actor Darren McGavin has died

http://www.darrenmcgavin.net/ ^ | February 25, 2006

[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.

[mtg]

I enjoyed him with ol' Rock in "The Martian Chronicles".

[MarkL]

Wow, you're right! Darren McGavin could have played Feynman had a film version of "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman" ever been released.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Mathew Broaderick did a pretty good job as Dr. Feynmann in "Infinity."

Mark

[DJ Frisat]

"Historically, every time two people have died, someone else dies sometime later. It's uncanny."

I was reading this thread through misty eyes, and then this... Thanks for the chuckle.

[mhuye]

AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO

I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE OF MY CHILDHOOD HEROES GOING HOME.

PLEASE GOD, NO MORE.

[BigCinBigD]

Somewhere Ralphie cries. :(

[Denver Ditdat]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Mathew Broaderick did a pretty good job as Dr. Feynmann in "Infinity."

I never did see that one, but will have to check it out. Thanks!

[Richard Kimball]

No, he said, "Not a finger!" It was somewhat slurred, BUT, having read the collection of short stories on which the movie was based, I have access to the original source literature. The movie was based on the book "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash." It was a collection of short stories. The leg lamp story was "My Old Man and the Lascivious Special Award that Heralded the Birth of Pop Art." The primary story line was the short story, "Duel in the Snow, or Red Ryder Nails the Cleveland Street Kid."

BTW, if you like the Shepherd works, probably my favorite short story of his is "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories."

[Darkwolf377]

I've got Shepherd's stuff--there's also audios online for free, which you probably knew.

I stand by my original statement. Movies change stuff all the time, and that's what he said, damnit. :P

[Richard Kimball]

You have the right to be wrong.

[Carl LaFong]

Actuall, Terri Garr was Dreyfuss' wife in "Encounters".Melinda's character was a widow, I believe.Actually I thought she was I semi-babe. She was quite fetching in that flick as well as Stallone's girlfriend/wife in "F.I.S.T."

[Darkwolf377]

You're right, I got them mixed up. Dillon was kinda babe-ish in CE3K, but not for long. She was also the victim of Sally Field's reporting in Absence of Malice. She acted in movies for years but never really broke through.

[Brandie]

How sad, I like him a lot.

[Sans-Culotte]

I pretty much agree with your assessment of The Natural (though I was not all that fond of Basinger). The idea that heroism in sports could rival mythic heroes of old was interesting. I wish i could say the same about Field of Dreams, but I can't.

[thisolman92]

Yeah...I am probably telling my age, but Mr. Limpett was my first favorite childhood movie, and I wonder if anyone remembers one of the first series that Darren McGaven played in...I think it was called "Riverboat"...about a Mississippi river boat captain.

[mom4kittys]

Awww, that says it all.

[satire]

[beagle9]

In Christmas Story --- Chinese restaurant scene--- I heard that Melinda Dillon and Peter Billingsley did not know that they were going to cut the head off of the duck. Supposedly that is one reason the scene is so effective. She looks absolutely shocked when it happens. Does anybody know if this is true? As good as everyone else is in A Christmas Story, McGavin just about steals every scene he is in. His facial expressions are spot on. I laugh every time I see it. Great movie.

[GretchenM]

When did Don Knotts die? I missed that news.

[mad_as_he$$]

The Night Stalker. Bummer

[mad_as_he$$]

Have all of the JDM stuff. Love it!