Darren McGavin (born William Lyle Richardson; May 7, 1922 – February 25, 2006) was an American actor best known for playing the title role in the television horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker and his portrayal of the grumpy father given to bursts of profanity in the film A Christmas Story. He appeared as the tough-talking, funny detective in the 1950s television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. From 1959-1961, McGavin starred in the NBC western series Riverboat, first with Burt Reynolds and then with Noah Beery, Jr.
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Known For
The Natural
(1984)
Gus Sands
Raw Deal
(1986)
Chief Harry Shannon
Billy Madison
(1995)
Brian Madison
Captain America
(1990)
General Fleming
Airport '77
(1977)
Stan Buchek
The Man with the Golden Arm
(1955)
Louie
Hangar 18
(1980)
Harry Forbes
A Christmas Story
(1983)
Mr. Parker
Dead Heat
(1988)
Dr. Ernest McNab
The Night Stalker
(1972)
Carl Kolchak
Summertime
(1955)
Eddie Yaeger
The Challenge
(1970)
Jacob Gallery
No Deposit, No Return
(1976)
Duke
From the Hip
(1987)
Craig Duncan
A Song to Remember
(1945)
Student (uncredited)
By Dawn's Early Light
(1990)
Condor
Full Filmography
Acting
Your Next Job
(1945)
Balancing hobbyist
She Wouldn't Say Yes
(1945)
The Kid - Soldier in Hospital (uncredited)
A Song to Remember
(1945)
Student (uncredited)
Queen for a Day
(1951)
Dan
The Man with the Golden Arm
(1955)
Louie
Summertime
(1955)
Eddie Yaeger
A Word to the Wives...
(1955)
George Peters
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
(1955)
Capt. Russ Peters
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Chaney Vase
(1955)
Lyle Endicott
Beau James
(1957)
Charley Hand
The Delicate Delinquent
(1957)
Mike Damon
The Case Against Brooklyn
(1958)
Pete Harris
Disneyland '59
(1959)
Self
Witchcraft: The Doll in Brambles
(1961)
Fred
Bullet for a Badman
(1964)
Sam Ward
The Great Sioux Massacre
(1965)
Captain Frederick William Benton
African Gold
(1965)
Mike Gregory
The Outsider
(1967)
David Ross
Mission Mars
(1968)
Col. Mike Blaiswick
Anatomy of a Crime
(1969)
David Ross
The Challengers
(1970)
Jim McCabe
Berlin Affair
(1970)
Paul Killian
Tribes
(1970)
Drake
The Challenge
(1970)
Jacob Gallery
Banyon
(1971)
Lieutenant Pete Cordova
The Death of Me Yet
(1971)
Joe Chalk
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
(1971)
Darren McGavin (uncredited)
Mrs. Pollifax — Spy
(1971)
Farrell
Here Comes the Judge
(1972)
Judge
The Night Stalker
(1972)
Carl Kolchak
Something Evil
(1972)
Paul Worden
43: The Richard Petty Story
(1972)
Lee Petty
Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole
(1972)
Dr. Lou Grazzo
Sam Cade
(1972)
The Rookies
(1972)
Sgt. Eddie Ryker
The Six Million Dollar Man
(1973)
Oliver Spencer
The Night Strangler
(1973)
Carl Kolchak
Hay que matar a B.
(1975)
Pal Kovak
Law and Order
(1976)
Deputy Chief Brian O'Malley
Crackle of Death
(1976)
Carl Kolchak
Demon and the Mummy
(1976)
Carl Kolchak
Brinks: The Great Robbery
(1976)
James McNally
No Deposit, No Return
(1976)
Duke
Airport '77
(1977)
Stan Buchek
Zero to Sixty
(1978)
Michael Nolan
Hot Lead & Cold Feet
(1978)
Mayor Ragsdale
The Users
(1978)
Henry Waller
Love for Rent
(1979)
Coach John Martin
Donovan's Kid
(1979)
Timothy Donovan
Ike
(1979)
Gen. George S. Patton
Hangar 18
(1980)
Harry Forbes
Waikiki
(1980)
Capt. McGuire
Firebird 2015 A.D.
(1981)
Red
A Christmas Story
(1983)
Mr. Parker
The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
(1984)
Dr. David Jennings
The Natural
(1984)
Gus Sands
The Baron and the Kid
(1984)
Jack Beamer
My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn
(1985)
Dr. Gerrit Koets
Turk 182!
(1985)
Det. Kowalski
Raw Deal
(1986)
Chief Harry Shannon
From the Hip
(1987)
Craig Duncan
Inherit the Wind
(1988)
E.K. Hornbeck
Dead Heat
(1988)
Dr. Ernest McNab
The Diamond Trap
(1988)
Chief Walter Vadney
Child in the Night
(1990)
Os Winfield
Kojak: It's Always Something
(1990)
Wainwright
Unclaimed Fortunes II
(1990)
Host
Captain America
(1990)
General Fleming
By Dawn's Early Light
(1990)
Condor
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
(1991)
actor (archive footage) (uncredited)
Perfect Harmony
(1991)
Mr. Hobbs
Blood and Concrete
(1991)
Hank Dick
Clara
(1991)
Albert Kroll
Mastergate
(1992)
Folsom Bunting
Happy Hell Night
(1992)
Henry Collins
The American Clock
(1993)
Older Arthur Huntington
A Perfect Stranger
(1994)
John Henry Phillips
Mysteries of the Ancient World
(1994)
Billy Madison
(1995)
Brian Madison
Derby
(1995)
Lester Corbett
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
(1997)
Mr. Parker (archive footage)
Pros & Cons
(1999)
Mr. Stanford
Directing
Writing