Monday, February 06, 2012

Happy Birthday, John Steed!

That is, let us all rise in applause for veteran English actor Patrick Macnee, who starred as suave Steed in the 1961-1969 UK TV series The Avengers, during three years of which he played opposite the captivating (and oft-catsuited) Diana Rigg.

Macnee--who turns 90 years old today--went on to feature in a short-lived revival of The Avengers, do a fine turn as Doctor John Watson in the 1976 teleflick Sherlock Holmes in New York (with Roger Moore portraying Holmes), appear beside Robert Urich in the TV crime-adventure drama Gavilan, act in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill (again billed with Roger Moore) as Agent 007’s ally Sir Godfrey Tibbett, guest-star in an unusual episode of Columbo, accept a less-than-career-making role in Dennis Weaver’s The Return of Sam McCloud, live to regret his involvement in the Hulk Hogan action-adventure series Thunder in Paradise, and ... well, let’s just say that his résumé runs to more than a mere page or two.

Wherever you are, Mr. Macnee, we wish you the best today.

3 comments:

Greg M. said...

As long as we are discussing Mr. Macnee's long and varied career, we mustn't forget his appearance in The Return of The Man From UNCLE, and his non-appearance appearance in The Avengers movie.

(as an aside, there is a Steed and Mrs. Peel comic book on the stands now, written by Grant Morrison).

Whether it was bad or good, Mr. Macnee is always a class act, on screen and off.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Macnee. You're needed. :-)

Robin at CrimeTimePreview said...

Still love The Avengers. Best opening titles and music ever.

RJP said...

The Patrick Macnee/Diana Rigg Avengers were by far the best. Ditto on the best opening titles and music ever.