Night Stalker stalks no more
 

RIP Darrin McGavin, hell of a day to lose don knots and darrin mcgavin on the same day

Oh, that's sad news. What is even more sad is that his death is going to be completely overshadowed by Don Knotts' death. And I'm not meaning to knock Knotts, it's just a shame McGavin won't get the attention he deserves as well.

:rip:

R.I.P. Kolchak :(

The reason is simple: McGavin (the stage name of William Lyle Richardson) was best-known in the role of reporter Carl Kolchak in the two Night Stalker TV movies and TV series. It isn't like Knotts, who had a long TV career and also a fairly successful movie career.

Gawd, I feel old. :(

Farewell to the Old Man.

Man, who's next...?

:rip:

Actually, I would bet that McGavin is probably best known as the father in Christmas Story. :)

And I realize the reason why Knotts will receive more attention. I thought that was implicit in my first comment.

:(

What a day, two of my favorites. :rip:

Oh Fudge!

USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/...avinobit_x.htm

I watch the original airings of Kolchak: The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler. One of my favorite shows growing up.

:(

:rip: Mr. McGavin.

Never saw Night Stalker (or Christmas Story, for that matter) but I thought he was great on Murphy Brown, and that he and the late Colleen Dewhurst were perfectly cast as Murphy's parents.

Rob

I loved Night Stalker growing up.

RIP

Sad news.

He had two great roles he'll be best remembered for: Carl Kolchak and the dad on A Christmas Story. Those characters will always live on.

:( Sad news indeed.

My son and I had recently started watching the Night Stalker movies and TV show. He was as sad as I was when I told him about this. There will be a touch of melancholy when I watch A Christmas Story this year.

He gave a good performance in THE NATRUAL.

Hey all, I work at a newspaper, and I saw this story on the wire today and thought I would do a quick copy and paste job. It put a little smile on my face anyway.

'It's a major award!': Leg lamp becomes legend
By Mark Caro
Chicago Tribune
(KRT)
Darren McGavin, R.I.P. (as of Saturday of "natural causes").
The Internet Movie Database lists 173 credits to this 83-year-old actor's name, mostly TV appearances from 1952's "Goodyear Television Playhouse" to the 2005 remake of his signature mid-'70s series "The Night Stalker."
But his role that will be seen throughout the ages is the Old Man (Ralphie Parker's father) in 1983's "A Christmas Story." As directed and co-written by Bob "Porky's" Clark from Jean Shepard's novel, Mr. Parker was the quintessential dad torn between his authoritarian tendencies and child-like enthusiasm, and McGavin nailed him in all of his stern goofiness.
Who can forget the dad's reaction when Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) tries on a gift bunny suit (thanks to IMDB):
Mr. Parker: He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny.
Mother: He does not!
Mr. Parker: He does too. He looks like a pink nightmare!
But most memorable was the Old Man's giddy anticipation and unveiling of what he declares to be "a major award!"
It turns out to be, of course, a lamp in the shape of a leg, but that doesn't stop him from enthusing, "Would you look at that? Would you look at THAT?" or declaring, "It's... it's... it's indescribably beautiful! It reminds me of the Fourth of July!"
Alas, his wife (Melinda Dillon) fails to agree and finds a way to smash it by "accident," prompting him to complain ruefully, "You were always jealous of this lamp."
McGavin won a 1990 Emmy for guest-starring on "Murphy Brown" and a Cable ACE for acting in the 1991 series "Clara." But his "major award" was knowing that "A Christmas Story," which ran in a 24-hour "marathon" on TNT last December, will be highlighting his most indelible comedic performance for generations to come.