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Patrick Macnee
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==''The Avengers''== {{Main|The Avengers (TV series)}} While working in London on the Churchill series, Macnee was offered the role in ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' (1961β69), (originally intended to be known as ''Jonathan Steed''), for which he became best known. The series was conceived as a vehicle for [[Ian Hendry]],<ref name=Hendry2>{{cite web|title=Official Website of Ian Hendry|url=http://www.ianhendry.com|access-date=6 July 2013}}</ref> who played the lead role of Dr. David Keel in a sequel to an earlier series, ''[[Police Surgeon (UK TV series)|Police Surgeon]]'' (1960), while [[John Steed]] was his assistant. Macnee, though, became the lead after Hendry's departure at the end of the first series.<ref name=Hendry>{{cite web|title=Ian Hendry and The Avengers|url=http://www.ianhendry.com/ian-hendry-and-the-avengers|access-date=6 July 2013|date=5 July 2013}}</ref> Macnee played opposite a succession of glamorous female partners: [[Honor Blackman]], [[Diana Rigg]] and [[Linda Thorson]].<!-- NOTE; Joanna Lumley is mentioned in connection with "The New Avengers" below. --> Of the 161 completed episodes, Macnee appeared in all but two, both from the first series. Although Macnee evolved in the role as the series progressed, the key elements of Steed's persona and appearance were present from the beginning: the slightly mysterious demeanour and, increasingly, the light, suave, flirting tone with ladies (and always with his female partners). Finally, from the episodes with Blackman onwards, the trademark [[bowler hat]] and umbrella completed the image. Although it was traditionally associated with London "city gents", the ensemble of suit, umbrella and bowler had developed in the [[post-war]] years as [[mufti (dress)|mufti]] for ex-servicemen attending [[Armistice Day]] ceremonies. Steed's sartorial style may also have been drawn from Macnee's father.<ref name=Telegraph/><ref name=scotsman/> Macnee, alongside designer [[Pierre Cardin]], adapted the look into a style all his own, and he went on to design several outfits himself for Steed based on the same basic theme. Steed was also the central character of ''[[The New Avengers (TV series)|The New Avengers]]'' (1976β77), in which he was teamed with agents named Purdey ([[Joanna Lumley]]) and Mike Gambit ([[Gareth Hunt]]). Macnee insisted on, and was proud of, almost never carrying a gun in the original series; when asked why, he explained, "I'd just come out of a World War in which I'd seen most of my friends blown to bits."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Johnston|first1=Ian|date=24 March 2011|title=Extreme Style & Steel: Patrick Macnee Of The Avengers Interviewed|journal=[[The Quietus]] |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/05935-patrick-macnee-interview-the-avengers}}</ref> Lumley later said she did most of the gun-slinging in ''The New Avengers'' for the same reason.<ref>{{cite news|title=Joanna Lumley's Avengers character should have been called Charlie |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=11 October 2011 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8819927/Joanna-Lumleys-Avengers-character-should-have-been-called-Charlie.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8819927/Joanna-Lumleys-Avengers-character-should-have-been-called-Charlie.html|archive-date=12 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When asked in June 1982 which ''Avengers'' female lead was his favourite, Macnee declined to give a specific answer. "Well, I'd rather not say. To do so would invite trouble," he told ''[[TV Week]]'' magazine. Macnee did provide his evaluation of the female leads. Of Honor Blackman he said, "She was wonderful, presenting the concept of a strong-willed, independent and liberated woman just as that sort of woman was beginning to emerge in society." Diana Rigg was "One of the world's great actresses. A superb comedienne. I'm convinced that one day she'll be Dame Diana" (his prediction came true in 1994). Linda Thorson was "one of the sexiest women alive" while Joanna Lumley was "superb in the role of Purdey. An actress who is only now realising her immense potential."<ref name="TV Week Steed Lives On">"Steed Lives On.", [[TV Week]]. 5 June 1982, page 61</ref> Macnee co-wrote two original novels based upon ''The Avengers'' during the 1960s, titled ''Dead Duck'' and ''Deadline''. He hosted the documentary ''The Avengers: The Journey Back'' (1998), directed by Clyde Lucas.<ref name="STARLOG">[https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-198 "Medialog: What They Can Do As An Encore"], ''[[Starlog]]'' magazine, Issue 198, January 1994. Cf. p. 6.</ref> For the critically lambasted film version of ''[[The Avengers (1998 film)|The Avengers]]'' (1998), he lent his voice in a cameo as Invisible Jones. The character John Steed was taken over by [[Ralph Fiennes]].
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