From 1955 to 1995 Darren McGavin was the busiest actor in Hollywood starring in hit after hit on television, in the movies and on the stage.
He starred in several TV series such as “Mike Hammer,” “Crime Photographer,” “The Outsider,” “The Night Prowler,” and two sitcoms “Small & Frye” and the award winning “Murphy Brown” playing Candice Bergen’s dad.
His movie credits ranged from comedy to high drama in features like, “A Song to Remember,” “Airport 77,” “The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell,” “The Delicate Deliquent” with Jerry Lewis, “The Man with the Golden Arm” opposite Frank Sinatra,””The Natural” with Robert Redford,” “Billy Madison,” and his uncanny performance as General George Patton in “Ike,” the bio-pic about the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
But, after all has been said and done the one role that McGavin will always be remembered for, even after time diminishes his other acting achievements, was his portrayal of the gruff, cranky and persistent Karl Kolchak in the original “Kolchak: The Night Stalker.”
Darren McGavin, age 83, died on Saturday of natural causes.
Great write up on Darren McGavin but you did forget one movie that he will be remembered for in my mind, A Christmas Story.
He played the cranky furnace fight Dad of Ralphie.
The line that always sticks out in my mind
“Frageelay (Fragile), it must be Italian.”
Your best role was besides THE NIGHT STALKER your cameo roll as THE MAP WALKER, I always will remember you for that, thank you!
I was the Director of “The Night Stalker”. It was a joy to work with Darren, and I am very proud of the fact that the TV Movie was so highly rated. Darren …You are missed.
The nightstalker was my fav tv show of all time i still watch all the free clips on you tube.I would love ta find more interviews with darren and as a director john you did are fantastic job.We will all miss Darren Mcgavin