breakthrough role A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role, is a term in the theatre, film and television industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of crit ...

Columbo ''Columbo'' is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Columbo (character), Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originall ...

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Wilford Lloyd Baumes that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1977, to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series pre ...

Frasier ''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Casey, and David Lee (scr ...

Oasis In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentDon't Look Back in Anger" (1996). He and ''Avengers'' co-star Honor Blackman had a UK Top 10 hit in 1990 when their 1964 song " Kinky Boots" received renewed interest from being played on

BBC Radio One BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, hi ...

. Macnee's notable film roles include young Jacob Marley in '' Scrooge'' (1951), Sir Denis Eton-Hogg in '' This Is Spinal Tap'' (1984), and Sir Godfrey Tibbett in ''

A View to a Kill ''A View to a Kill'' is a 1985 spy film, the fourteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the seventh and final appearance of Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from ...

'' (1985). He is one of the few actors to have played both

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

and

Dr. Watson Dr. John H. Watson is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson first appeared in the novel ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887). "The Adventure of Shosc ...

in different productions.

Early life and career

The elder of two sons, Daniel Patrick Macnee was born in

Paddington Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England. A medieval parish then a metropolitan borough of the County of London, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Paddington station, designed b ...

, London, England, on 6 February 1922;Patrick Macnee profile
filmreference.com; accessed 14 April 2014. to Daniel Macnee (1878–1952) and British socialite Dorothea Mabel Macnee (née Henry) (1896–1984). His father, who was a grandson of the Scottish artist Sir Daniel Macnee, trained race horses in Lambourn, and was known for his dress sense; he had served as an officer in the Yorkshire Dragoons in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

.International Stars at War
James E. Wise, Scott Baron; Naval Institute Press, 2002; ; pp. 123–26 His maternal grandmother was Frances Alice Hastings (1870–1945), who was the daughter of

Vice-Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of vic ...

George Fowler Hastings and granddaughter of The 12th Earl of Huntingdon. His younger brother James, known as Jimmy, was born five years later. Macnee saw himself as a Scot. Macnee's parents separated after his mother came out as a lesbian. His father later moved to India, and his mother began to live with her wealthy partner, Evelyn Spottiswoode, whose money came from the Dewar's whisky business.Obituary: Patrick Macnee, actor
The Scotsman, 29 June 2015 Macnee referred to her in his autobiography as "Uncle Evelyn", and she helped pay for his schooling. He was educated at Summer Fields School and

Eton College Eton College ( ) is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school providing boarding school, boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, Berkshire, Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated Prime Mini ...

, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was one of the

guard of honour A guard of honour (Commonwealth English), honor guard (American English) or ceremonial guard, is a group of people, typically drawn from the military, appointed to perform ceremonial duties – for example, to receive or guard a head of state ...

for

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. George was born during the reign of his pa ...

at

St George's Chapel St George's Chapel, formally titled The King's Free Chapel of the College of St George, Windsor Castle, at Windsor Castle in England is a castle chapel built in the late-medieval Perpendicular Gothic style. It is a Royal Peculiar (a church und ...

in 1936. He was later expelled from Eton for selling pornography to and being a

bookmaker A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays out bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds In probability theory, odds provide a measure of the probability of a particular outco ...

for his fellow students. Macnee studied acting at the

Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, formerly the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, was a drama school, and originally a singing school, in London. It was one of the leading drama schools in Britain, and offered comprehen ...

, but shortly before he was to perform in his first West End leading role, which would have had him acting alongside

Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; born Vivian Mary Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. After completing her drama school education, Leigh appeared in small roles in four films in 1935 and progress ...

, he was called up for the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. He joined as an ordinary seaman in October 1942 and was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in June 1943, becoming a navigator on Motor Torpedo Boats in the

English Channel The English Channel, also known as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busi ...

and

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Se ...

. Reassigned as first lieutenant on a second MTB, Macnee caught

bronchitis Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...

just before

D-Day The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as ...

; while he was recuperating in hospital, his boat and crew were lost in action. Two of the crew received the Distinguished Service Medal. He left the Royal Navy in 1946 as a lieutenant. Macnee nurtured his acting career in Canada early on, but he also appeared as an uncredited extra in the British films '' Pygmalion'' (1938), ''

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp ''The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'' is a 1943 British romantic-war film written, produced and directed by the British film-making team of Powell and Pressburger, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It stars Roger Livesey, Deborah Kerr and ...

'' (1943) and

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

's ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'' (1948), as well as some live TV dramas for the BBC, before graduating to credited roles in such films as '' Scrooge'' (US: ''A Christmas Carol'', 1951), as young Jacob Marley; the

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

vehicle '' Les Girls'' (1957), as an

Old Bailey The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey after the street on which it stands, is a criminal court building in central London, one of several that house the Crown Court of England and Wales. The s ...

barrister; and the war film '' The Battle of the River Plate'' (1956). Between these occasional movie roles, Macnee spent the better part of the 1950s working in dozens of small roles in American and Canadian television and theatre, including an appearance in an episode of ''

One Step Beyond One Step Beyond may refer to: Music * ''One Step Beyond'' (Dungeon album) or the title song, 2004 * ''One Step Beyond'' (Jackie McLean album), 1963 * '' One Step Beyond...'', an album by Madness, or the title song (see below), 1979 * ''One Ste ...

'' ("Night of April 14th") and ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' (" Judgment Night") in 1959. Disappointed in his limited career development, by the late 1950s Macnee was smoking 80 cigarettes and drinking a bottle of whisky on a daily basis. In the early 1960s, before his career-making role in '' The Avengers'', Macnee took a break from acting and served as one of the London-based producers for the classic documentary series '' The Valiant Years'', based on the Second World War memoirs of

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

.

''The Avengers''

While working in London on the Churchill series, Macnee was offered the role in '' The Avengers'' (1961–69), (originally intended to be known as ''Jonathan Steed''), for which he became best known. The series was conceived as a vehicle for Ian Hendry, who played the lead role of Dr. David Keel in a sequel to an earlier series, '' Police Surgeon'' (1960), while John Steed was his assistant. Macnee, though, became the lead after Hendry's departure at the end of the first series. Macnee played opposite a succession of glamorous female partners: Honor Blackman,

Diana Rigg Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg (20 July 1938 – 10 September 2020) was an English actress of stage and screen. Her roles include Emma Peel in the TV series ''The Avengers (TV series), The Avengers'' (1965–1968); Countess Tracy Bond, Teresa di ...

and Linda Thorson. Of the 161 completed episodes, Macnee appeared in all but two, both from the first series. Although Macnee evolved in the role as the series progressed, the key elements of Steed's persona and appearance were present from the beginning: the slightly mysterious demeanour and, increasingly, the light, suave, flirting tone with ladies (and always with his female partners). Finally, from the episodes with Blackman onwards, the trademark

bowler hat The bowler hat, also known as a Coke hat, billycock, bob hat, bombín (Spanish) or derby (United States), is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown, originally created by the London hat-makers Thomas and William Bowler in 1849 and commissioned by ...

and umbrella completed the image. Although it was traditionally associated with London "city gents", the ensemble of suit, umbrella and bowler had developed in the

post-war A post-war or postwar period is the interval immediately following the end of a war. The term usually refers to a varying period of time after World War II, which ended in 1945. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum, ...

years as

mufti A mufti (; , ) is an Islamic jurist qualified to issue a nonbinding opinion ('' fatwa'') on a point of Islamic law (''sharia''). The act of issuing fatwas is called ''iftāʾ''. Muftis and their ''fatāwa'' have played an important role thro ...

for ex-servicemen attending

Armistice Day Armistice Day, later known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the United States, is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark Armistice of 11 November 1918, the armistice signed between th ...

ceremonies. Steed's sartorial style may also have been drawn from Macnee's father. Macnee, alongside designer

Pierre Cardin Pierre Cardin (born Pietro Costante Cardin; 2 July 1922 – 29 December 2020) was an Italian-born naturalised-French fashion designer. He is known for what were his avant-garde style and Space Age designs. He preferred geometry, geometric shap ...

, adapted the look into a style all his own, and he went on to design several outfits himself for Steed based on the same basic theme. Steed was also the central character of '' The New Avengers'' (1976–77), in which he was teamed with agents named Purdey (

Joanna Lumley Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley (born 1 May 1946) is an Indian-born British actress, presenter, author, television producer, activist and former model. She has won two BAFTA TV Awards for her role as Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulo ...

) and Mike Gambit ( Gareth Hunt). Macnee insisted on, and was proud of, almost never carrying a gun in the original series; when asked why, he explained, "I'd just come out of a World War in which I'd seen most of my friends blown to bits." Lumley later said she did most of the gun-slinging in ''The New Avengers'' for the same reason. When asked in June 1982 which ''Avengers'' female lead was his favourite, Macnee declined to give a specific answer. "Well, I'd rather not say. To do so would invite trouble," he told ''

TV Week ''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news. Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...

'' magazine. Macnee did provide his evaluation of the female leads. Of Honor Blackman he said, "She was wonderful, presenting the concept of a strong-willed, independent and liberated woman just as that sort of woman was beginning to emerge in society." Diana Rigg was "One of the world's great actresses. A superb comedienne. I'm convinced that one day she'll be Dame Diana" (his prediction came true in 1994). Linda Thorson was "one of the sexiest women alive" while Joanna Lumley was "superb in the role of Purdey. An actress who is only now realising her immense potential.""Steed Lives On.",

TV Week ''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news. Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...

. 5 June 1982, page 61 Macnee co-wrote two original novels based upon ''The Avengers'' during the 1960s, titled ''Dead Duck'' and ''Deadline''. He hosted the documentary ''The Avengers: The Journey Back'' (1998), directed by Clyde Lucas."Medialog: What They Can Do As An Encore"
''

Starlog ''Starlog'' was an American monthly science fiction magazine that was created in 1976 and focused primarily on ''Star Trek'' at its inception. Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs were its creators and it was published by Starlog Group, Inc. in Aug ...

'' magazine, Issue 198, January 1994. Cf. p. 6. For the critically lambasted film version of '' The Avengers'' (1998), he lent his voice in a cameo as Invisible Jones. The character John Steed was taken over by

Ralph Fiennes Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (; born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ralph Fiennes, various accolades, including a British Academy Film ...

.

Later roles

Macnee's other significant roles included playing Sir Godfrey Tibbett opposite

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...

in the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...

film ''

A View to a Kill ''A View to a Kill'' is a 1985 spy film, the fourteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the seventh and final appearance of Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from ...

'' (1985); as Major Crossley in '' The Sea Wolves'' (again with Moore); guest roles in '' Encounter''; ''

Alias Smith and Jones ''Alias Smith and Jones'' is an American Western television series that originally aired on ABC from January 1971 to January 1973. The show initially starred Pete Duel (and, after Duel's death, Roger Davis) as Hannibal Heyes and Ben Murphy ...

'' (for Glen A. Larson); '' Magnum, P.I.''; '' Hart to Hart''; ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

'' and ''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Wilford Lloyd Baumes that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1977, to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series pre ...

''. Although his best known role was heroic, many of his television appearances were as villains; among them were his roles of both the demonic Count Iblis and his provision of the character voice of the Cylons' Imperious Leader in ''

Battlestar Galactica ''Battlestar Galactica'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. It began with the original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel series, '' Galactica 1980'', a line of book adaptat ...

'', also for Glen A. Larson, for which he also supplied the show's introductory voiceover. He also presented the American

paranormal Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Not ...

series ''Mysteries, Magic and Miracles''. Macnee appeared on Broadway as the star of Anthony Shaffer's mystery '' Sleuth'' in 1972–73. Macnee reunited with

Diana Rigg Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg (20 July 1938 – 10 September 2020) was an English actress of stage and screen. Her roles include Emma Peel in the TV series ''The Avengers (TV series), The Avengers'' (1965–1968); Countess Tracy Bond, Teresa di ...

in her short-lived sitcom '' Diana'' (1973) in a single episode. Other television appearances include a guest appearance on ''

Columbo ''Columbo'' is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Columbo (character), Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originall ...

'' in the episode "Troubled Waters" (1975); and playing Major Vickers in ''

For the Term of his Natural Life ''For the Term of His Natural Life'' is a story written by Marcus Clarke and published in ''The Australian Journal'' between 1870 and 1872 (as ''His Natural Life''). It was published as a novel in 1874 and is the best known novelisation of life ...

'' (1983). He had recurring roles in the crime series ''Gavilan'' with

Robert Urich Robert Michael Urich (December 19, 1946 – April 16, 2002) was an American film, television, and stage actor and television producer. Over the course of his 30-year career, he starred in a record 15 television series. Urich began his car ...

and in the short-lived satire on big business, ''Empire'' (1984), as Dr. Calvin Cromwell. Macnee was known for narrating various James Bond Documentaries on Special Edition DVD. He also narrated the documentary ''Ian Fleming: 007's Creator'' (2000). Macnee featured prominently in two editions of the long-running British television series '' This Is Your Life'': in 1978, when he and host Eamonn Andrews, both dressed as Steed, surprised Ian Hendry, and in 1984 when he was the edition's unsuspecting subject. Therefore, he also voiced the narrator in the Audrey Wood VHS adaptation of ''The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear''. Macnee also appeared in several

cult film A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated ...

s: in '' The Howling'' (1981), as Dr. George Waggner (named whimsically after the director of '' The Wolf Man'', 1941) and as Sir Denis Eton-Hogg in the rockumentary comedy '' This Is Spinal Tap'' (1984). He played Dr. Stark in '' The Creature Wasn't Nice'' (1981), also called ''Spaceship'' and ''Naked Space''. Macnee played the role of actor David Mathews in the television movie '' Rehearsal for Murder'' (1982), which starred Robert Preston and Lynn Redgrave. The movie was from a script written by ''Columbo'' co-creators Richard Levinson and William Link. He replaced Leo G. Carroll's character as the head of U.N.C.L.E. as Sir John Raleigh in '' Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' (1983), produced by Michael Sloan. He was featured in the science fiction television movie '' Super Force'' (1990) as E. B. Hungerford (the subsequent series featured Macnee's voiceover as part of a computer simulation of his character), as a supporting character in the parody film '' Lobster Man from Mars'' (1989) as Professor Plocostomos and in the television film ''The Return of Sam McCloud'' (1989) as Tom Jamison. He made an appearance in ''

Frasier ''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Casey, and David Lee (scr ...

'' (2001), and several episodes of the American sci-fi series ''Nightman'' as Dr. Walton, a psychiatrist who advised the main character. Macnee appeared in two episodes of the series '' Kung Fu: The Legend Continues'' (1993–94) and was a retired agent in a handful of instalments of ''

Spy Game ''Spy Game'' is a 2001 action thriller film directed by Tony Scott and written by Michael Frost Beckner and David Arata. The film stars Robert Redford and Brad Pitt as CIA operatives entangled in a covert rescue mission during the final day ...

'' (1997–98). Macnee made numerous TV commercials including one around 1990 for Swiss Chalet, the Canadian restaurant chain, and a year or so before, a commercial for the Sterling Motor Car Company. Over the James Bond theme, the car duels with a motorcycle assailant at high speed through mountainous territory, ultimately eludes the foe, and reaches its destination. Macnee steps out of the car and greets viewers with a smile, saying "I suppose you were expecting someone else". Macnee was the narrator for several "behind-the-scenes" featurettes for the James Bond series of DVDs and recorded numerous audio books, including the releases of many novels by

Jack Higgins Henry Patterson (27 July 1929 – 9 April 2022), commonly known by his pen name Jack Higgins, was a British author. He was a best-selling author of popular thrillers and espionage novels. His novel '' The Eagle Has Landed'' (1975) sold more t ...

. He also recorded the children's books ''The Musical Life of Gustav Mole'' and its sequel, ''The Lost Music (Gustav Mole's War on Noise),'' both written by Michael Twinn. Macnee featured in two pop videos: as Steed in original ''Avengers'' footage in

The Pretenders The Pretenders are a British rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (ba ...

' video for their song " Don't Get Me Wrong" (1986) and in the promotion for

Oasis In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentDon't Look Back in Anger" (1996), as the band's driver, a role similar to that which he played in the James Bond film ''

A View to a Kill ''A View to a Kill'' is a 1985 spy film, the fourteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the seventh and final appearance of Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from ...

'' (1985). In 1990, his recording with his ''Avengers'' co-star Honor Blackman, called " Kinky Boots" (1964), reached the UK Singles Chart after being played on Simon Mayo's

BBC Radio One BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, hi ...

breakfast show.

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson

Macnee appeared in '' Magnum, P.I.'' (1984) as a retired British agent who suffered from the delusion that he was

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

, in a season four episode titled ''Holmes Is Where the Heart Is''. He played both Holmes and

Dr. Watson Dr. John H. Watson is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson first appeared in the novel ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887). "The Adventure of Shosc ...

on several occasions. He played Watson three times: once alongside

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...

's Sherlock Holmes in the television film '' Sherlock Holmes in New York'' (1976), and twice with Christopher Lee, first in '' Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady'' (1991), and then in '' Incident at Victoria Falls'' (1992). He played Holmes in another television film '' The Hound of London'' (1993), along with the Canadian television film ''Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Temporal Nexus'' (1996). He is thus one of only a small number of actors to have portrayed both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson on screen.

Personal life

Macnee married his first wife Barbara Douglas (1921–2012) in 1942. They had two children, Rupert and Jenny, and a grandson, Christopher ("Kit"). After they were divorced in 1956, his second marriage (1965–1969) was to actress Katherine Woodville. From 1973 to 1991, Macnee owned a home in the Deep Well neighborhood of

Palm Springs, California Palm Springs (Cahuilla language, Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Rivers ...

. His third marriage was to Baba Majos de Nagyzsenye, daughter of opera singer Ella Némethy. It lasted from 1988 until her death in 2007. Macnee became a United States citizen in 1959. He dictated his autobiography, which he titled ''Blind in One Ear: The Avenger Returns'' (1988), to Marie Cameron. Later in life, Macnee was an enthusiastic

naturist Naturism is a lifestyle of practicing non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms a ...

.

Death

On 25 June 2015, Macnee died at Rancho Mirage, California, his home for the previous four decades, at the age of 93. Tributes were paid by co-stars

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...

and Nicola Bryant, and by fellow ''Avengers'' leads

Diana Rigg Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg (20 July 1938 – 10 September 2020) was an English actress of stage and screen. Her roles include Emma Peel in the TV series ''The Avengers (TV series), The Avengers'' (1965–1968); Countess Tracy Bond, Teresa di ...

and Linda Thorson.

Filmography

:For credit listings reference

Film

Television

Theatre

Documentaries

* ''Real Ghost Stories: The Dead and the Restless'' (1997) * ''Real Ghost Stories: The Wild West of the Dead'' (1997) * ''Real Ghost Stories: Spirits, Graveyards & Ghostbusters'' (1997) * ''Real Ghost Stories: The Poltergeists'' (1997) * ''Real Ghost Stories: The London Underworld & Beyond'' (1997) * ''Unexplained Mysteries: Nostradamus'' (1999 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.) * ''Unexplained Mysteries: Out of Body Experience'' (1999 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.) * ''Unexplained Mysteries: Haunted Historic Sites'' (1999 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.) * ''Unexplained Mysteries: Miracle Healings'' (2000 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.) * ''Unexplained Mysteries: World of Satanism'' (2000 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.) * ''Unexplained Mysteries: Jack The Ripper'' (2001 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.) * ''Unexplained Mysteries: Cryonics'' (2001 Front Row Entertainment, Inc.) * ''Ian Fleming: 007's Creator'' (2000) * ''The Spirit of Diana'' (2003) * ''Unlocking DaVinci's Code'' (2004) * ''The Witnessing of Angels'' (2010) * ''Real Ghost Stories: Hollywood Ghosts'' (2010) ;Notes

Music videos

*

The Pretenders The Pretenders are a British rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (ba ...

– " Don't Get Me Wrong" (1986) (Steed in original ''Avengers'' footage) *

Oasis In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentDon't Look Back in Anger" (1996)Flick, Larry (15 June 1996), "Singles: Pop". ''Billboard''. 108 (24):74

References

External links

* * * *
Avengers: The Journey Back

Patrick Macnee
a
TV.com

Patrick Macnee on This Is Your Life
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macnee, Patrick 1922 births 2015 deaths Actors from the City of Westminster Actors from Palm Springs, California Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art British emigrants to the United States British male film actors British male television actors British people of Scottish descent Male actors from London People educated at Eton College People from Paddington People from Rancho Mirage, California Royal Navy officers of World War II