Born on March 19, 1928, in New York City, Patrick McGoohan's journey from the bustling streets of America to the rolling hills of Ireland and England shaped him into a versatile actor and creator.
His most iconic role as John Drake in the ITC espionage programme Danger Man (1960–1968) catapulted him to stardom, earning him the title of the highest-paid actor on British television during its peak. But it was his creation of The Prisoner (1967–1968), where he starred as Number Six, that truly showcased his talent for crafting complex characters and thought-provoking narratives.
McGoohan's relationship with Peter Falk, was one of mutual respect and admiration. Their collaboration on several episodes of Columbo in the 1970s was marked by McGoohan's multifaceted involvement as a writer, director, producer, and actor.
Rumford kills William Haynes, the chairman of the board and descendant of the founder, because Haynes wants to abandon the school's military mission and covert it to a co-ed community college.
Here McGoohan is more flamboyant, hosting parties and swaggering with the confidence of a guy who thinks he's somewhat above the law. To be fair even at the very end it's not clear whether an LAPD prosecution of him will be succesful, just as likely he's outed as "Steinmetz" and taken into custody by the CIA to be dealt with in the shadows.
This episode broke with the traditional "HowCatchUm" format by hiding the culprit until the very end. The more subtle, but perhaps bigger, problem were the performances. Columbo is oddly very touchy - often crowding and touching other people. His pacing is also strange as is his awkward interactions with the other officers working with him on the case.
McGoohan's performance as Oscar Finch was generally very good (aside from Columbo's awkward lusting after the cheese and Finch's slightly cringy reaction to the "You call that a lining?" joke) and the episode overall was strong. McGoohan also directed this episode and it was a nice rebound from the disappointment of Last Salute to the Commodore.
McGoohan plays Eric Prince, a successful mortician, who stole a valuable piece of jewelry off a celebrity corpse years before. When gossip reporter "Verity Chandler" threatens to expose him he kills her in a fit of rage then cremates her body.
Crawford murders his protege when the young fellow decides he's done being taken advantage of and threatens to expose Crawford as being not quite the genius he's believed to be.
His most iconic role as John Drake in the ITC espionage programme Danger Man (1960–1968) catapulted him to stardom, earning him the title of the highest-paid actor on British television during its peak. But it was his creation of The Prisoner (1967–1968), where he starred as Number Six, that truly showcased his talent for crafting complex characters and thought-provoking narratives.
McGoohan's relationship with Peter Falk, was one of mutual respect and admiration. Their collaboration on several episodes of Columbo in the 1970s was marked by McGoohan's multifaceted involvement as a writer, director, producer, and actor.
By Dawn's Early Light
McGoohan made his Columbo debut as Colonel Lyle Rumford, the commanding officer at Haynes Military Academy in season 4's By Dawn's Early Light.
Rumford kills William Haynes, the chairman of the board and descendant of the founder, because Haynes wants to abandon the school's military mission and covert it to a co-ed community college.
McGoohan plays Rumford as serious and disciplined. Ultimately it's his focused obsession with tracking down a bottle of illicit homemade cider that undoes him.
Along the way there is one nice scene between Rumford and Columbo in Rumford's office where he lets his guard down a bit and talks about growing roses at his home and considers a happy future where soldiers (and cops) are no longer needed.
Identity Crisis
In season 5, McGoohan returned not just as the killer, but also as the director in Identity Crisis. In this episode he plays a spy whose cover story is that he's a business and marketing consultant - speechwriter to the successful. Turns out he's also engaged in a poorly explained scheme to sell secrets and run illicit goods.
Here McGoohan is more flamboyant, hosting parties and swaggering with the confidence of a guy who thinks he's somewhat above the law. To be fair even at the very end it's not clear whether an LAPD prosecution of him will be succesful, just as likely he's outed as "Steinmetz" and taken into custody by the CIA to be dealt with in the shadows.
Last Salute to the Commodore
Later in season 5 McGoohan and Falk are working together again, though this time McGoohan is only behind the camera - directing the rather odd Last Salute to the Commodore.
This episode broke with the traditional "HowCatchUm" format by hiding the culprit until the very end. The more subtle, but perhaps bigger, problem were the performances. Columbo is oddly very touchy - often crowding and touching other people. His pacing is also strange as is his awkward interactions with the other officers working with him on the case.
Diane Baker is way over the top in her drunkenness. Susan Foster is practically comotose in her flat performance as Lisa, the young girlfriend. The whole episode was not a great example of directing.
Agenda for Murder
It's possible that the awkward Last Salute was the reason that McGoohan took a long break from Columbo before returning for Agenda for Murder in season 9.
McGoohan's performance as Oscar Finch was generally very good (aside from Columbo's awkward lusting after the cheese and Finch's slightly cringy reaction to the "You call that a lining?" joke) and the episode overall was strong. McGoohan also directed this episode and it was a nice rebound from the disappointment of Last Salute to the Commodore.
In this episode lawyer Finch murders mobster Frank Staplin when Staplin threatens to spill some dirty secrets about Finch and his benefactor Congressman Macky ahead of Macky's chance to ascend to Vice-President of the United States.
Columbo, of course, unravels the scheme and arrests Finch. Macky wasn't part of the murder, and the episode ends without learning if Finch's downfall splashed over onto Macky as well.
Ashes to Ashes
In Season 13 McGoohan returned again, as both killer and director, in Ashes to Ashes.
The episode over all is ok. It has a guest appearance by Sally Kellerman as the widow Prince is charming. It has some cringy "Undertaker of the Year" scenes. And a nice little turn by Ron Masak as the cab driver.
Fun fact: The actress who plays Prince's assistant at the mortuary is Catherine McGoohan, who is Patrick's daughter.
Murder with Too Many Notes
The very next episode (granted it was 3 years later) was back behind the camera directing his final episode. Murder with Too Many Notes features Scottish comedian Billy Connolly as Findlay Crawford, composer to the movies.
Crawford murders his protege when the young fellow decides he's done being taken advantage of and threatens to expose Crawford as being not quite the genius he's believed to be.
This isn't a great episode, though it has moments. I thought Charles Cioffi was very good as Sidney Ritter, and Chad Willet and Hillary Danner (niece of Columni Blythe Danner) were both good in their roles as Gabriel and Rebecca.
The scene where Falk tries to identify movie tunes felt contrived and Connolly overall wasn't that believable as a conductor.
The "GOTCHA" scene at the end felt a little flat and I couldn't help but think that Falk was ready to just wrap and go home.
Fun fact: Once again one of McGoohan's daughters makes an appearance. This time it's Anne, who plays the lady who screams when Gabriel falls at her feet.
McGoohan also got writing credit on this episode.
Beyond Columbo
His notable film roles, including David Jones in Ice Station Zebra (1968), James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray in Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), and the Warden in Escape from Alcatraz (1979), further solidified his reputation as a master of his craft.
McGoohan passed away on January 13th, 2009.
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