Patrick McGoohan (1928-2009) was an Irish-American actor, writer, and director of the stage, film, and television. He may be best known for the television series "Danger Man" (1960-1968) (more on that later) and "The Prisoner" (1967-1968). He also appeared in a number of movies, including "Ice Station Zebra" (1968) and "Braveheart" (1995). He was also known for the quirk of not kissing an actress who was not his wife.
McGoohan portrayed Number Six, the titular character of "The Prisoner". The protagonist of the show, Number Six, put the plot into motion when he resigned from his secretive job for the British government. The plot of individual episodes often focuses on the members of the Village (where Number Six was kept prisoner) attempting to determine the reason(s) for Number Six's resignation. A popular fan theory was that "The Prisoner" represented a sequel to "Danger Man", with Number Six being John Drake (McGoohan's character in "Danger Man") after retirement. Evidence from the television shows was inconclusive.
2. Angelo Muscat
Answer: The Butler
Angelo Muscat (1930-1977 was a Maltese-British actor who appeared in a handful of television and film productions, most notably as the Butler in "The Prisoner". At one point 4 feet, 3 inches, he stood about two feet shorter than his parents and his brother. Since his acting was not a full-time job, he also engaged in factory and craft work.
The character of the Butler appeared in a number of episodes of "The Prisoner", but never spoke a line. In the final episode of the show, he escapes from the village wielding a gun along with Number Six and Number Two and Number 48, all similarly armed.
3. Leo McKern
Answer: Number Two
Leo McKern (1920-2002) was an Australian film, television, and stage actor. The films he appeared in included "A Man for All Seasons" (1966) and "Ladyhawke" (198). He may be best known for his long-time role as the title character in the television series "Rumpole of the Bailey" (1978-1992).
McKern appeared as Number Two in three episodes of "The Prisoner"--more than any other actor. In the penultimate episode of the series, "Once Upon a Time", he engages in a strict level of regressive therapy known as "Degree Absolute" to finally break Number Two.
4. Peter Swanwick
Answer: The Controller
Peter Swanwick (1922-1968) was a British actor in both movies and television. His role in "The Prisoner" was one of his final roles. One of the movies in which he appeared was "The African Queen" (1951). He also appeared in "Danger Man". Late in life, he suffered from ill health and underwent a number of surgeries.
In "The Prisoner", Swanwick appeared in eight different episodes, including all three that featured Leo McKern. Swanwick's character was also known as the Supervisor.
5. Alexis Kanner
Answer: Number 48
Alexis Konner (1944-2005) was a French film and television actor. The films he appeared in included "Crossplot" (1969) and "Kings and Desperate Men" (1977). Television programs he appeared in included "Love Story" (1963-1974) and "Softly, Softly" (1966-1969).
Manner appeared in several episodes of "The Prisoner", including the finale "Fall Out", where he portrayed the rebellious Number 48.
6. Fenella Fielding
Answer: Loudspeaker Announcer
Fenella Fielding (1927-2018) was a British actress in stage, film, and television. She was a master of double entendre and known for her husky voice. She also appeared in McGooghan's "Danger Man". She appeared as a guest star in dozens of television series and motion pictures.
Fielding made an appearance in 7 of the 17 episodes of "The Prisoner". Her role was a voice-only part--both as the loudspeaker announcer and as the telephone operator.
7. Paul Eddington
Answer: Cobh
Paul Eddington (1927-1995) was an English actor who primarily focused on television. Shows he appeared in included "The Good Life" (1975-1978) and "Yes Minister" (1980-1988). He was a multiple-time winner of the BAFTA TV award. He published his autobiography "So Far, So Good" in 1995.
Eddington portrayed Cobb, an acquaintance of Number Six, in "Arrival", the premiere episode of "The Prisoner". Though presented as a friend of the main character, he ended up working in collaboration with Number Two.
8. Nadia Gray
Answer: Nadia
Nadia Gray (1923-1994) was a Romanian film actress. Her films included "La Dolce Vita" (1960) and "The Oldest Profession" (1967). She lived in exile from Romania from the late 1940s until her death. She was married three times.
Gray portrayed Nadia in "The Prisoner" episode "The Chimes of Big Ben". In the episode, she worked with Number Six to escape from the village in a small boat, or at least it seemed that way. She turned out to be an undercover operative.
9. Peter Howell
Answer: The Professor
Peter Howell (1919-2015) was an English actor of film, television, stage, and radio. A veteran of World War Two, he served in the Rifle Brigade. The films he appeared in included "The Hellfire Club" (1961) and "Incident at Midnight" (1963). In television, he starred in "Emergency Ward 10" (1957-1967) and "The Archers" (1951-present).
The Professor was a seemingly genial man who appeared in the episode "The General" on "The Prisoner". His character had seemingly developed an educational method that allowed one to absorb a large amount of material very quickly. Surprisingly for someone in the village, he was referred to by a title rather than a number.
10. Alan White
Answer: Dutton
Alan White (1925-2013) was an Australian radio and stage actor. He appeared in television series such as "Danger Man" (1960-1968) and "The Champions" (1968-1969). He also appeared in films such as "No Time for Tears" (1957) and "Seven Keys" (1961).
In "The Prisoner", White portrayed the part of Dutton in the episode "Dance of the Dead". He attempts to call out to Number Six to confuse him.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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