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
Hangar 18
(1980)
Harry Forbes
Billy Madison
(1995)
Brian Madison
A Christmas Story
(1983)
Mr. Parker
Airport '77
(1977)
Stan Buchek
Captain America
(1990)
General Fleming
Dead Heat
(1988)
Dr. Ernest McNab
The Man with the Golden Arm
(1955)
Louie
The Six Million Dollar Man
(1973)
Oliver Spencer
Bullet for a Badman
(1964)
Sam Ward
Summertime
(1955)
Eddie Yaeger
By Dawn's Early Light
(1990)
Condor
No Deposit, No Return
(1976)
Duke
The Night Stalker
(1972)
Carl Kolchak
Hot Lead & Cold Feet
(1978)
Mayor Ragsdale
Full Filmography
Acting
She Wouldn't Say Yes
(1945)
The Kid - Soldier in Hospital (uncredited)
Your Next Job
(1945)
Balancing hobbyist
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
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
(1955)
Capt. Russ Peters
A Word to the Wives...
(1955)
George Peters
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Chaney Vase
(1955)
Lyle Endicott
The Delicate Delinquent
(1957)
Mike Damon
Beau James
(1957)
Charley Hand
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 Challenge
(1970)
Jacob Gallery
Tribes
(1970)
Drake
The Challengers
(1970)
Jim McCabe
Berlin Affair
(1970)
Paul Killian
Mrs. Pollifax — Spy
(1971)
Farrell
The Death of Me Yet
(1971)
Joe Chalk
Banyon
(1971)
Lieutenant Pete Cordova
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
(1971)
Darren McGavin (uncredited)
The Night Stalker
(1972)
Carl Kolchak
Something Evil
(1972)
Paul Worden
The Rookies
(1972)
Sgt. Eddie Ryker
43: The Richard Petty Story
(1972)
Lee Petty
Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole
(1972)
Dr. Lou Grazzo
Sam Cade
(1972)
Here Comes the Judge
(1972)
Judge
The Night Strangler
(1973)
Carl Kolchak
The Six Million Dollar Man
(1973)
Oliver Spencer
Hay que matar a B.
(1975)
Pal Kovak
No Deposit, No Return
(1976)
Duke
Brinks: The Great Robbery
(1976)
James McNally
Crackle of Death
(1976)
Carl Kolchak
Law and Order
(1976)
Deputy Chief Brian O'Malley
Demon and the Mummy
(1976)
Carl Kolchak
Airport '77
(1977)
Stan Buchek
Hot Lead & Cold Feet
(1978)
Mayor Ragsdale
Zero to Sixty
(1978)
Michael Nolan
The Users
(1978)
Henry Waller
Ike
(1979)
Gen. George S. Patton
Donovan's Kid
(1979)
Timothy Donovan
Love for Rent
(1979)
Coach John Martin
Hangar 18
(1980)
Harry Forbes
Waikiki
(1980)
Capt. McGuire
Firebird 2015 A.D.
(1981)
Red
A Christmas Story
(1983)
Mr. Parker
The Natural
(1984)
Gus Sands
The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
(1984)
Dr. David Jennings
The Baron and the Kid
(1984)
Jack Beamer
Turk 182!
(1985)
Det. Kowalski
My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn
(1985)
Dr. Gerrit Koets
Raw Deal
(1986)
Chief Harry Shannon
From the Hip
(1987)
Craig Duncan
Dead Heat
(1988)
Dr. Ernest McNab
Inherit the Wind
(1988)
E.K. Hornbeck
The Diamond Trap
(1988)
Chief Walter Vadney
By Dawn's Early Light
(1990)
Condor
Captain America
(1990)
General Fleming
Child in the Night
(1990)
Os Winfield
Kojak: It's Always Something
(1990)
Wainwright
Unclaimed Fortunes II
(1990)
Host
Blood and Concrete
(1991)
Hank Dick
Perfect Harmony
(1991)
Mr. Hobbs
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
(1991)
actor (archive footage) (uncredited)
Clara
(1991)
Albert Kroll
Happy Hell Night
(1992)
Henry Collins
Mastergate
(1992)
Folsom Bunting
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