Number Six (The Prisoner)

:This article is about the character from the television series The Prisoner; for other meanings, see Number Six.

Related Topics:
Television series - The Prisoner - Number Six

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Played by Patrick McGoohan, Number Six was the central fictional character in the 1960s television series The Prisoner. In each episode, his attempts to escape his prison The Village would be foiled, either by Number Two, the second-in-command of The Village, who changed almost every episode, or by Rover, a robotic guardian which resembles a weather balloon. Another central theme in the series was Number Two's attempt to discover why Number Six resigned from his position.

Related Topics:
Patrick McGoohan - Fictional character - 1960s - The Prisoner - The Village - Number Two - Robot - Weather balloon

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Much of Number Six's background is kept a mystery during the series; not even his true name is revealed. It is known that he held a position of some authority with the British government, but the exact nature of his job is never revealed. Several episodes suggest he was a spy or similar operative (code number ZM-73). He is known to have answered to at least two individuals known as simply "The Colonel", as well as to another longtime superior named Fotheringay. These individuals are shown as being in league with The Village to one extent or another.

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It is known that he was engaged to be married to Janet Portland, the daughter of his superior Sir Charles Portland, prior to his capture by the Village, though this doesn't stop Number Six from developing close relationships (if not necessarily romantic ones) with various women during his imprisonment. It is said that Number Six fought in "the war"; his date of birth is March 19, 1928. This was revealed in the first episode "Arrival" and is Patrick McGoohan's real life date of birth; "Once Upon A Time" strongly that "the war" referred to was World War II which means Number Six would have been underage at the time as he would only have been 17-years-old when the war ended in 1945; that said, there is nothing in any episode to explicitly indicate what year the series takes place. The episode "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" indicates that Number 6 had been a prisoner for at least a year as of that episode.

Related Topics:
March 19 - 1928 - Arrival - Patrick McGoohan - Once Upon A Time - World War II - 1945

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Many fans of The Prisoner believe that Number Six is really John Drake, the character that McGoohan played in Danger Man from 1960 to 1962 and then again from 1964 to 1966, but McGoohan has always denied this. Script editor George Markstein, who co-created the series with McGoohan, always claimed that Number Six is John Drake. Official novels based on the series also make this connection although these are generally considered non canon.

Related Topics:
The Prisoner - John Drake - Danger Man - 1960 - 1962 - 1964 - 1966 - George Markstein

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The character Number Six, played by Tricia Helfer, who appears on the television series Battlestar Galactica is apparently a tribute to this character. There is also an episode ofThe Simpsons entitled "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes", parodying The Prisoner, with McGoohan reprising his role as Number Six and Homer Simpson as Number Five. The Bionic Woman, Brazil, 1984, ', Babylon 5 and The Matrix have also all contained references to the series.

Related Topics:
Number Six - Tricia Helfer - Battlestar Galactica - The Simpsons - The Computer Wore Menace Shoes - Homer Simpson - The Bionic Woman - Brazil - 1984 - Babylon 5 - The Matrix

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