2 legends passed away today - Patrick McGoohan and Ricardo Montalban

Danny Tse · January 2009

los angeles (reuters) actor patrick mcgoohan, a british television star in the 1950s and 1960s best known for two shows that crossed over to american tv, "secret agent" and "the prisoner," has died at age 80, his agent said on wednesday.

Mcgoohan, born in new york city but raised in ireland and england, was in the midst of restarting his career with two recent film offers but died on tuesday at his los angeles home after a short illness, agent sharif ali told reuters.

"he was vital," ali said. "it wasn't like he was out to pasture at all. He was busy right up until the end."

often cast in roles as angry or evil, mcgoohan won two emmy awards for his guest appearances as a villain on the television detective series "columbo" and gave a memorable performance as the ruthless king edward "longshanks" in the oscar-winning film "braveheart," starring mel gibson.

Mcgoohan first made his name in britain, where he starred as the brainy spy john drake in the espionage show "danger man," which ran for three years in britain and was imported to the united states as "secret agent."

the series lasted just one season on u.s. Television, but its theme song, "secret agent man," recorded by johnny rivers, became a hit.

After quitting "danger man," mcgoohan created, produced and starred in the more cerebral british series, "the prisoner," playing a former spy, known only as number 6, held captive in a bucolic but brutal prison colony for people who know too much.

The show ran for just 17 original episodes on u.s. Television but endures as a cult classic that was even spoofed on "the simpsons."

mcgoohan's other film credits include roles as a mysterious agent in "ice station zebra," the warden in "escape from alcatraz," a scientist in "scanners" and judge omar noose in "a time to kill."

los angeles ricardo montalban, the mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy mgm musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling mr. Roarke in tv's "fantasy island," died wednesday morning at his home, a city councilman said. He was 88.

Montalban's death was announced at a meeting of the city council by president eric garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. Garcetti did not give a cause of death.

"the ricardo montalban theatre in my council district where the next generations of performers participate in plays, musicals, and concerts stands as a fitting tribute to this consummate performer," garcetti said later in a written statement.

Montalban had been a star in mexican movies when mgm brought him to hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite esther williams in "fiesta." he also starred with the swimming beauty in "on an island with you" and "neptune's daughter."

a later generation knew montalban as the faintly mysterious, white-suited mr. Roarke, who presided over an island resort where visitors were able to fulfill their lifelong dreams. "fantasy island" received high ratings for most of its 1978-1984 span on abc television and still appears in reruns.

In a 1978 interview, he analyzed the series' success:

"what is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities."

rip

george daniel · January 2009

The "prisoner" was way ahead of it's time,,RIP, gents.

CaligulaPolk · January 2009

Yea i was just reading about it on Yahoo. SAD for hollywood

these gentlemen is good actor

cfrizz · January 2009

:(I fell in love with Ricardo Montalban as a kid watching a rerun of TOS Space Seed. I loved him in Fantasy Island, & he MADE ST-TWOK!

He was a wonderful actor, Faithful husband of 63 years to his wife, the late Georgiana Young (D-2007) (Sister of actress Loretta Young.). He was born in Mexico, but he was of Spanish descent.

May he & Mcghoohan RIP,