(The Kid / Number 48) 1942 – 2003
Mark Wade (pictured with Alexis below) of Liverpool Prisoner Group pays tribute
Two of the most memorable performances in The Prisoner TV series were
No. 48 (Fall Out) and The Kid (Living In Harmony). Both of these
characters were played by Alexis Kanner, who made them his own. Even his
brief comic cameo as the photographer in The Girl Who Was Death was a
memorable one..."I'll tear off your leg and beat you over the head with
it" indeed! But it is his psychopathic mute and rebellious youth
characters that will always live on in my mind. One of my favourite
moments in the whole series is of Number 48 running around the chamber in
Fall Out and jumping across the benches...and of course 'Dem Bones'.
In 1996, at the convention in Portmeirion, it was a real pleasure to
briefly meet Alexis Kanner, as he is most certainly one of my favourite
actors in The Prisoner. My personal meeting with him took place on the
front lawn by the main hotel, in glorious sunshine. He was being
interviewed on camera and so I awaited my chance for a photo-opportunity.
When the chance came and I asked him, he was genuinely friendly and
co-operative. The funniest moment came when he put aside his briefcase on
the floor, in readiness to pose with me (or rather me with him!), but he
accidentally placed it on my foot. He apologised to me! I mean, come on,
it was an honour to have his briefcase on my foot, ha! Anyway, I still
treasure that photograph. I also remember him talking at that convention
about the possibility of a Prisoner film, well, whether that ever happens
or not remains to be seen but, at times like this it doesn't really seem
to matter too much. The main thing is that we still have the original
series and performances to enjoy over and over. Alexis Kanner's
performances are worth watching those so-called 'later, weaker' episodes
over and over too. Alexis/Number 48/The Kid ... it was a real pleasure to
have met you. Rest in peace....and Harmony.
Mark Wade
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