Patrick Macnee, the actor best known for playing John Steed in the "spy-fi" TV series The Avengers and its sequel The New Avengers, has died at the age of 93.
As Steed, Macnee played a quintessential English gentleman who relied on intelligence, a sharp wit and his trusty umbrella - never a gun - to deal with villains. He was aided by assistants played by Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg and Joanna Lumley.
The programme "became known for its progressive approach to feminism, the female stars being more than a match for Steed … and a plethora of 'diabolical master minds'," according to a statement on his website that announced his death.
Macnee died of natural causes in his home in Rancho Mirage, California, "with his family at his bedside", the statement added.
In 2014, he told The Lady magazine that the show succeeded because it "did something different and did it better". He added: "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."
The series ran from 1961 to 1969 and then returned as The New Avengers for 26 episodes in 1976 and 1977.
Paying tribute to Macnee, his fellow actors noted that he was every bit the gentleman he played on screen. Sir Roger Moore said: "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."
Sanjeev Bhaskar, a star of Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars At No 42, wrote: "RIP Patrick Macnee. The Avengers, also warm and wonderful foil to Sir Roger Moore in several films and Spinal Tap. Epitome of the British gent."
Macnee, a Londoner, began his acting career on stage. He moved to Canada after the war and spent much of the rest of his life in North America. However, he returned to the UK to play the role that made him a household name.
The Independent