---
name: "Patrick McGoohan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/patrick-mcgoohan"
fi1m_id: "patrick-mcgoohan"
imdb_id: "nm0001526"
tmdb_id: 2463
wikidata_id: "Q298908"
roles: ["Actor","Director","Writer"]
born: "19 March 1928"
died: "13 January 2009"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-07T04:24:09.739186+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Patrick McGoohan

## Identity

Patrick McGoohan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/patrick-mcgoohan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** patrick-mcgoohan
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001526
- **TMDB ID:** 2463
- **Wikidata ID:** Q298908
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_McGoohan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298908, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001526/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2463

Actor and director. Born 19 March 1928 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 13 January 2009.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director, Writer
- **Born:** 19 March 1928, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 13 January 2009
- **Active:** 1967–1996
- **Also known as:** Joseph Serf, Paddy Fitz, Патрік МакГуен, Patrick Joseph McGoohan, پاتریک مک‌گوهان
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 4 acting, 2 directing
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 2 Emmys (2 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (1), 1970s 77 (3), 1990s 62 (2)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Thriller 3, Action 2, Crime 2, Comedy 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $460m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_McGoohan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298908, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001526/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2463

## Streaming the US now

- **Peacock:** [*Columbo*](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md) (86)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Prisoner*](https://film.one/tv/the-prisoner.md) (84)
- **Hulu:** [*Escape from Alcatraz*](https://film.one/film/escape-from-alcatraz.md) (82)
- **Apple TV:** [*Braveheart*](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md) (68)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Patrick McGoohan

> Patrick McGoohan makes stubbornness gripping, with clipped speech and a stare that offers little comfort. His acting and direction give *The Prisoner* much of its force, though we sometimes wish he would leave more room for doubt.

Patrick McGoohan holds a stare long enough to make friendliness seem beside the point. In *The Prisoner* (1967), his Number Six has to remain difficult when agreement would make life easier, and we believe that he will. The clipped delivery gives each answer the firmness of a decision already taken. Warmth is scarce, but adding it would weaken the stubbornness the Village authorities are trying to overcome. It is a gripping performance, even when spending time with the man is hard work.

*Danger Man* (1960–68) had established him as the secret agent John Drake before he conceived *The Prisoner*. The move matters because he was now helping determine the pressures on his character as well as playing the man who resisted them. Later film work included *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979) and King Edward the First in *Braveheart* (1995). He also acted, wrote and directed for *Columbo*. Those credits are worth remembering, but *The Prisoner* gives us the clearest reason to consider his acting and directing together.

McGoohan also wrote, directed and produced *The Prisoner*, and the programme shares his performance’s severity. George Markstein’s contribution as script editor and co-creator is a reason not to treat it as a solo achievement. The writing works best when it trusts the setting and the actors instead of insisting on what we should think. We felt uneasy watching it because the Village made familiar surroundings seem unsafe.

The difficulty comes when stubbornness leaves too little space for uncertainty. Sometimes the people running the Village seem to be there merely to prove Number Six right, and the writing presses a case the setting has already made. We can admire his determination while wishing someone would be allowed to trouble it more convincingly. The solemnity becomes wearing, but it does not cancel the programme’s grip. Start with *The Prisoner*, provided an agreeable leading man is not a condition of the evening.

## Biography

Patrick McGoohan was an Irish-American actor, director, producer and writer. Born in New York City on 19 March 1928 to Irish parents, he was raised in Ireland and England. He began his career on the British stage in the 1950s and became known for the lead role of secret agent John Drake in the ITC series *Danger Man* (1960–68), also broadcast as *Secret Agent* in the United States.

McGoohan created, produced and starred in the surreal series *The Prisoner* (1967–68) as Number Six. He wrote and directed several episodes, sometimes under the pseudonyms Joseph Serf and Paddy Fitz. Later credits included four guest appearances as murderers in *Columbo* (for which he won two Emmy Awards), David Cronenberg’s *Scanners* (1981) and the role of King Edward I in *Braveheart* (1995). He died in Santa Monica, California, on 13 January 2009.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, screenonline.org.uk.*

## On Fi1m (6)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *A Time to Kill* (1996), Fi1m 55, as Judge Omar Noose — [page](https://film.one/film/a-time-to-kill.md)
- *Braveheart* (1995), Fi1m 68, as King Edward — [page](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md)
- *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979), Fi1m 82, as Warden — [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-alcatraz.md)
- *Silver Streak* (1976), Fi1m 63, as Roger Devereau — [page](https://film.one/film/silver-streak.md)

### Directed (2)

- *Columbo* (1971), Fi1m 86, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *The Prisoner* (1967), Fi1m 84, as Number Six — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-prisoner.md)

## Complete filmography (66)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Walt Disney Treasures - Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh* (2008), as Dr. Christopher Syn / The Scarecrow (archive footage)
- *The Making of the Prisoner* (2007), Actor
- *Treasure Planet* (2002), as Billy Bones (voice)
- *In Search of the Prisoner* (2001), as Number Six (archive footage)
- *Hysteria* (1997), as Dr. Harvey Langston
- *A Time to Kill* (1996), as Judge Omar Noose — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/a-time-to-kill.md)
- *The Phantom* (1996), as Phantom's Dad
- *Sad?* (1996), as Number Six (archive footage)
- *Braveheart* (1995), as King Edward — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md)
- *The Best of Friends* (1991), as George Bernard Shaw
- *The Prisoner Video Companion* (1990), as Number 6
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Number 6 (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *The Laughing Prisoner* (1987), as Number Six
- *Of Pure Blood* (1986), as Dr. Felix Neumann
- *Three Sovereigns for Sarah* (1985), as Chief Magistrate
- *Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend* (1985), as Doctor Eric Kiviat
- *Three Sovereigns for Sarah* (1985), series, as Chief Magistrate
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Attorney Oliver Quayle
- *Trespasses* (1984), as Fred Wells
- *Jamaica Inn* (1983), as Joss Merlyn
- *Jamaica Inn* (1983), series, as Joss Merlyn
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Chief Magistrate
- *Kings and Desperate Men* (1981), as John Kingsley
- *Scanners* (1981), as Dr. Paul Ruth
- *The Hard Way* (1980), as John Connor
- *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979), as Warden — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-alcatraz.md)
- *Brass Target* (1978), as Col. Mike McCauley
- *Rafferty* (1977), series, as Dr. Sidney Rafferty · Director
- *The Man in the Iron Mask* (1977), as Fouchet
- *Silver Streak* (1976), as Roger Devereau — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/silver-streak.md)
- *A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot* (1975), as Major Cabot
- *Catch My Soul* (1974), Director
- *Mary, Queen of Scots* (1971), as James Stuart
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Nelson Brenner, Oscar Finch, Eric Prince · Director, Writer — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *The Moonshine War* (1970), as Frank Long
- *Koroshi* (1968), as John Drake
- *Ice Station Zebra* (1968), as David Jones
- *Journey Into Darkness* (1968), as Host
- *The Prisoner* (1967), series, as Number Six · Director, Producer, Writer, Creator — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-prisoner.md)
- *The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh* (1964), series, as Dr. Christopher Syn
- *The Three Lives of Thomasina* (1963), as Andrew McDhui
- *Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow* (1963), as Dr. Christopher Syn / The Scarecrow
- *The Quare Fellow* (1962), as Thomas Crimmin
- *Life for Ruth* (1962), as Dr Brown
- *All Night Long* (1962), as Johnny Cousin
- *Serjeant Musgrave's Dance* (1961), as Sjt. Musgrave
- *Two Living, One Dead* (1961), as Erik Berger
- *The Man Out There* (1961), as The Man - Nicholai Soloviov
- *Danger Man* (1960), series, as John Drake · Director
- *Brand* (1959), as Brand
- *The Greatest Man in the World* (1958), as Jack 'Pal' Smurch
- *Nor the Moon by Night* (1958), as Andrew Miller
- *The Gypsy and the Gentleman* (1958), as Jess
- *Hell Drivers* (1957), as C. 'Red' Redman
- *High Tide at Noon* (1957), as Simon Breck
- *Zarak* (1956), as Moor Larkin
- *The Adventures of Sir Lancelot* (1956), series, as Sir Glavin
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Jack 'Pal' Smurch, 'The Man' - Nicholai Soloviov
- *Folio* (1955), series, as Michael O'Riordan
- *I Am a Camera* (1955), as Swedish Water Therapist
- *Moby Dick—Rehearsed* (1955), as A Serious Actor /Starbuck
- *The Dam Busters* (1955), as Guard at Door (uncredited)
- *The Dark Avenger* (1955), as English Soldier (uncredited)
- *Passage Home* (1955), as Martin McIsaacs
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Christopher Syn / Scarecrow of Romney Marsh
- *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Seth Makepeace

## Gallery

- ![Patrick McGoohan](https://film.one/media/person/60758/gallery-376a46df7177.png) Patrick McGoohan — AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/McGoohanAllnightlongcrop1.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![This is a photo of listed building number (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/60758/gallery-cd8fb21b0457.jpg) This is a photo of listed building number (2023) — No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/White_Horses%2C_Portmeirion%2C_August_2023_01.jpg/1280px-White_Horses%2C_Portmeirion%2C_August_2023_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Patrick McGoohan](https://film.one/media/person/60758/gallery-5f5d83dc0921.jpg) Patrick McGoohan — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick McGoohan](https://film.one/media/person/60758/gallery-bce8c4906e3c.jpg) Patrick McGoohan — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick McGoohan](https://film.one/media/person/60758/gallery-e620f939c715.jpg) Patrick McGoohan — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick McGoohan](https://film.one/media/person/60758/gallery-f3a254efe50a.jpg) Patrick McGoohan — Image via TMDB
- ![Patrick McGoohan](https://film.one/media/person/60758/gallery-8c059a907e01.jpg) Patrick McGoohan — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won

- 1990: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *Columbo*
- 1975: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (won), for *Columbo*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/patrick-mcgoohan