Secret Agent and Prisoner Patrick McGoohan Dies at 80

In fact, Patrick McGoohan not only played in the iconic spy series Danger Man (later expanded to an hour and renamed Secret Agent), he was also The Prisoner in the series of that name. He died Tuesday at the age of 80.

The Prisoner was an enigmatic series, with a confusing ending which drew protests and even forced Patrick McGoohan to leave London for a time. The controversy about the final episode, "Fall Out," is described here.

The Prisoner centered on an unnamed secret agent who wanted out of the business, but after he retired, found himself carted off to a strange "village," where those in power try to break his spirit.

In 1951, he married actress Joan Drummond, who survived him, with whom he had three daughters, Catherine, Anne and Frances.

McGoohan won two Emmys, both for guest roles in Columbo, one in 1975 and the other in 1990. But for TV fans, he'll always be The Prisoner.