NIGHT STALKER's McGavin Dies

Along with Don Knotts, who I honestly had no affinity for apart from Mr. Furley on "Three's Company", a very special, very talented soul has now departed this plane in favor of another. And while he's there, I hope that he's in that cheap white suit with his straw hat, with that crappy camera hanging from his neck and he's chasing down the biggest story of his life. Darren McGavin was responsible for creating two of the most enduring and beloved characters ever to grace the big or small screen with their presences. First and foremost in the popular imagination was The Old Man from A CHRISTMAS STORY. Forever, that will be considered a perfect representation of my father. He was crass, rude, vulgar, and ultimately hilarious and lovable. He is eternal. But more importantly to me personally is hs portrayal of Independent News Service reporter Carl Kolchak from the 70's horror series KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER. This show was not only the progenitor of Chris Carter's THE X-FILES, but it gave u a character who refused to give in to the theory that "This Could Never Happen". He hunted Vampires, Werewolves, Shape-Shifters, Demons and defeated them all by choosing to believe in their mythology and not allowing their evil to further taint our world. Kolchak was a man of great humor, passion, strength and belief. And so was Darren McGavin. He will be mourned by me and all others who believed in him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. He will be sorely missed.

Sigh. He'll always have a place in my video library.

One of the greats. I only just heard today that he'd been in declining health since the new year. He was always one of my favorites, always worth watching even in films that were beneath him, and I will miss him. A point of debate, though: to us genre fans he may be best known for Kolchak, but to non-genre fans he's probably best known for The Old Man in A Christmas Story. I have non-genre-oriented friends to whom "Night Stalker" means the California serial killer, and older relatives who remember him primarily as the original Mike Hammer or as Jerry Lewis' protector in The Delicate Delinquent. And no mention of The Martian Chronicles (sure, it was bad, but he was worth watching in it)?

I will always remember him as Mr Parker getting that Leg Lamp in a Christmas Story. He and Don Knotts will be missed.

a christmas story will always be great because he brought the father part to life. a little old for the part but he was great. i heard night stalker was a great show.

I SOOOOOOOOOOO loved him in "A Christmas Story"!

DAMN! I'm going to miss him.

You will be missed for bringing us two of the coolest characters on Television.

Karl and "The Old Man"

Clark. The Night Stalker is totally worth it. Make sure to get the movies and the series. Watch the Made-for-TV movies 1st then the series. You won't be disappointed.

The first movie is still one of my favorite vampire movies. When Kolchak is hiding and peeks out of the door to see the vampire on the starwell scared me when I was a kid. I loved the series. And, i don't think I can go a holiday season without watching A Christmas Story and laughing at the leg lamp and the father's cursing!

Very sorry to see Darren go.
I enjoyed his work over several decades.
Good journey Darren...and thank you for the good times.

I hated Christmas Story (not McGavin, just the movie). Loved him as Kolchak (the movies, never watched the show).
The original Night Stalker was one of those ABC "movies of the week". He did another one that was very good where he played a soldier in WWII in the Pacific who somehow gets stranded on an island with a lone Japanese soldier and they wage this sort of two-man war with each other. I wish someone would put this out (along with some the the other good ones.) The only ones that seem to get any attention are Duel, Brian's Song and the 1st Night Stalker, all ABC MOTW's.
R.I.P. Darren.

ps - he was also very evil in The Natural!