Patrick Macnee, star of ‘60s classic ‘The Avengers,’ dies at 93

Patrick Macnee, who played the dapper, bowler hat-wearing secret agent John Steed on The Avengers, has died. He was 93.

Macnee died of natural causes at his Rancho Mirage home, his son, Rupert, confirmed to The Los Angeles Times. His death was also announced on his website.

“Patrick Macnee was a popular figure in the television industry,” a statement on his site reads. “He was at home wherever in the world he found himself. He had a knack for making friends, and keeping them. Wherever he went, he left behind a trove of memories and good wishes.”

The actor was born in London in February 1922 and during his time at school, he got the acting bug starring in Henry V. He continued acting throughout college and went to drama school, but his career was interrupted by serving in the Royal Navy during World War II.

After the war, he went to Canada, working on live television throughout the 1950s. He went back to England in 1960 with just $400. After helping produce a Winston Churchill TV series, he was cast as John Steed on The Avengers. Initially, he co-starred with Ian Hendry, but when Hendry was done with the show after just one season, the producers paired him with Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale.

The show became such a monster success in the U.K. and around the world, that in 1966, ABC picked it up for U.S. distribution. By then, Diana Rigg was cast as Emma Peel, setting up the show’s most iconic pairing. Linda Thorson also played another female partner for Macnee.

Macnee later contributed to the failed 1998 Warner Bros. movie by providing the voice of Invisible Jones. That film starred Ralph Fiennes in the role Macnee made famous.

As Variety notes, Macnee also appeared in films, starring in the James Bond movie A View To Kill and Laurence Olivier’s famed version of Hamlet.

He is survived by a son, daughter and grandson. The family is asking that donations be made to the Actors Fund.

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