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Darren McGavin

Darren McGavin

Known For Acting
Birthday May 07, 1922
Died Feb 25, 2006 (83)
Birthplace Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Popularity 0.7 (history)
Updated Jun 28, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Darren McGavin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

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Filmography

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

2004

as Red (archive footage)

Pros & Cons

Pros & Cons

1999

as Mr. Stanford

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas

1997

as Mr. Parker (archive footage)

Billy Madison

Billy Madison

1995

as Brian Madison

Derby

Derby

1995

as Lester Corbett

A Perfect Stranger

A Perfect Stranger

1994

as John Henry Phillips

The American Clock

The American Clock

1993

as Older Arthur Huntington

Happy Hell Night

Happy Hell Night

1992

as Henry Collins

Mastergate

Mastergate

1992

as Folsom Bunting

Clara

Clara

1991

as Albert Kroll

Perfect Harmony

Perfect Harmony

1991

as Mr. Hobbs

Blood and Concrete

Blood and Concrete

1991

as Hank Dick

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

1991

as actor (archive footage) (uncredited)

Kojak: It's Always Something

Kojak: It's Always Something

1990

as Wainwright

Captain America

Captain America

1990

as General Fleming

By Dawn's Early Light

By Dawn's Early Light

1990

as Condor

Inherit the Wind

Inherit the Wind

1988

as E.K. Hornbeck

The Diamond Trap

The Diamond Trap

1988

as Chief Walter Vadney

Dead Heat

Dead Heat

1988

as Dr. Ernest McNab

From the Hip

From the Hip

1987

as Craig Duncan

Raw Deal

Raw Deal

1986

as Chief Harry Shannon

Turk 182!

Turk 182!

1985

as Det. Kowalski

The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.

The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.

1984

as Dr. David Jennings

The Baron and the Kid

The Baron and the Kid

1984

as Jack Beamer

The Natural

The Natural

1984

as Gus Sands

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story

1983

as The Old Man

Firebird 2015 A.D.

Firebird 2015 A.D.

1981

as Red

Hangar 18

Hangar 18

1980

as Harry Forbes

Waikiki

Waikiki

1980

as Capt. McGuire

Donovan's Kid

Donovan's Kid

1979

as Timothy Donovan

Love for Rent

Love for Rent

1979

as Coach John Martin

Ike

Ike

1979

as Gen. George S. Patton

Zero to Sixty

Zero to Sixty

1978

as Michael Nolan

Hot Lead & Cold Feet

Hot Lead & Cold Feet

1978

as Mayor Ragsdale

The Users

The Users

1978

as Henry Waller

Airport '77

Airport '77

1977

as Stan Buchek

Brinks: The Great Robbery

Brinks: The Great Robbery

1976

as James McNally

Demon and the Mummy

Demon and the Mummy

1976

as Carl Kolchak

Crackle of Death

Crackle of Death

1976

as Carl Kolchak

Law and Order

Law and Order

1976

as Deputy Chief Brian O'Malley

No Deposit, No Return

No Deposit, No Return

1976

as Duke

The Night Strangler

The Night Strangler

1973

as Carl Kolchak

The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man

1973

as Oliver Spencer

Here Comes the Judge

Here Comes the Judge

1972

as Judge

The Rookies

The Rookies

1972

as Sgt. Eddie Ryker

43: The Richard Petty Story

43: The Richard Petty Story

1972

as Lee Petty

The Night Stalker

The Night Stalker

1972

as Carl Kolchak

Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole

Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole

1972

as Dr. Lou Grazzo

Something Evil

Something Evil

1972

as Paul Worden

The Death of Me Yet

The Death of Me Yet

1971

as Joe Chalk

Mrs. Pollifax — Spy

Mrs. Pollifax — Spy

1971

as Farrell

Banyon

Banyon

1971

as Lieutenant Pete Cordova

Mooch Goes to Hollywood

Mooch Goes to Hollywood

1971

as Darren McGavin (uncredited)

The Challenge

The Challenge

1970

as Jacob Gallery

The Challengers

The Challengers

1970

as Jim McCabe

Tribes

Tribes

1970

as Drake

Berlin Affair

Berlin Affair

1970

as Paul Killian

Anatomy of a Crime

Anatomy of a Crime

1969

as David Ross

Mission Mars

Mission Mars

1968

as Col. Mike Blaiswick

Boomerang, Dog of Many Talents

Boomerang, Dog of Many Talents

1968

as Barney B. Duncan

The Outsider

The Outsider

1967

as David Ross

African Gold

African Gold

1965

as Mike Gregory

The Great Sioux Massacre

The Great Sioux Massacre

1965

as Captain Frederick William Benton

Bullet for a Badman

Bullet for a Badman

1964

as Sam Ward

The Case Against Brooklyn

The Case Against Brooklyn

1958

as Pete Harris

The Delicate Delinquent

The Delicate Delinquent

1957

as Mike Damon

Beau James

Beau James

1957

as Charley Hand

A Word to the Wives...

A Word to the Wives...

1955

as George Peters

Summertime

Summertime

1955

as Eddie Yaeger

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell

1955

as Capt. Russ Peters

Queen for a Day

Queen for a Day

1951

as Dan

Your Next Job

Your Next Job

1945

as Balancing hobbyist

She Wouldn't Say Yes

She Wouldn't Say Yes

1945

as The Kid - Soldier in Hospital (uncredited)

A Song to Remember

A Song to Remember

1945

as Student (uncredited)

Zero to Sixty

Zero to Sixty

1978

Screenplay

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Riverboat

as Captain Grey Holden

Episodes: 44

First Aired: Sep 13, 1959

Crime Photographer

as Casey #2

Episodes: 37

First Aired: Apr 19, 1951

The Outsider

as David Ross

Episodes: 26

First Aired: Sep 18, 1968

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

as Carl Kolchak

Episodes: 20

First Aired: Sep 13, 1974

Murphy Brown

as Bill Brown

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Nov 14, 1988

Dr. Kildare

as Prof. Felix Holman

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Sep 27, 1961

The Martian Chronicles

as Sam Parkhill

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jan 15, 1980

Ike

as Gen. George S. Patton

Episodes: 3

First Aired: May 03, 1979

Around the World in 80 Days

as Benjamin Mudge

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Apr 16, 1989

The Love Boat

as Lawrence Evans

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 24, 1977

The X-Files

as Agent Arthur Dales

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 10, 1993

The Wonderful World of Disney

as John Jay Forrest

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 27, 1954

Murder, She Wrote

as Martin Tremaine

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1984

Magnum, P.I.

as Buck Gibson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 11, 1980

Tales from the Darkside

as Van Conway

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1984

Touched by an Angel

as George Zarko

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1994

Tales of the Unexpected

as Sheriff Milt Singleton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 24, 1979

Gunsmoke

as Will Helmick

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Studio One

as Will Sorrell

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 07, 1948

Millennium

as Henry Black

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 25, 1996

Mission: Impossible

as J. Richard Taggart

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1966

The Islanders

as Phil

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1960

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Red Hillman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1955

Rawhide

as Jed Hadley

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 09, 1959

The Virginian

as Mark Troxel

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1962

The Defenders

as Howard Potter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1961

The Hitchhiker

as Old Man

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 01, 1983

Climax!

as Walter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1954

The Philco Television Playhouse

as Bill Starbuck

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1948

The Rogues

as Amos Champion

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1964

Suspense

as Ted Larson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 06, 1949

Robert Montgomery Presents

as Joe Gillis

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 30, 1950

The Defenders

as Marty Wisnovsky

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1961

The Virginian

as Sam Evans

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1962

Gunsmoke

as Lon Gorman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Gunsmoke

as Joe Bascome

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

The Name of the Game

as Jesse Gil McCray

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1968

The Name of the Game

as Sam Hardy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1968

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Lyle Endicott

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1955

Studio One

as Johnny Quigg

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 07, 1948

Studio One

as Tom Kendall

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 07, 1948

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

as McClain

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1971

Death Valley Days

as Zacharias Gurney

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 01, 1952

Burke's Law

as Conrad Hill

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 07, 1994

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

as Franklin Carson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1963

Fallen Angels

as Old Man

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 01, 1993

The Wonderful World of Disney

as Timothy Donovan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 27, 1954

Crime Photographer

as Casey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 19, 1951

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Sheridan Westcott

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1962

The Name of the Game

as Eddie Gannon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1968

Mannix

as Mark

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1967

Love, American Style

as Corbett

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1969

Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

Episodes: 79

First Aired: Jan 07, 1958

Small & Frye

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Mar 07, 1983

The Match Game

as Self

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Dec 31, 1962

The Evil Touch

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jun 19, 1973

The Commish

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 28, 1991

The Alcoa Hour

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 16, 1955

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1964

Night Stalker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 2005

Gargoyles

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 24, 1994

Route 66

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1960

Highway to Heaven

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1984

Grace Under Fire

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1993

Sisters

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 11, 1991

Monsters

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 22, 1988

Felony Squad

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 1966

Cimarron Strip

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 07, 1967

Police Story

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 20, 1973

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1963

Bracken's World

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1969

Civil Wars

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 20, 1991

Ben Casey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1961

Stagecoach West

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1960

Tales of Tomorrow

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 03, 1951

The Bold Ones: The Lawyers

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1969

Custer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 06, 1967

The Mike Douglas Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 11, 1961

V.I.P. Schaukel

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 09, 1971

Suspense

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 06, 1949

What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 02, 1950

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1973

Omnibus

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 09, 1952

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 20 31 14
2024 7 28 46 10
2024 8 18 37 10
2024 9 18 41 8
2024 10 12 22 6
2024 11 12 21 6
2024 12 17 39 8
2025 1 19 37 11
2025 2 9 20 1
2025 3 5 14 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 3 4 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 1 1 0
2025 8 3 14 0
2025 9 0 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 6 785 785
2025 1 530 168

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