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Patrick McGoohan

Patrick McGoohan

Actor · Died January 13, 2009, aged 80 · New York City, New York, USA

Patrick Joseph McGoohan (March 19, 1928 – January 13, 2009) was an American-born actor, raised in Ireland and England, with an extensive stage and film career, most notably in the 1960s television series Danger Man (renamed Secret Agent when exported to the US), and The Prisoner. McGoohan wrote and directed several episodes of The Prisoner himself, occasionally using the pseudonyms Joseph Serf and Paddy Fitz. He subsequently appeared in several Columbo episodes, winning the Emmy twice, David Cronenberg's Scanners, and in Mel Gibson's Braveheart as King Edward I.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 19, 1928
Died
January 13, 2009 (aged 80)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 66 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 32% in 30 days

What are Patrick McGoohan's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Morality.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Power
32%
Morality
27%
Bonds
16%
Self
14%
Survival
6%
Society
3%
Ideas
1%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 6 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 4 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 10 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 8 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 8 of 20 analyzed roles.

Shadow
8 of 20
Hero
5 of 20
Shapeshifter
3 of 20
Mentor
2 of 20
Ally
1 of 20
Threshold guardian
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Thrilling
8
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
6
Dread
3
Other
17

How their films linger

Fun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Patrick McGoohan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Patrick McGoohan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

66 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Walt Disney Treasures - Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Dr. Christopher Syn / The Scarecrow (archive footage)

  • The Making of the Prisoner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Treasure Planet(2002)

    as Billy Bones (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • In Search of the Prisoner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Number Six (archive footage)

  • Hysteria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Dr. Harvey Langston

  • A Time to Kill(1996)

    as Judge Omar Noose

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom(1996)

    as Phantom's Dad

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Sad? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Number Six (archive footage)

  • Braveheart(1995)

    as King Edward

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Best of Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as George Bernard Shaw

  • The Prisoner Video Companion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Number 6

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Number 6 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Laughing Prisoner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Number Six

  • Of Pure Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Dr. Felix Neumann

  • Three Sovereigns for Sarah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Chief Magistrate

  • Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend(1985)

    as Doctor Eric Kiviat

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Three Sovereigns for Sarah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Chief Magistrate

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Attorney Oliver Quayle

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Trespasses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Fred Wells

  • Jamaica Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Joss Merlyn

  • Jamaica Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · as Joss Merlyn

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · as Chief Magistrate

  • Kings and Desperate Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as John Kingsley

  • Scanners(1981)

    as Dr. Paul Ruth

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Hard Way(1980)

    as John Connor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Escape from Alcatraz(1979)

    as Warden

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Brass Target(1978)

    as Col. Mike McCauley

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Rafferty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · as Dr. Sidney Rafferty

  • The Man in the Iron Mask(1977)

    as Fouchet

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Silver Streak(1976)

    as Roger Devereau

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe(1975)

    as Major Cabot

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Catch My Soul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Mary, Queen of Scots(1971)

    as James Stuart

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Writer · as Eric Prince · as Nelson Brenner · as Oscar Finch

  • The Moonshine War(1970)

    as Frank Long

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Koroshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as John Drake

  • Ice Station Zebra(1968)

    as David Jones

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Journey Into Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Host

  • The Prisoner(1967)

    Show 17 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Number Six

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Christopher Syn

  • The Three Lives of Thomasina(1963)

    as Andrew McDhui

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow(1963)

    as Dr. Christopher Syn / The Scarecrow

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Quare Fellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Thomas Crimmin

  • Life for Ruth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Dr Brown

  • All Night Long(1962)

    as Johnny Cousin

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Serjeant Musgrave's Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sjt. Musgrave

  • Two Living, One Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Erik Berger

  • The Man Out There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as The Man - Nicholai Soloviov

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 86 episodes · Director · as John Drake

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Brand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Brand

  • The Greatest Man in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Jack 'Pal' Smurch

  • Nor the Moon by Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Andrew Miller

  • The Gypsy and the Gentleman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Jess

  • Hell Drivers(1957)

    as C. 'Red' Redman

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • High Tide at Noon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Simon Breck

  • Zarak(1956)

    as Moor Larkin

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Sir Lancelot(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Glavin

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as 'The Man' - Nicholai Soloviov · as Jack 'Pal' Smurch

  • Folio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael O'Riordan

  • I Am a Camera(1955)

    as Swedish Water Therapist

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Moby Dick—Rehearsed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as A Serious Actor /Starbuck

  • The Dam Busters(1955)

    as Guard at Door (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Warriors(1955)

    as English Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Passage Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Martin McIsaacs

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 3 episodes · as Christopher Syn / Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Seth Makepeace

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 66 titles from 1950 to 2008; peak year 1995.

Biggest box office

Braveheart (1995)

$213M worldwide

Highest rated

Braveheart (1995)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19502008

Peak 1995 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 66: 61 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thDirecting5 of 66: 1 only directing, 4 with another roleWriting2 of 66: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing1 of 66: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 66: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

66 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1950s17 · acting1960s14 · 14 acting · 2 crew1970s10 · 9 acting · 3 crew1980s14 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s4 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 12% of 17 roles
577282

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Patrick McGoohan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 23; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

None of their 28 titles divides audiences: 15 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed3

Most loved · actor

Braveheart (1995)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Patrick McGoohan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles40–92 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles9–59 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles7–57 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles22–38 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles32–85 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Patrick McGoohan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Patrick McGoohan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Martin Ransohoff shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers