Television’s prisoner Number Six, Patrick McGoohan, died in Los Angeles on January 13. He was 80.

McGoohan was a special favorite among science fiction fans – for The Prisoner, of course, and even earlier for his performances in several Disney productions. He was Dr. Syn in “The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh” on TV’s Walt Disney, and a vet in The Three Lives of Thomasina (one of Diana’s favorite movies.) “The Scarecrow” had strong overtones of the fantastic despite nothing supernatural actually ever happening, whereas Thomasina features a housecat’s dream encounter with the Egyptian Cat Goddess. McGoohan also appeared in David Cronenberg’s 1981 horror movie Scanners.

McGoohan originally gained fame as John Drake in Danger Man (aired in the US as Secret Agent.) His significant movie roles included King Edward Longshanks in Braveheart, the intelligence agent in Ice Station Zebra, and the lead villain in the comedy Silver Streak.