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| Patrick Macnee as John Steed |
Patrick Macnee, who was much loved for his role as John Steed in The Avengers and also enjoyed a successful film career, has died at his home in California at the age of 93.
Born into a wealthy English family, Macnee studied at Eton until he was expelled for selling pornography, went on to serve in the Royal Navy and then travelled to Canada to try his hand at acting, launching a career that would last until his retirement 12 years ago.
Following an early appearance in The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp, he went on to deliver notable performances in films including The Howling, Waxwork, A View To A Kill and This Is Spinal Tap. He lent his vocal talents to Battlestar Galactica and challenged Columbo. Alongside the Avengers, he appeared in other classic TV series like Rawhide and Magnum PI. He played both Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, and was particularly at home in playful genre productions, delivering a memorable supporting turn in Lobster Man From Mars.
"So very sad to hear Pat MacNee has left us. We were mates from the 1950s and I have so many happy memories of working with him. A true gent," said Roger Moore, while Mark Millar described him simply as "awesome."
He is survived by his wife, Baba Majos de Nagyzsenye, and by two children from an earlier marriage, Rupert and Jenny. His death follows that of Avengers creator Brian Clemens earlier this year.
