Patrick MacNee, star of ’60s series ‘The Avengers,’ dead at 93

Patrick Macnee is best remembered for his role as John Steed, in 1960s spy show The Avengers – and, a decade later, in The New Avengers.

However the bowler-hatted secret agent took centre stage from series two onwards, appearing alongside a succession of female sidekicks including Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson and Diana Rigg as arguably his most famous assistant Emma Peel.

Prior to his breakthrough role in The Avengers, Patrick Macnee appeared in a wide range of television shows such as Kraft Theatre and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Before The Avengers, he had appeared in TV shows such as The Twilight Zone, Rawhide and Playhouse 90, among others.

Macnee passed away from natural causes with his family at his bedside in his home in Rancho Mirage, California. “He left behind a trove of memories and good wishes”. When asked ‘ What are you going to carry?’ he gave an epic answer: “‘An Umbrella”.

Evelyn paid his way to Eton, one of the U.K.’s most prestigious boarding schools, where he developed his acting skills before being expelled for bookmaking and selling erotic pictures to his schoolmates.

Macnee returned to London in the 1960s when production began on The Avengers.

Loosely modeled after James Bond, except with villains and threats that approached comic book and science fiction proportions, “The Avengers” became a showcase for Macnee’s cool understated elegance.

His son, Rupert Macnee, confirmed his death to the media. “I think the sadism in them is horrifying…. “We were very old mate from 1950’s and I have lot of happy moments with him”.

Patrick Macnee pictured in the 1980s [Wenn].

Goodness Gracious Me actor Sanjeev Bhaskar also paid a warm tribute to him, saying: “RIP Patrick Mcnee (sic)”.

He also played a record company boss in the film This Is Spinal Tap.

“The Kumars at No.42” comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar described Patrick as the “Epitome of the British Gent”.

He married actress Kate Woodville in 1965 but they divorced in 1969.