The Rake

MR. NO

“James Bond and I have nothing in common. Both men are secret agents, but that’s as far as it goes.” So said Patrick McGoohan while playing the international spy John Drake in the successful British television series Danger Man (Secret Agent in the U.S.) from 1960 to 1968. McGoohan turned down the opportunity to play Bond in Dr. No after three approaches. As he once said to me, he considered Bond an anti-hero who could exist only on the basis of violence and promiscuous sex, with his ability limited to choosing a wine and wearing a suit well. So McGoohan found it easy to justify his refusal. “I just didn’t care to do it, and I have no regrets,” he said. It was quite a refreshing point of view. “I was offered the ames Bond and I ( in the U.S.) from 1960 to 1968. McGoohan turned down the opportunity to play Bond in after three approaches. As he once said to me, he considered Bond an anti-hero who could exist only on the basis of violence and promiscuous sex, with his ability limited to choosing a wine and wearing a suit well. So McGoohan found it easy to justify his refusal. “I just didn’t care to do it, and I have no regrets,” he said.

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