Patrick McGoohan was an American actor born to Irish parents and raised in England. He is perhaps best known as the star and co-creator of the experimental cult series The Prisoner where he played a spy by the name of "Number Six".
McGoohan had a long-standing connection with Columbo over the course of the show's 35-year run. He guest starred in the Season 4 episode By Dawn's Early Light in 1974, playing Colonel Lyle C. Rumford. He won an Emmy for his performance and returned in the show's fifth season; in Identity Crisis he not only played secret agent Nelson Brenner but also directed the episode as well (one which was filled with references to The Prisoner). Having become good friends with Peter Falk, who was impressed by his direction of Identity Crisis, McGoohan was invited back to direct the season finale, Last Salute to the Commodore, which at the time was thought to be the last Columbo ever.
In 1990, McGoohan graced the series to once again direct and star in Agenda for Murder as lawyer Oscar Finch. For the second time his work on Columbo netted him an Emmy. He was the first actor to have played a killer on both eras of Columbo. In 1998 he played undertaker Eric Prince in Ashes to Ashes which he also directed. Falk wanted McGoohan to appear in Murder with Too Many Notes in 2001, but McGoohan felt he was too old for the part. He instead agreed to direct, casting Sir Billy Connolly as Findlay Crawford. This was the last time that McGoohan worked on the series. He is the only actor to have played a killer four times, an all-time record, and the only main guest star to have also directed an episode. He was one of Falk's favourite collaborators, with Falk later naming Identity Crisis as one of his top four episodes.
McGoohan also seemed to quite like Bruce Kirby, who played Sergeant George Kramer in By Dawn's Early Light. Kirby went on to reprise his role in Identity Crisis, Last Salute and Agenda. In Ashes to Ashes and Too Many Notes, McGoohan worked with Richard Riehle, who played Sergeant Degarmo in both episodes.
Patrick McGoohan passed away at age 80 on January 13, 2009. He is survived by three daughters; Catherine, Anne and Frances. Catherine appeared in Ashes to Ashes as Rita while Anne played Marcia in Too Many Notes.