They say art imitates life. I was a kid during the "cold war." The tension between the U.S. &  Soviet Union gave rise to numerous spy epics. The James Bond franchise began in that era. There were also a number of TV shows about secret agents, "I Spy," "The Avengers," "Mission Impossible," Mel Brooks' satire "Get Smart," and my boyhood favorite, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."  It starred the debonair Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo, and David McCallum as his Russian sidekick, Illya Kuryakin. (McCallum currently plays the medical examiner, "Ducky" on NCIS) The show won several awards, and earned Robert Vaughn 2 Golden Globe nominations. Vaughn worked extensively  in TV & films for decades. He won an Emmy, was nominated for an Oscar, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Los Angeles Times reports, he passed away Friday, just a few days shy of his 84th birthday. I'll always remember him as the Man From U.N.C.L.E. Rest in peace Napoleon.

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