"I've died and been reborn a thousand times and died again, but in the five thousand years I've been alive, I've rarely thought back to the beginning of the secrets I found there. Unfortunately, secrets never die when you're immortal."
-- Methos, "The Methos Chronicles" online series

Methos, at 5,000 years old, is the oldest known immortal. Not much is known about him -- except that he has had a varied, colorful past -- because he finds it safer to keep his exploits secret. Methos is a survivor who will do what is necessary to continue living. Above that, though, he is a friend to Duncan MacLeod and has risked his life several times to make certain MacLeod emerges victorious.

The character is first introduced in the episode "Methos." When he meets MacLeod, he is posing as a graduate student and watcher named Adam Pierson. His task: To research the mythical immortal Methos ("I'm in charge of finding myself and make sure it never happens.") His only allies who know his true identity are MacLeod, Joe Dawson and Amanda.

For most of third and fourth seasons, his role is as MacLeod's friend, adviser and protector. He kills the immortal Kristen, whom he sees as a danger to MacLeod, and he helps to rescue MacLeod from a dark quickening. He also falls in love with the beautiful Alexa, a waitress in Joe's bar who is close to death. He shows his romantic side by taking her on a tour of the world before she finally dies in Geneva.

Not until fifth season does Methos' sorted past begin to be revealed. In the episodes "Comes a Horseman" and "Revelations 6:8," Methos is forced to face his past as one of the Four Horsemen. He swears an oath to his former brother Kronos that he will kill MacLeod, but then he plays MacLeod and Kronos against each other until a victor emerges ("Like you said, I go with the winner"). In the end, he sides with MacLeod by killing his brother Silas. Still, these episodes show his considerable skill as a survivor and manipulator

He has been both a blood-thirsty killer and a doctor, but neither define who he is. He is a survivor, but he repeatedly risks his life for his friends. After 5,000 years, Methos has become so complex that probably even he cannot decipher himself ("I'm 5,000 years old. I don't know who I am anymore").

Unfortunately, what is known about the engmatic Methos comes in bits and pieces, and from the wonderful performances of Peter Wingfield. For more information on his specific exploits on "Highlander," visit the episode guide