Daniel Patrick Macnee (6 February 1922 – 25 June 2015) was a British-American actor, best known for his breakthrough role as secret agent John Steed in the television series The Avengers (1961–1969). Starting out as the assistant to David Keel (Ian Hendry), he became the lead when Hendry left after the first series, and was subsequently partnered with a succession of female assistants. He later reprised the role in The New Avengers (1976–1977). Born in London as the eldest son of socialite Dorothea Macnee, he served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War before starting his career as an actor in Canadian television. He appeared in numerous television series up until 2001, including the Twilight Zone episode "Judgement Night" (1959), Columbo, Magnum, P.I., Hart to Hart, Murder, She Wrote, ()