Darren McGavin
| Darren McGavin | |
|---|---|
McGavin in Riverboat, 1960
|
|
| Born |
William Lyle Richardson May 7, 1922 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 2006 (aged 83) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Cardiovascular disease |
| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1940–2006 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Anita Williams (m. 1942–43) Melanie York (m. 1944–69) Kathie Browne (m. 1969–2003) |
Darren McGavin (born William Lyle Richardson, May 7, 1922 – February 25, 2006) was an American film, stage, and television actor best known for his portrayal of the grumpy but loving father in the film A Christmas Story, and for the title role in the television horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
McGavin began his career in walk-on roles and later onstage, appearing in Broadway productions in 1953, and later played the title character 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., and in later years, he had a recurring role in the sitcom Murphy Brown, as the title character's father, for which he received an Emmy Award.
McGavin was born in Spokane, Washington, the son of Reed D. Richardson and his wife Grace (Bogart) Watson. According to McGavin, his childhood was turbulent. He ran away from home at age eleven, and lived in abandoned warehouses in Tacoma, Washington during his teenage years.
McGavin spent a year at the University of the Pacific in . Untrained as an actor, he worked as a painter at Columbia Pictures movie studios in 1945. When an opening became available for a bit part in A Song to Remember, McGavin applied and won his first movie role. Shortly afterwards, he moved to New York City and studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Actors Studio under teacher Sanford Meisner. He began working in live TV and on Broadway, including The Rainmaker (where he created the title role), The King and I, and Death of a Salesman.
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