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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Avengers star Patrick Macnee dies | Avengers star Patrick Macnee dies |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Actor Patrick Macnee, star of The Avengers TV series, has died in California at the age of 93. | Actor Patrick Macnee, star of The Avengers TV series, has died in California at the age of 93. |
| The Briton, best known for playing John Steed in the 1960s television spy show, died at home with his family at his bedside, his son Rupert said. | The Briton, best known for playing John Steed in the 1960s television spy show, died at home with his family at his bedside, his son Rupert said. |
| Macnee, who served in the Royal Navy during World War Two, also played roles in theatre, appearing on Broadway. | Macnee, who served in the Royal Navy during World War Two, also played roles in theatre, appearing on Broadway. |
| Avengers co-star Dame Diana Rigg paid tribute, saying: "Patrick was a very dear man and I owe him a great deal". | |
| A statement on Mcnee's website read: "Wherever he went, he left behind a trove of memories." | |
| He died peacefully at his home in California's Rancho Mirage on Thursday, Rupert said. | He died peacefully at his home in California's Rancho Mirage on Thursday, Rupert said. |
| James Bond ally | James Bond ally |
| Born in London, Macnee grew up in Berkshire and was educated at Summerfields Preparatory School and Eton. | Born in London, Macnee grew up in Berkshire and was educated at Summerfields Preparatory School and Eton. |
| At the age of 11, he acted in Henry V opposite a young Sir Christopher Lee. He first appeared in the West End while still in his teens. | At the age of 11, he acted in Henry V opposite a young Sir Christopher Lee. He first appeared in the West End while still in his teens. |
| He played a number of minor roles - including one in Laurence Olivier's 1948 film version of Hamlet - before rising to fame in the original Avengers series between 1961 and 1969. | He played a number of minor roles - including one in Laurence Olivier's 1948 film version of Hamlet - before rising to fame in the original Avengers series between 1961 and 1969. |
| The series developed a cult following around the world, with Macnee portraying the quintessentially English and mysterious super-spy John Steed. | The series developed a cult following around the world, with Macnee portraying the quintessentially English and mysterious super-spy John Steed. |
| Steed was known for his dress sense, always donning a bowler hat and carrying an umbrella, which was used as a secret weapon. He never used a gun. | Steed was known for his dress sense, always donning a bowler hat and carrying an umbrella, which was used as a secret weapon. He never used a gun. |
| His co-stars during the initial run included Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg and Linda Thorson. | His co-stars during the initial run included Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg and Linda Thorson. |
| Macnee returned when that series was reprised as The New Avengers in the 1970s, appearing alongside Joanna Lumley's Purdey and Gareth Hunt's Mike Gambit. | Macnee returned when that series was reprised as The New Avengers in the 1970s, appearing alongside Joanna Lumley's Purdey and Gareth Hunt's Mike Gambit. |
| Later, he starred on Broadway in Anthony Shaffer's Sleuth, touring internationally with that play and several other productions. | Later, he starred on Broadway in Anthony Shaffer's Sleuth, touring internationally with that play and several other productions. |
| He also appeared in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill, playing an ally of Roger Moore's Bond character, and made a cameo appearance as the head of a record company in This is Spinal Tap. | He also appeared in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill, playing an ally of Roger Moore's Bond character, and made a cameo appearance as the head of a record company in This is Spinal Tap. |
| Sir Roger tweeted: "So very sad to hear Pat Macnee has left us. | Sir Roger tweeted: "So very sad to hear Pat Macnee has left us. |
| "We were mates from 1950s and I have so many happy memories of working with him. A true gent." | "We were mates from 1950s and I have so many happy memories of working with him. A true gent." |
| Thorson, who played assistant Tara King, remembered Macnee as "a paradox". | Thorson, who played assistant Tara King, remembered Macnee as "a paradox". |
| "He was the best-dressed man on television and a nudist in real life," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "He was the best-dressed man on television and a nudist in real life," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "He was always upbeat. He had great stories and great detail and wonderful energy," she continued. "Patrick [had] a very happy and long life and the most wonderful children who took the greatest of care of him, in the last decade in particular." | "He was always upbeat. He had great stories and great detail and wonderful energy," she continued. "Patrick [had] a very happy and long life and the most wonderful children who took the greatest of care of him, in the last decade in particular." |
| Macnee also featured as a guest star in dozens of British, American and Australian TV productions; and made a cameo in Oasis's video for Don't Look Back In Anger. | Macnee also featured as a guest star in dozens of British, American and Australian TV productions; and made a cameo in Oasis's video for Don't Look Back In Anger. |
| He scored a top 10 hit of his own in 1990, with Kinky Boots - a novelty song recorded with Avengers co-star Honor Blackman - which was championed by Radio 1's then-breakfast DJ Simon Mayo. | He scored a top 10 hit of his own in 1990, with Kinky Boots - a novelty song recorded with Avengers co-star Honor Blackman - which was championed by Radio 1's then-breakfast DJ Simon Mayo. |
| 'Ahead of their time' | 'Ahead of their time' |
| In a 2014 interview with The Lady magazine, Macnee said he believed The Avengers was a success because it "did something different and did it better." | In a 2014 interview with The Lady magazine, Macnee said he believed The Avengers was a success because it "did something different and did it better." |
| He told the magazine: "It was beautifully written, the ideas were very good, way ahead of their time and they incorporated fantasies for people who dreamed of doing exciting things." | He told the magazine: "It was beautifully written, the ideas were very good, way ahead of their time and they incorporated fantasies for people who dreamed of doing exciting things." |
| Macnee had two children, son Rupert and daughter Jennifer, and one grandson. | Macnee had two children, son Rupert and daughter Jennifer, and one grandson. |
| He was married three times, including to actress Katherine Woodville, with whom he acted in The Avengers. | He was married three times, including to actress Katherine Woodville, with whom he acted in The Avengers. |
| He had been a US citizen since 1959, according to the AP news agency. | He had been a US citizen since 1959, according to the AP news agency. |