Darren McGavin
Darren McGavin
07.05.1922 - 25.02.2006 (83 years) (Spokane, Washington, U.S.)
William Lyle Richardson (May 7, 1922 – February 25, 2006), known professionally as Darren McGavin, was an American actor. He was known for his portrayals of worldly, often somewhat gruff characters. Born in Spokane, Washington, McGavin claimed to have been a child runaway who spent his later childhood squatting in Tacoma. He began his film career while working as a set painter for Columbia Pictures, appearing in uncredited roles, and also starred in a regional Chicago production of Death of a Salesman in 1950. He subsequently originated roles in Broadway productions of My 3 Angels and The Rainmaker (both 1954), and went on to star in a further four Broadway productions before the end of the decade. Simultaneous to his stage career, McGavin also forged a career in film, starring in David Lean's Summertime and The Man with the Golden Arm (both 1955). From 1958 to 1959, he played the title character in the 1950s television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, and subsequently starred in the NBC Western series Riverboat, first with Burt Reynolds and then with Noah Beery Jr. McGavin went on to have a prolific career in television, appearing in numerous guest-starring roles throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He starred in the successful TV movie The Night Stalker and its 1973 sequel, The Night Strangler, playing reporter Carl Kolchak. Subsequently, he played Kolchak in the short-lived television horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974–1975). Additional film credits in the '70s include Airport '77 (1977) and Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978). In 1983, McGavin starred in Bob Clark's seasonal comedy A Christmas Story, portraying Mr. Parker, the father of Ralphie Parker. From 1989 to 1992, he had a recurring role opposite Candace Bergen on the sitcom Murphy Brown, playing the title character's father, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He had supporting roles in the horror film Happy Hell Night (1992) and the comedy Billy Madison (1995), playing the father of the title character, opposite Adam Sandler. McGavin died in Los Angeles on February 25, 2006 of cardiovascular disease, aged 83.