Remembering Patrick Macnee

(As his birthday would have been tomorrow, February 6, I wanted to share this piece I wrote about the late actor Patrick Macnee shortly after his passing several years ago …)

I lost a role model last week, but it feels more like losing a friend, even though I only got to meet him once.

The British actor Patrick Macnee was likely best known as the iconic John Steed of TV’s “The Avengers” in the 1960s but I had the opportunity to meet him here in Orlando back in 1993. I had previously written some articles about him for TV trade papers and magazines, so I felt I had some in-depth perspective about him and his career.

He was here to promote a show, “Thunder in Paradise” in which he appeared with wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. It was typical syndicated action-adventure TV fare of the era, basically "Airwolf" with a boat. I had some time to visit with Mr. Macnee and told him how much I admired his work and that he was personally inspirational. With his typical humility and grace, he thanked me for following his career, but he just considered himself a working actor. I had watched him in countless shows (basically anything produced by his friend Glen Larson) and two TV movies as Dr. Watson opposite the late Sir Christopher Lee as Sherlock Holmes.

Over the years, the photo of he and I together occupied a place of honor in my home, but I had never taken the time to send it to him for a signature. Recently, I exchanged some emails with his daughter Jenny and popped an 8x10 out to the West Coast. Every day since, I kept going out to the mailbox looking for the return package, as if I was still a kid waiting on the Sears Christmas Catalog to arrive.

***

Then, on June 25th, I received word that Patrick had died in his California home. He was 93.

The next day, I got a package in the mail. It was from him, postmarked June 23rd…

So, among the final things he did on this earth was to commemorate our meeting for me. I enclosed a letter with the picture, and I hope that it explained to Mr. Macnee how well regarded he was, at least by me, and probably by many others. For purposes of explanation, here is the text of the letter:

Dear Mr. Macnee,

It is rare that one gets to meet one of his heroes, but I had that opportunity and I wanted to commemorate it via this photograph of us together back in 1993. You were in Orlando, promoting the new show “Thunder in Paradise” with Hulk Hogan. While a longtime fan of you (as well as Hogan, who I know separately), meeting you was much more important than just seeing a favorite television star.

From 1967-68, my father was in service with the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. I was 10 years old, about the age to be seeking some male role model. How does a man present himself, speak and dress, and conduct himself in the face of adversity? I was to be the man of the house while Dad was away, but I had no instructions…

Fortunately, I had the luck to find John Steed on television and eagerly absorbed his manner, his style, his dress, and even his calm demeanor in stressful situation, including a dry wit. These I filed away for use in adulthood. I think a behavioral psychologist would say that you had “imprinted” upon me. Only Adam West as Bruce Wayne on “Batman” had any similar impact. So, to this day, I remain a Pierre Cardin/Brooks Brothers man.

You can imagine that at the end of the “swinging 70s,” out of college and in my first professional work in higher education, that I favored a conservative three-piece suit over the shiny polyester of the day. Here in sub-tropical Florida, I looked forward to rainy days so I could pull an umbrella from the stand with a bit of flourish. I did not mind being different as it was most often a positive and even useful in making a good impression on the ladies.

I have had many hours of enjoyment by following your career through all of your appearances from “The Virginian” and “Battlestar Galactica” to “Magnum, PI” and “Murder, She Wrote” and most especially that singular reappearance as Steed on “The Hardy Boys.” It felt as though I was keeping up with an old friend, much as I would keep in touch with some of my college professors.

In closing, thank you for the example that you have set and the standard you have maintained. I hope many other young men have benefited as much as I.

With Sincere Thanks and Appreciation, I am,

Of course, when Dad was able to be home from his USAF assignments, he reinforced all of those things about a man’s comportment. It’s funny to recall it but, once Dad retired from the Air Force and went into a civilian career, he had to ask me about what to wear since he had always been in uniform. Thanks to my excellent “training” by Patrick Macnee, I always knew what shirt and tie combo was right for which suit!

I hoped that, as he was concluding his affairs, that my little letter was a bright spot in Macnee's day. Then, I went to my old rolltop desk and selected some appropriate stationery and wrote out a condolence note to his family.

That’s the way I think Patrick Macnee would have done it.