Darren McGavin (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 also his portrayal in the movie
A Christmas Story of the grumpy father given to bursts of profanity that he never realizes his son overhears. He also appeared as the tough-talking, funny detective in the TV series
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.
Early life
McGavin was born
William Lyle Richardson in
Spokane, Washington, a son of Reid Delano Richardson and his wife Grace Bogart.
[Darren Mcgavin Biography (1922-)] However, some sources list his birthplace as
San Joaquin,
California. He graduated from
Puyallup High School[Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, Washington]
