder David Mathews TV film

1982−83 Gavilan Milo Bentley Main cast

1983 Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. Sir John Raleigh A reunion telefilm subtitled The Fifteen Years Later Affair was broadcast on CBS in America on 5 April 1983, with Vaughn and McCallum reprising their roles, and Macnee replacing Leo G. Carroll as the head of U.N.C.L.E. A framed picture of Carroll appeared on his desk.

For the Term of His Natural Life Major Vickers Miniseries [49][50]

1984 Empire Calvin Cromwell Main cast

1985 Lime Street Sir Geoffrey Rimbatten Main cast

1989 Around the World in 80 Days Ralph Gautier Miniseries

Dick Francis: Blood Sport Geoffrey Keeble

Dick Francis: In the Frame Geoffrey Keeble

Dick Francis: Twice Shy Geoffrey Keeble

The Return of Sam McCloud Tom Jamison TV Movie of the series

1990−92 Super Force Voice of E.B. Hungerford

1991 Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady Dr. Watson TV film

The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw Sir Colin Miniseries

1992 Incident at Victoria Falls Dr. Watson TV film

1993 The Hound of London Sherlock Holmes TV film

1994 Thunder in Paradise Edward Whitaker Main cast

1996 The Case of the Temporal Nexus Sherlock Holmes TV film

1997−98 Night Man Dr. Walton Recurring

1997 Spy Game Mr. Black Episode:"Why Spy?" (S 1:Ep 1 −Pilot)

Light Lunch Himself Episode: "The Avengers... Still Kinky After All These Years" (S 1:Ep 42)

Diagnosis Murder Bernard Garrison Episode: "Discards" (S 5:Ep 10)

1999 Nancherrow Lord Peter Awliscombe TV film

Through the Keyhole House Owner Episode: "29 March 1999" (S 3:Ep 1)

2000 Family Law Sir Thomas Matthews Episode: "Second Chance" (S 1:21)

2001 Frasier Cecil Headley Episode: "The Show Must Go Off" (S 8"EP 12)

2003 That Was the Week We Watched Himself Episode: "11–17 April 1970" (S 1:Ep 2)

2005 After They Were Famous Himself Episode: "Crimefighters" (S 4:Ep 7)



Documentaries



Real Ghost Stories: The Dead and the Restless (1997)

Real Ghost Stories: The Wild West of the Dead (1997)

Real Ghost Stories: Spirits, Graveyards & Ghostbusters (1997)

Real Ghost Stories: The Poltergeists (1997)

Real Ghost Stories: The London Underworld & Beyond (1997)

Unexplained Mysteries: Nostradamus (1999 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.)

Unexplained Mysteries: Out of Body Experience (1999 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.)

Unexplained Mysteries: Haunted Historic Sites (1999 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.)

Unexplained Mysteries: Miracle Healings (2000 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.)

Unexplained Mysteries: World of Satanism (2000 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.)

Unexplained Mysteries: Jack The Ripper (2001 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.)

Unexplained Mysteries: Cryonics (2001 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.)

Ian Fleming: 007's Creator (2000)

The Spirit of Diana (2003

Unlocking DaVinci's Code (2004)

The Witnessing of Angels (2010)

Real Ghost Stories: Hollywood Ghosts (2010)