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NUMMER 6, originally titled (written with the number "6" in the German opening scenes and "sechs" in magazines), is the brainchild of its principal actor, executive producer and part time director: Patrick McGoohan (1928 - 2009). The series was produced by Everyman Films, McGoohan's own production company, and Lew Grade's ITC which, among many others, was also resonsible for the career boost of Roger Moore with THE SAINT.

McGoohan, born 1928 to Irish parents in New York and raised very strictly to the catholic faith, after moving to Ireland went through several jobs before going to the theatre. In 1954 he had his first bit part in front of the camera and was later seen in quite many flicks. Soon he appeared on television, too, which was very young then. By the mid 1950s Orson Welles took him on the stage because of his acting talent to play in "Moby Dick". He also was actor as well as director of a couple of his friend's Peter Falk COLUMBO episodes.

In the credit sequence of his long running show GEHEIMAUFTRAG FÜR JOHN DRAKE ("Secret Assignment for John Drake") which is the German title for DANGER MAN aka SECRET AGENT, originally running 30 minutes, viewers learned that this special agent, assigned by NATO, was called into action when delicate tasks had to be accomplished. By 1967 and after 50 episodes McGoohan's TV series was terminated. It had been a big success also in Germany but only the early 25 minute episodes were shown, of the later ones only eight made it onto the TV screens. "Koroshi" und "Shinda Shima", the very last episodes, were shot in colour, running one hour each and were re-edited into a theatrical movie.

While serving Her Majesty smartly, always employing his wits rather than his muscles, his approach was always gentleman-like and with the help of sophisticated gadgetry. A cosnsequential anti-Bond was the character: no guns, no women, no affairs, lasting elements of THE PRISONER, too. The last spoken line of the 30 minute episodes' credit sequence was, "My name is Drake - John Drake" which a little later was to become a standard introduction of a different kind. Being one of Britains most popular TV stars McGoohan was in the position to turn down the offer to play James Bond in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE for moral reasons and thus waving good-bye to a promising Hollywood career. Enter Sean Connery.

One of the most frequently asked questions of the time whether Drake was Number Six McGoohan always denied. There are certain strains and parallels, though, considering the character; as is known that he had become tired playing the same role again and again. Also, working on THE PRISONER had begun when DANGER MAN was still being shown and many collaborators would keep on working with THE PRISONER. What’s more, even the SECRET AGENT title song by Johnny Rivers seemed to be telling about future things: "they've given you a number, And taken away your name..." But this, in fact, was a coincidence.

In David Cronenberg's 1981 movie SCANNERS he took on one of those most likely rare memorable roles as Dr. Ruth, inventor of some telepathy causing drug, a dubious scientist character but still a goodie. And a fitting role.
As an actor one facial expression made him unmistakeable. Which is, basically, the only one he's got, always a controlled face. Provided directing him makes good use of this particular trait: Striding down the long dark corridor to his superior's office he is shot a couple of times from an obligue overhead p.o.v. From deep inside his look emerges with the corners of his mouth slightly twisted. He delivers a kind of certain and knowing (German wordplay: "eine gewisse und wissende") grim decisiveness. Here it is, the icon: "Number Six" is Patrick McGoohan. He was in control of the production. It was his baby. It was the show that all of those who participated went through physical and psychic torment. He convinced everyone and all. But at last it was him who became overpowered by the show.

With the ending of the series McGoohan resigned from England. TV audiences had felt dissatisfied watching the series' unusual coda and literally infringed his privacy. Since then he has been living in California. What a lovely place, just like the Village.

Since decades, whenever possible, he has eschewed interviews on his biggest success. And whenever he gave them his statements were still no less enigmatic than the series itself. The most extensive interview in this respect could be the so called Troyer interview of 1977.

"The thing one must never do which is in some ways... - I shouldn't be doing this, talking to you and to people who are going to view it and hear it, to explain THE PRISONER. I mean, I don't think they'll understand it, perhaps they won't understand it any better after this attempt at explaining it..." (Patrick McGoohan, 1984, "Six Into One - The Prisoner File"