Posted on 02/27/2006 7:18:29 AM PST by presidio9
Darren McGavin, the husky, tough-talking actor who starred in several TV series, played a grouchy dad in the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” and had other strong roles in such films as “The Man with the Golden Arm” and “The Natural,” died Saturday. He was 83.
McGavin died of natural causes at a Los Angeles-area hospital with his family at his side, said his son Bogart McGavin.
He starred in five series, including cult favorite “Kolchak: The Night Stalker,” and became a prolific actor in TV movies.
Despite his busy career in television, McGavin was awarded only one Emmy: in 1990 for an appearance as Candice Bergen’s opinionated father in an episode of “Murphy Brown.”
He may be best recognized for his role as the hot-tempered father of a boy yearning for the gift of a BB gun in the 1983 comedy “A Christmas Story.” The film has become a holiday-season staple on TV.
Throughout his television career, McGavin gained a reputation as a curmudgeon willing to bad-mouth his series and combat studio bosses.
McGavin starred in the private eye series “Mike Hammer” in the 1950s. In 1968 he told a reporter: “Hammer was a dummy. I made 72 of those shows, and I thought it was a comedy. In fact, I played it camp.”
McGavin also disparaged “Riverboat,” an 1840s adventure that ran from 1959-61 and costarred Burt Reynolds.
When “Riverboat” was in danger of being canceled by NBC, McGavin researched life on the river. “NBC used none of my ideas, and ‘Riverboat’ sank,” he said.
Haas engel pfeiffer!! LOL. Not sure I spelled that right but you get the idea.
"Oh fudge." ;-)
Darren also was very good as Murphy Brown's father, I thought. Though that show was a lot of left wing propaganda.
Haas engel pfeiffer!! LOL. Not sure I spelled that right but you get the idea.
"Oh fudge." ;-)
Darren also was very good as Murphy Brown's father, I thought. Though that show was a lot of left wing propaganda.
Bye Darren! Thanks for the entertainment. Sleep well.
Here's the other day's thread for more comments, (see 22)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1585567/posts
Thanks for the pic.....What a fine actor and a pleasure to
watch even great with Arnold
Grew up watching the "Night Stalker".
Yes, the zombie episode was particulary scary. Loved it!
To be added to the "you'll shoot your eye out" ping list, freep me! (actually just kidding, no such list ;)
"DAGGUMMITBLAU!""
"NOTAFINGA!"
""FRA-JILL- LAY."
D.G. is a Christmas Story icon who will be missed.
(somewhere in the cold night shovelling can be heard and taps is being played as he's laid next to his major award)
The Challenge (1970) (TV) .... Jacob Gallery
Garrarry!! (Miko)
"A-HA, IT'S A CLINKER!!!"
I was an adult when "Night Stalker" was on the air, and I was afraid to watch it. I've only begun enjoying it recently, when my son has watched reruns on cable TV.
Sorry to hear of McGavin's death.
Well there damn sure oughta be one! On the bright side, it would be prtty low-volume.
God bless him. May he RIP. _Christmas Story_ has brought many people much joy and laughter.
That revived Nightstalker broke my heart. The charm of the original was Kolchack's "everyman" personal pitted against the occult and odd. They turned the idea into a cheapened X-files...actually more in the mold (and I emphasize the word "mold") of that dank, dark "Millennium", with nary a laugh or smile in sight. If anything, "Supernatural" carries the flavor of the old "Nightstalker" much more true to form. I smile when I recall Simon Oakland's shouting counterpoint to Kolchack's blind belief. A true classic!
I wholeheartedly agree. I had suspected when I had heard of the new "Night Stalker" series that it wouldn't be worthy of the name.
What a loss to those of us who are rabid A Christmas Story fans! I think his role in the film as The Old Man was his "finest hour" (with apologies to Night Stalker fans).
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