Daniel Patrick Macnee (6 February 1922 â€" 25 June 2015) was a British
film and television actor. After serving in the Royal Navy during
World War 2, he began his acting career in Canada. Despite having some
small film roles, Macnee spent much of his early career in playing
small parts in American and Canadian television shows. In 1961 he
landed the role of secret agent John Steed in the British television
series The Avengers. The show was a success running for eight seasons
from 1961-69 and was revived in 1976 as The New Avengers. The show was
a major breakthrough for Macnee and led to his roles in many films
including A View To A Kill and This Is Spinal Tap as well as
continuing to appear in both Britain and US Television shows up until
2001.The elder of two sons, Macnee was born in Paddington, London,
England, on 6 February 1922; to Daniel Macnee (1878âˆ'1952) and
Dorothea Mabel Macnee (née Henry) (1896âˆ'1984). His father, who was
a grandson of the Scottish artist Sir Daniel Macnee, trained race
horses in Lambourn, and was known for his dress sense; he had served
as an officer in the Yorkshire Dragoons in the First World War. His
maternal grandmother was Frances Alice Hastings (1870âˆ'1945), who was
the daughter of Vice-Admiral George Fowler Hastings and granddaughter
of The 12th Earl of Huntingdon. His younger brother James, known as
Jimmy, was born five years later.Macnee's parents separated after his
mother began to identify as a lesbian. His father later moved to
India, and his mother began to live with her wealthy partner, Evelyn
Spottswood, whose money came from the Dewar's whisky business. Macnee
referred to her in his autobiography as "Uncle Evelyn", and she helped
pay for his schooling. He was educated at Summer Fields School and
Eton College, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps and
was one of the guard of honour for King George V at St George's Chapel
in 1936. He was later expelled from Eton for selling pornography and
being a bookmaker for his fellow students.Macnee studied acting at the
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, but shortly before he was to
perform in his first West End leading role, which would have had him
acting alongside Vivien Leigh, he was called up for the Royal Navy. He
joined as an ordinary seaman in October 1942 and was commissioned a
sub-lieutenant in June 1943, becoming a navigator on Motor Torpedo
Boats in the English Channel and North Sea. Reassigned as first
lieutenant on a second MTB, Macnee caught bronchitis just before
D-Day; while he was recuperating in hospital, his boat and crew were
lost in action. Two of the crew received the Distinguished Service
Medal. He left the Navy in 1946 as a lieutenant.
film and television actor. After serving in the Royal Navy during
World War 2, he began his acting career in Canada. Despite having some
small film roles, Macnee spent much of his early career in playing
small parts in American and Canadian television shows. In 1961 he
landed the role of secret agent John Steed in the British television
series The Avengers. The show was a success running for eight seasons
from 1961-69 and was revived in 1976 as The New Avengers. The show was
a major breakthrough for Macnee and led to his roles in many films
including A View To A Kill and This Is Spinal Tap as well as
continuing to appear in both Britain and US Television shows up until
2001.The elder of two sons, Macnee was born in Paddington, London,
England, on 6 February 1922; to Daniel Macnee (1878âˆ'1952) and
Dorothea Mabel Macnee (née Henry) (1896âˆ'1984). His father, who was
a grandson of the Scottish artist Sir Daniel Macnee, trained race
horses in Lambourn, and was known for his dress sense; he had served
as an officer in the Yorkshire Dragoons in the First World War. His
maternal grandmother was Frances Alice Hastings (1870âˆ'1945), who was
the daughter of Vice-Admiral George Fowler Hastings and granddaughter
of The 12th Earl of Huntingdon. His younger brother James, known as
Jimmy, was born five years later.Macnee's parents separated after his
mother began to identify as a lesbian. His father later moved to
India, and his mother began to live with her wealthy partner, Evelyn
Spottswood, whose money came from the Dewar's whisky business. Macnee
referred to her in his autobiography as "Uncle Evelyn", and she helped
pay for his schooling. He was educated at Summer Fields School and
Eton College, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps and
was one of the guard of honour for King George V at St George's Chapel
in 1936. He was later expelled from Eton for selling pornography and
being a bookmaker for his fellow students.Macnee studied acting at the
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, but shortly before he was to
perform in his first West End leading role, which would have had him
acting alongside Vivien Leigh, he was called up for the Royal Navy. He
joined as an ordinary seaman in October 1942 and was commissioned a
sub-lieutenant in June 1943, becoming a navigator on Motor Torpedo
Boats in the English Channel and North Sea. Reassigned as first
lieutenant on a second MTB, Macnee caught bronchitis just before
D-Day; while he was recuperating in hospital, his boat and crew were
lost in action. Two of the crew received the Distinguished Service
Medal. He left the Navy in 1946 as a lieutenant.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.