Darren McGavin

Name: Darren McGavin
Date of Birth: May 07, 1922
Place of Birth: San Joaquin, California, USA

Mini-bio: A remarkably seasoned actor of stage, screen and television, Darren McGavin has notched in excess of 200 performances; however, he is most fondly remembered by cult TV fans as heroic newspaper reporte...( read more)r Carl Kolchak in the classic but short-lived horror TV series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974). In a long and varied career, McGavin has often turned up as authority figures including policemen, military officers, stern-faced business executives or father figures; however, he is equally adept at light-hearted comedic performances.

McGavin stayed continually employed throughout the 1960s, appearing in such films as The Great Sioux Massacre (1965), The Outsider (1967) (TV), The Challengers (1970) (TV) and Tribes (1970) (TV). In addition, he was regularly guest-starring in dozens of TV shows, including "Gunsmoke" (1955), "Dr. Kildare" (1961), "Mission: Impossible" (1966) and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964). In 1971 he landed the role of cynical reporter Carl Kolchak in the low-budget horror thriller The Night Stalker (1972) (TV), about a vampire running amok in Las Vegas.

"Kolchak" only lasted one season, but it became a bona-fide cult classic, and many years later its premise of "the unknown amongst us" inspired writer Chris Carter to create the phenomenally successful long-running TV series "The X Files" (1993), which saw McGavin guest-star in several episodes.

McGavin remained busy throughout the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s. Along with his film and TV work, McGavin has also enjoyed an illustrious career on the stage, with appearances in dozens of critically acclaimed productions across the length and breadth of the US. He has appeared in stage presentations of "Death of a Salesman", "The Rainmaker", "The King and I" and "Blood Sweat & Stanley Poole", to name a few.

In 1990 the opportunity arose for McGavin to play another somewhat stern, yet comedic, father figure, this time as "Bill Brown" to Candice Bergen in the much loved sitcom "Murphy Brown" (1988). McGavin was again wonderful, and his entertaining performances resulted in an Emmy Award in 1990. Several other film roles followed in the 1990s, in such films as Adam Sandler's hit Billy Madison (1995). He died on 25th February 2006 at the age of 83.

Post it anywhere	Link it anywhere
<div style="font-size:11px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/actor/darren-mcgavin"> <img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/40/25/61/4025612_tml.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Darren McGavin" /></a><br/><a href="http://www.flixster.com/actor/darren-mcgavin">Darren McGavin</a></div>	<a href="http://www.flixster.com/actor/darren-mcgavin">Darren McGavin</a>

report missing or incorrect data

Darren McGavin Wiki Profile

Welcome to the Darren McGavin wiki profile. This page is created by Flixster users like you with the help of friendly community Flixster Experts.

No Expert yet! Want your picture here? Click here.

Adding your knowledge to this page is easy. Just click the "EasyEdit" button below. To become a Flixster Expert or find out more about the program, click here. And for general help on the wiki, click here.

No pages yet
Add a page

Darren McGavin Biography Darren McGavin Quotes Darren McGavin Best Movies and Characters

EasyEdit

(What's this?)

What's going on here?
Flixster members are collaborating to create the definitive resource for Darren McGavin information on the Internet. We're adding all the images, info, and ideas that best tell this actor's unique story. To add your knowledge of Darren McGavin, just log in and click the EasyEdit button at the top of the wiki pages. (Click here for help.)

Darren McGavin mini-bio: A remarkably seasoned actor of stage, screen and television, Darren McGavin has notched in excess of 200 performances; however, he is most fondly remembered by cult TV fans as heroic newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak in the classic but short-lived horror TV series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974). In a long and varied career, McGavin has often turned up as authority figures including policemen, military officers, stern-faced business executives or father figures; however, he is equally adept at light-hearted comedic performances.

McGavin stayed continually employed throughout the 1960s, appearing in such films as The Great Sioux Massacre (1965), The Outsider (1967) (TV), The Challengers (1970) (TV) and Tribes (1970) (TV). In addition, he was regularly guest-starring in dozens of TV shows, including "Gunsmoke" (1955), "Dr. Kildare" (1961), "Mission: Impossible" (1966) and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964). In 1971 he landed the role of cynical reporter Carl Kolchak in the low-budget horror thriller The Night Stalker (1972) (TV), about a vampire running amok in Las Vegas.

"Kolchak" only lasted one season, but it became a bona-fide cult classic, and many years later its premise of "the unknown amongst us" inspired writer Chris Carter to create the phenomenally successful long-running TV series "The X Files" (1993), which saw McGavin guest-star in several episodes.

McGavin remained busy throughout the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s. Along with his film and TV work, McGavin has also enjoyed an illustrious career on the stage, with appearances in dozens of critically acclaimed productions across the length and breadth of the US. He has appeared in stage presentations of "Death of a Salesman", "The Rainmaker", "The King and I" and "Blood Sweat & Stanley Poole", to name a few.

In 1990 the opportunity arose for McGavin to play another somewhat stern, yet comedic, father figure, this time as "Bill Brown" to Candice Bergen in the much loved sitcom "Murphy Brown" (1988). McGavin was again wonderful, and his entertaining performances resulted in an Emmy Award in 1990. Several other film roles followed in the 1990s, in such films as Adam Sandler's hit Billy Madison (1995). He died on 25th February 2006 at the age of 83.

VITAL STATS

Darren McGavin Information:

Eye color:

Height:

Nickname(s):

Notable feature(s):

Education:

Family:

Resides in:

Religious affiliations:

Political affiliation:

Personal interests/hobbies:

Charities/Causes:

Other:

Last update: Aug 19 2008, 1:57 PM EDT by ed (content history | content tools) (help)

Keyword tags:

Darren McGavin Biography Darren McGavin Quotes Darren McGavin Best Movies and Characters

Photos

Meet Other Fans

Comments

FinalTerror

I will always remember Darren McGavin as Carl Kolchak in the TV series The Night Stalker. Thanks for the memories they are cherished.

posted 773 days ago
jaysgrandmother

I liked Mike Hammer too also the other tv movies.I sure do miss him...

posted 809 days ago
hncckbll

One of the all time great television actors, tv's original
Mike Hammer, and , most of all...the original, best, and most enduring Night Stalker...Carl Kolchak.

posted 888 days ago