Posted on 02/25/2006 2:50:35 PM PST by lunarbicep
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Darren McGavin at approximately 7:10 A.M. Pacific time today, Saturday 25, 2006. Darren was just three months short of his 84th birthday. While we suspect none of us can imagine a world without the beloved, feisty little red-head, it is time to reflect, give thanks for his life and hold in reverence his memory. Darren is gone, but in many respects he will always be with us: as Carl Kolchak, fighting authority and battling monsters; the grumpy Old Man sending curses over Lake Michigan; as David Ross, the outsider, Grey Holden, captain of the Enterprise, the irascible detective Mike Hammer or any number of memorable guest star appearances, most notably as Joe Bascome on GUNSMOKE and as the washed-up old actor from "Distant Signals."
Please take a moment in your sadness to reflect upon all the ways Darren touched your lives, say a prayer and raise a glass to toast a career which spanned over fifty years and affected us all in ways too numerous to count.
He was one of the good ones. RIP
Ted Kennedy,we can only hope!!!!
If memory serves me right, he first starred in a TV series called, "Riverboat". I liked him then and in all of the others I saw. He will be missed.
“You a sweet pea boy? You look like a sweet pea to me!”
Robert Duvall also did his part of Max Mercy in The Natural without credit (though IMDB lists the part as "Scotty Carson" for some reason).
The cast also had great performances from the listed stars, Robert Redford (Roy Hobbs), Glenn Close (Iris Gaines), Kim Basinger (Memo Paris), Wilford Brimley (Pop Fisher), Barbara Hershey (Harriet Bird), Robert Prosky (The Judge), Richard Farnsworth (Red Blow) Michael Madsen (Bartholomew 'Bump' Bailey).
I consider The Natural a perfect movie. Perfectly cast, directed, written, edited, etc. Even (especially) Randy Newman's score was perfect. It is timeless and should be watched by everyone.
To clarify, the first film, "The Night Stalker" was about the Vampire, Janos Skorzeny, in Las Vegas. The sequel, "The Night Strangler" was set in Seattle and the killer was the almost-immortal Dr. Malcom Richards (played by Richard Anderson, AKA "Oscar Goldman" of the Six Million Dollar Man). The first episode of the series had the Jack the Ripper character.
We always have George cLOONEY, Ben Aflack and Maaaatt Daaaaamon.
Thanks for the info. I'd heard of the "three on a match" superstition. Like some other superstitions ("never walk under a ladder" comes to mind), it originates from logic. But it's quite a stretch to tie triple celebrity deaths to "three on a match."
The superstitious are going to be superstitious, logic be damned. Funny thing is, the "deaths come in threes" BS is automatically self-fulfilling. Someone else with a modicum of fame will expire today, thereby "proving" the three-death theory.
I found the show more comical that anything else, honestly nothing "scared" me on the show. But for me it was just fun to watch, he was a likeable guy, on a mission that nobody believed in. And I've just realized why I did like the show, he was the underdog and I rooted for him. :) (sigh) those were the days lol. OMG I'm sounding like my father....... must resist..... urge... to .... act like......adult....... (End of transmission) :O)
Actor – filmography
1. "Night Stalker" - Pilot (2005) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Reporter Standing at Desk
2. "The X Files" - Agua Mala (1999) TV Episode .... Arthur Dales - Travelers (1998) TV Episode .... Agent Arthur Dales
3. Pros and Cons (1999) .... Mr. Stanford
4. "Millennium" - Midnight of the Century (1997) TV Episode .... Henry Black
5. "Touched by an Angel" - Missing in Action (1997) TV Episode .... George Zarko
6. Small Time (1996/I) .... Sam
7. "Grace Under Fire" - Take Me to Your Breeder (1996) TV Episode .... Dad
8. Still Waters Burn (1996) .... Paddy
9. "The Commish" - Father Image: Part 2 (1995) TV Episode .... Terry Boyle - Father Image: Part 1 (1995) TV Episode .... Terry Boyle
10. "Gargoyles" - The Silver Falcon (1995) TV Episode (voice) .... Dominic Dracon
11. "Burke's Law" - Who Killed the King of the Country Club? (1995) TV Episode .... Conrad Hill
12. Derby (1995) (TV) .... Lester Corbett
13. "Sisters" - Judgment Day (1995) TV Episode .... Judge Harrison Bradford
14. Billy Madison (1995) .... Brian Madison
15. Fudge-A-Mania (1995) (TV) .... Buster
16. A Perfect Stranger (1994) (TV) .... John Henry Phillips
17. The American Clock (1993) (TV) .... Older Arthur Huntington
18. "Murphy Brown" - I'm Dreaming of a Brown Christmas (1992) TV Episode .... Bill Brown - Full Circle (1991) TV Episode .... Bill Brown - Brown Like Me: Part 1 (1989) TV Episode .... Bill Brown - Brown Like Me: Part 2 (1989) TV Episode .... Bill Brown
19. Mastergate (1992) (TV) .... Folsom Bunting
20. Happy Hell Night (1992) .... Henry Collins
21. "Murder, She Wrote" - Angel of Death (1992) TV Episode .... Martin Tremaine
22. "Civil Wars" - Shop 'Til You Drop (1992) TV Episode .... Noah Caldecott
23. "Miracles & Other Wonders" (1992) TV Series .... Host
24. "Sibs" - If I Only Had a Dad (????) TV Episode
25. Blood and Concrete (1991) .... Hank Dick
26. Perfect Harmony (1991) (TV) .... Mr. Hobbs
27. Captain America (1991) .... Gen. Fleming
28. Clara (1991) (TV)
29. By Dawn's Early Light (1990) (TV) .... Condor - Secretary of Interior
30. Child in the Night (1990) (TV) .... Os Winfield
31. In the Name of Blood (1990) .... Fergus
32. Kojak: It's Always Something (1990) (TV)
33. "Monsters" - Portrait of the Artist (1989) TV Episode .... Hubert
34. "Around the World in 80 Days" (1989/I) (mini) TV Series .... Benjamin Mudge
35. The Diamond Trap (1988) (TV) .... Chief Walter Vadney
36. Dead Heat (1988) .... Doctor Ernest McNab
37. Inherit the Wind (1988) (TV) .... E.K. Hornbeck
38. "Highway to Heaven" - The Correspondent (1988) TV Episode .... Hale Stoddard
39. From the Hip (1987) .... Craig Duncan
40. Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson (1987) (TV) (as Darren McGaven) .... A.D. Nathan
41. Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's (1987) (TV) .... A.D. Nathan
42. "Worlds Beyond" - Voice from the Gallows (1986) TV Episode
43. Raw Deal (1986) .... Chief Harry Shannon
44. Flag (1986)
45. "Tales from the Darkside" - Distant Signals (1985) TV Episode .... Van Conway
46. "The Hitchhiker"
- Nightshift (1985) TV Episode .... Old Man 47. Turk 182! (1985) .... Det. Kowalski
48. My Wicked, Wicked Ways... The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985) (TV) .... Dr. Gerrit Koets
49. The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. (1984) (TV) .... Dr. David Jennings
50. The Natural (1984) (uncredited) .... Gus Sands
51. The Baron and the Kid (1984) (TV) .... Jack Beamer
52. A Christmas Story (1983) .... The Old Man (Mr. Parker)
53. "Tales of the Unexpected" - Heir Presumptuous (1983) TV Episode .... Sheriff Milt Singleton
54. "Small & Frye" (1983) TV Series .... Nick Small
55. "Disneyland" - No Deposit, No Return: Part 2 (1982) TV Episode .... Duke - No Deposit, No Return: Part 1 (1982) TV Episode .... Duke - Donovan's Kid: Part 2 (1979) TV Episode .... Timothy Donovan - Donovan's Kid: Part 1 (1979) TV Episode .... Timothy Donovan - The High Flying Spy: Part 3 (1972) TV Episode .... John Jay Forrest - "Freedom to Speak" (1982) (mini) TV Series
56. "Magnum, P.I." - Mad Buck Gibson (1981) TV Episode .... Buck Gibson
57. Firebird 2015 AD (1981) .... Red
58. "Nero Wolfe" - Gambit (1981) TV Episode .... Philigree
59. "The Love Boat" - Promoter, The/The Judges/The Family Plan/Forever Engaged/May the Best Man Win: Part 1 (1980) TV Episode .... Lawrence Evans - Promoter, The/The Judges/The Family Plan/Forever Engaged/May the Best Man Win: Part 2 (1980) TV Episode .... Lawrence Evans
60. Hangar 18 (1980) .... Harry Forbes
61. "The Martian Chronicles" (1980) (mini) TV Series .... Sam Parkhill
62. Waikiki (1980/I) (TV) .... Captain
63. Love for Rent (1979) (TV) .... Coach John Martin
64. Not Until Today (1979) (TV) .... Chief Jason Swan
65. "Ike" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... Gen. George S. Patton
66. Donovan's Kid (1979) (TV) .... Timothy Donovan
67. A Bond of Iron (1979) (TV) .... William Weaver
68. The Users (1978) (TV) .... Henry Waller
69. Zero to Sixty (1978) .... Michael Nolan
70. Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978) .... Mayor Ragsdale
71. Ike: The War Years (1978) (TV)
72. Airport '77 (1977) .... Stan Buchek
73. Law and Order (1976) (TV) .... Deputy Chief Brian O'Malley
74. Brinks: The Great Robbery (1976) (TV) .... James McNally
75. No Deposit, No Return (1976) .... Duke
76. The Demon and the Mummy (1976) .... Carl Kolchak
77. Crackle of Death (1976) (TV) .... Carl Kolchak
78. Hay que matar a B. (1975) .... Pal Kovak
79. "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974) TV Series .... Carl Kolchak (1974-1975)
80. 43: The Richard Petty Story (1974) .... Lee Petty
81. "The Evil Touch" - Gornak's Prism (1974) TV Episode - George (1973) TV Episode - A Game of Hearts (1973) TV Episode
82. "Police Story" - The Ripper (1974) TV Episode .... Matt Hallett
83. "Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law" - A Foreigner Among Us (1974) TV Episode
84. "Shaft" - Cop Killer (1974) TV Episode
85. Happy Mother's Day, Love George (1973)
86. The Six Million Dollar Man (1973) (TV) .... Oliver Spencer
87. The Night Strangler (1973) (TV) .... Carl Kolchak
88. Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole (1972) (TV) .... Dr. Lou Grazzo
89. Here Comes the Judge (1972) (TV) .... Judge
90. The Rookies (1972) (TV) .... Sergeant Eddie Ryker
91. Something Evil (1972) (TV) .... Paul Worden
92. The Night Stalker (1972) (TV) .... Carl Kolchak
93. The Death of Me Yet (1971) (TV) .... Joe Chalk
94. "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" - The Invasion of Kevin Ireland (1971) TV Episode .... Kevin Ireland
95. "Cade's County" - Homecoming (1971) TV Episode .... Courtney Vernon
96. Mrs. Pollifax -- Spy (1971) .... Farrell
97. Banyon (1971) (TV) .... Lieutenant Pete Cordova
98. "Matt Lincoln" - Billy (1970) TV Episode
99. "Bracken's World" - Infinity (1970) TV Episode .... Max Lassiter
100. Tribes (1970) (TV) .... Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Drake
101. Berlin Affair (1970) (TV) .... Paul Killian
102. "The Name of the Game" - Battle at Gannon's Bridge (1970) TV Episode .... Eddie Gannon - Good-bye Harry (1969) TV Episode .... Sam Hardy - Shine On, Shine On, Jesse Gil (1968) TV Episode .... Jesse Gil McCray
103. "Mannix" - A Ticket to the Eclipse (1970) TV Episode .... Mark
104. "Love, American Style" - Love and Double Trouble/Love and the Fly/Love and the Millionaire (1970) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Fly")
105. The Challengers (1970) (TV) .... Jim McCabe
106. The Challenge (1970) (TV) .... Jacob Gallery
107. The Forty-Eight Hour Mile (1970) (TV)
108. Anatomy of a Crime (1969)
109. "The Outsider" (1968) TV Series .... David Ross
110. Mission Mars (1968) .... Col. Mike Blaiswick
111. The Outsider (1967) (TV) .... David Ross
112. "Custer" - Desperate Mission (1967) TV Episode .... Jeb Powell
113. "Mission: Impossible" - The Seal (1967) TV Episode .... J. Richard Taggart
114. "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." - The Deadly Quest Affair (1967) TV Episode .... Viktor Karmak
115. "The Virginian" - The Deadly Past (1967) TV Episode .... Sam Evans
- The Intruders (1964) TV Episode .... Mark Troxel
116. "Cimarron Strip" - The Legend of Jud Starr (1967) TV Episode .... Jud Starr
117. The Legend of Jud Starr (1967) (TV) .... Jud Starr
118. "Gunsmoke" - Gunfighter, R.I.P (1966) TV Episode .... Joe Bascome - The Hostage (1965) TV Episode .... Lon Gorman - Twenty Miles from Dodge (1965) TV Episode .... Will Helmick
119. "Felony Squad" - The Streets Are Paved with Quicksand (1966) TV Episode .... Leslie Gorman
120. "Court Martial" - All Roads Lead to Callaghan (1966) TV Episode
121. "Confidential for Women" - Episode dated 25 April 1966 (1966) TV Episode .... Andy
122. African Gold (1966) .... Mike Gregory
123. "Dr. Kildare" - With This Ring (1965) TV Episode .... Felix Holman - When Shadows Fall (1965) TV Episode .... Felix Holman - In the Roman Candle's Bright Glare (1965) TV Episode .... Felix Holman - From Nigeria with Love (1965) TV Episode .... Felix Holman
124. The Great Sioux Massacre (1965) .... Captain Benteen
125. "The Rogues" - The Diamond-Studded Pie (1965) TV Episode .... Amos Champion
126. "Ben Casey" - Kill the Dream, but Spare the Dreamer (1964) TV Episode
127. "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" - Parties to the Crime (1964) TV Episode .... Joe Masson - The Game with Glass Pieces (1964) TV Episode .... Franklin Carson
128. "The Defenders" - A Taste of Ashes (1964) TV Episode .... Marty Wisnovsky - Everybody Else Is Dead (1963) TV Episode .... Howard Potter
129. "The Nurses" - Hildie (1964) TV Episode
130. "The Nurses" - Episode #3.6 (1964) TV Episode .... Fitz Condon
131. Bullet for a Badman (1964) .... Sam Ward
132. "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" - A Matter of Murder (1964) TV Episode .... Sheridan Westcott
133. "The United States Steel Hour" - Marriage Marks the Spot (1962) TV Episode
134. "Purex Summer Specials" - The Problem Child (1962) TV Episode .... James Carlisle
135. "Rawhide" - The Sendoff (1961) TV Episode .... Jed Hadley
136. "Route 66" - The Opponent (1961) TV Episode .... Johnny Copa
137. "Death Valley Days" - The Stolen City (1961) TV Episode .... Zacharias Gurney
138. "Stagecoach West" - A Place of Still Waters (1961) TV Episode .... Pierce Martin
139. "The Islanders" - Island Witness (1961) TV Episode .... Phil
140. "Riverboat" (1959) TV Series .... Captain Holden (1959-1961)
141. "Mike Hammer" (1956) TV Series .... Mike Hammer (1958)
142. "Decision" - Man Against Crime (1958) TV Episode .... Dan Garrett
143. The Case Against Brooklyn (1958) .... Pete Harris
144. "Studio One" - The Fair-Haired Boy (1958) TV Episode .... Tom Kendall - First Prize for Murder (1957) TV Episode .... Johnny Quigg - Fandango at War Bonnet (1954) TV Episode .... Will Sorrell - Macbeth (1951) TV Episode .... Macduff
145. Beau James (1957) .... Charley Hand
146. The Delicate Delinquent (1957) .... Mike Damon
147. "The Alcoa Hour" - The Original Miss Chase (1957) TV Episode .... Arthur Bryan - The Archangel Harrigan (1956) TV Episode .... Harrigan
148. "Robert Montgomery Presents" - Sunset Boulevard (1956) TV Episode
149. "Climax!" - Night of the Heat Wave (1956) TV Episode .... Walter
150. "It's Always Jan" - Episode dated 12 May 1956 (1956) TV Episode
151. "Armstrong Circle Theatre" - Terror at My Heels (1956) TV Episode .... Lieutenant Melvin Shadduck - The Town That Refused to Die (1955) TV Episode .... Carl Broggi - Recapture (1952) TV Episode
152. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" - The Cheney Vase (1955) TV Episode .... Lyle Endicott - Triggers in Leash (1955) TV Episode .... Red Hillman
153. The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) .... Capt. Russ Peters
154. The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) .... Louie
155. Summertime (1955) .... Eddie Yaeger
156. "Kraft Television Theatre" - Blind Alley (1954) TV Episode - Unequal Contest (1954) TV Episode
157. "Mama" - Episode dated 28 May 1954 (1954) TV Episode
158. "Campbell Playhouse"
159. - XXXXX Isn't Everything (1954) TV Episode
160. "Suspense" - An Affair with a Ghost (1954) TV Episode - For the Love of Randi (1952) TV Episode
161. "The Philco Television Playhouse" - The Rainmaker (1953) TV Episode
162. "The Revlon Mirror Theater" - The Enormous Radio (1953) TV Episode
163. "Danger" - Hand Me Down (1953) TV Episode - The Thread of Scarlett (1952) TV Episode
164. "Short Short Dramas" - The Double Cross (1953) TV Episode
165. "Goodyear Television Playhouse" - Better Than Walking (1952) TV Episode - The Witness (1952) TV Episode
166. "Tales of Tomorrow" - The Duplicates (1952) TV Episode .... Bruce Calvin
167. Queen for a Day (1951) .... Dan, Gossamer World segment
168. "Crime Photographer" (1951) TV Series .... Casey (June 1951-1952)
169. Fear (1946) (uncredited) .... Student
170. She Wouldn't Say Yes (1945) (uncredited) .... The Kid
171. Kiss and Tell (1945) .... Tech Sergeant
172. Counter-Attack (1945) (uncredited) .... Paratrooper
173. A Song to Remember (1945) (uncredited) .... Student
Director – filmography
1. American Reunion (1976)
2. Happy Mother's Day, Love George (1973)
3. "Riverboat" - The Blowup (1960) TV Episode
Producer – filmography
1. "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974) TV Series (executive producer)
2. Happy Mother's Day, Love George (1973) (producer)
Writer – filmography
1. American Reunion (1976)
Himself – filmography
1. The Great Christmas Movies (1998) (TV) .... Himself
2. Mysteries of the Ancient World (1994) (TV) .... Host
3. "Games People Play" - Episode dated 31 October 1980 (1980) TV Episode .... Himself
4. "Family Feud" - All-Star Family Feud w/ stars from the Love Boat Special (1980) TV Episode .... Panelist
5. "The Mike Douglas Show" - Episode dated 22 March 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 13 January 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 7 October 1975 (1975) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 23 March 1971 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
6. "Celebrity Sweepstakes" - Episode dated 25 February 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 21 January 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 31 December 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 19 November 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 31 May 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself
7. "Tattletales" - Episode dated 4 January 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself - Episode dated 11 September 1975 (1975) TV Episode .... Himself
8. "Dinah!" - Episode dated 25 August 1975 (1975) TV Episode .... Himself
9. "Don Adams' Screen Test" - To Have and Have Not (1975) TV Episode .... Humphrey Bogart
10. "It's Your Bet" - Kathie Browne vs. Darren McGavin (1973) TV Episode .... Panelist
11. "Password" - June Lockhart vs. Darren McGavin (1973) TV Episode .... Panelist - Dina Merrill vs. Darren McGavin (1972) TV Episode .... Panelist - Amanda Blake vs. Darren McGavin (1971) TV Episode .... Panelist - Elizabeth Ashley vs. Darren McGaven (1965) TV Episode .... Himself - Carol Burnett vs. Darren McGavin (????) TV Episode .... Panelist
12. "V.I.P.-Schaukel" - Episode #1.3 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
13. "The Merv Griffin Show" - Episode dated 16 March 1971 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
14. "The Movie Game" - Episode dated 8 February 1971 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
15. "The Virginia Graham Show" - Episode dated 15 January 1971 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
16. Mooch Goes to Hollywood (1971) (uncredited) .... Himself
17. "It Takes Two" - Episode dated 1 June 1970 (1970) TV Episode .... Himself
18. "What's My Line?" - Episode dated 25 September 1966 (1966) TV Episode .... Mystery Guest - Episode dated 26 November 1961 (1961) TV Episode .... Guest Panelist
19. "To Tell the Truth" - Episode dated 25 December 1961 (1961) TV Episode .... Guest Panelist
20. "Omnibus" - Just Be Normal (1954) TV Episode
courtesy imdb.com
They had a series last year..it was horrible.
Holy Cow! That guy worked a little in his life. Sorta like Michael Caine!
I've got it and enjoyed it late last year. I knew his death wasn't far off, as frail as he's been looking.
"My dad let out a raft of obscenities encircled in blue smoke that is still drifting somewhere over Lake Michigan."
RIP Ralphie's Dad...That movie is Christmas to me in many ways.
That sucks. I happened to be watching a Kolchak episode when I saw this. Bummer.
I have heard this "three at a time" deal called the "Fibinaci Effect". A friend of mine whose mother was a stewardess told me of a superstition in the airlines back in the 1940s and 1950s that air crashes happen in threes. I've also heard that elderly nuns in convents often died in threes, generally within a week of each other.
"YOU USED UP ALL THE GLUE ON PURPOSE!"
I remember the TV movie it was based on [and its much less memorable sequel, "The Night Strangler"]. Taht flick, along with the original "'Salem's Lot" were two of the scariest things I ever saw on TV. I LOVED Kolchak [spent the other day watching the reruns on the SCI-FI Channel.I'll miss him.
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