John Steed

John Steed is a secret agent who works for a branch of the British Secret Service called, “The Organization.” He is the central protagonist in the British television spy series, The Avengers and The New Avengers, and the ensuing play, radio series and movie.
== Biography ==
Steed was born John Wickham Gascoyne Beresford Steed sometime between 1922 and 1925. A scion of a noble family, Steed attended Eton (like Macnee), where he once got into a fight with the school bully, James Bond, and was eventually expelled (like Macnee). Steed's best friend was Mark Crayford who later followed him into British Intelligence. However Crayford was always secretly jealous of Steed and later defected to the Soviet Union and attempted to destroy Steed and his legacy. He was a distinguished veteran of World War II, training with the Coldstream Guards and then transferring to the Intelligence Corps. He spent the early part of his war service posted at RAF Camp 472 Hamelin, which was a jumping-off point for British spies on the continent. He received the Military Cross for single-handedly taking a German machine-gun post. Before leaving the British Army to join "The Ministry" in 1945, Steed achieved the rank of Major.
By The New Avengers, Steed had moved out to the country, to a manor house known as "Steed's Stud", and was no longer driving vintage cars, but contemporary Jaguars instead. There are no further details regarding his family although he does refer to having a 13-year-old nephew in "Legacy of Death".
== Appearance ==
One of Steed's trademarks was his impeccable dress, often consisting of a three-piece suit with bowler hat and ever-present umbrella. His bowler and umbrella were in fact his favourite weapons. Steed's umbrella, with its distinctive whangee handle, was known for containing a sword, though there were other versions, including one that featured a sound recorder and one with a camera hidden under the handle for covert photography ("The Cybernauts"), and one that contained measures of whisky.
The bowler was metal plated and very hard, it could stop bullets and knock down opponents.
== Abilities ==
Through his military training and experience, as well as later training, Steed is an expert at hand-to-hand combat. He is well versed in Karate, as well as being a Judo master. For example, He knows holds that can put an opponent to sleep.
He prefers to fight with his hands and his trusty umbrella and hat, but he has also made himself an expert at improvising weapons, including overcoming opponents with a shoe, a telephone, a pot of hot coffee, a book, a dust cloth, and many other everyday items.
Category:Male
Category:TV Show Heroes
Category:Movie Heroes
Category:Secret Agents
Category:Fighters
Category:Military
Category:The Hero
Category:Genius
Category:Martial Artists
Category:War Heroes
Category:Comedy Heroes
Category:Science Fiction Heroes