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SCRIPTWRITER. TV. FILM. THEATRE. RADIO, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
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Thursday 15 January 2009

(122) The Final Escape

We bid a sad farewell to two top cult fantasy character actors from the 60s and 70s.

Patrick McGoohan (1928 - 2009)



After a short illness Patrick McGoohan, the Emmy-winning actor who created and starred in the cult classic television show "The Prisoner," died on Tuesday in Los Angeles . He was 80.

He first found fame as super spy John Drake in the world wide hit TV series "Dangerman" in 1964 which ran for four seasons and countless repeats.
Growing weary of playing Drake, McGoohan pitched to producers the surreal and cerebral "The Prisoner" to give himself a challenge.

The series ran for just 17 episodes in 1967, but was so ahead of its time, its cultural impact remains, McGoohan's Number Six becoming one of the most iconic characters of all time, with his all time cult favorite catchphrase " I am not a number, I am a free man!"

Ricardo Montalban ( 1920 - 2009)



Ricardo Montalban passed away on Wednesday morning at his home, aged 88.
Montalban was already a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946 to star in splashy musicals.

He was best known as the mysterious, white-suited proprietor of a certain spooky tropical island, with his cult catchphrase, "I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island."
The show, a world wide hit ran from 1978 to 1984, and is still a re-run favourite.

He is also fondly remembered as Star Treks best ever baddie, Khan Noonien Singh, who first tried to steal the Enterprise in the classic Star Trek episode "Space Seed" and then "killed" Spock in "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan."


R.I.P. guys and thanks for the memories.

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