The star of a popular spy series from the 1960s has died. Media reports say Patrick Macnee, who starred opposite Diana Rigg on “The Avengers,” died at age 93.
“His family were at his bedside at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, his son Rupert said in a statement published on Thursday on Macnee’s website,” the U.K. publication The Guardian reports.
The spy show, produced in London, ran from 1961 to 1969, putting a glamorized, swinging ’60s spin on Cold War themes.
Macnee reprised his role as secret agent John Steed in an updated version of the show, “The New Avengers,” in the 1970s. He also racked up a long string of TV guest appearances during his career, including spots on “Coach,” “Frasier” and “Murder, She Wrote.”
Here’s the intro to “The Avengers,” featuring Macnee and Rigg:
What a great tv legend and superb actor he was. Great that he lived to such an age, but of course we would’ve preferred him to have lived longer on this planet. What a fantastic show that was and the best yrs of the Avengers was when he was paired up with the Mrs Peel character(we never saw her husband nor knew what the deal was there). Diana Rigg of course went on to an amazing career. Also enjoyed Patrick in the James Bond shot partially in San Francisco(View To A Kill) with Grace Jones and others. RIP SIr MacNee. You’re missed already.