--- name: "Darren McGavin" canonical: "https://film.one/person/darren-mcgavin" fi1m_id: "darren-mcgavin" imdb_id: "nm0569000" tmdb_id: 7333 wikidata_id: "Q1150547" roles: ["Actor"] born: "7 May 1922" died: "25 February 2006" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 79 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-25T07:16:32.090753+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Darren McGavin ## Identity Darren McGavin - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/darren-mcgavin - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** darren-mcgavin - **IMDb ID:** nm0569000 - **TMDB ID:** 7333 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1150547 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_McGavin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1150547, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569000/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7333 Actor. Born 7 May 1922 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.. Died 25 February 2006. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 7 May 1922, Spokane, Washington, U.S. - **Died:** 25 February 2006 - **Active:** 1955–1988 - **Also known as:** W. Lyle Richardson , William Lyle Richardson, دارن مک‌گاوین - **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 78 (1), 1960s 82 (1), 1980s 77 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Crime 2, Drama 2, Action & Adventure 1, Comedy 1 - **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $4m across 1 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_McGavin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1150547, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569000/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7333 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Man with the Golden Arm*](https://film.one/film/the-man-with-the-golden-arm.md) (78) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Darren McGavin was an American actor. Born William Lyle Richardson on 7 May 1922 in Spokane, Washington, he began his career as a set painter for Columbia Pictures. He studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Actors Studio in New York, appeared on Broadway in productions including *My Three Angels* and *The Rainmaker* (both 1954), and made his early film appearances in *Summertime* and *The Man with the Golden Arm* (both 1955). McGavin starred as the title character in the television series *Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer* (1958–1959) and *Riverboat* (1959–1961). He is known for his portrayal of Carl Kolchak in *Kolchak: The Night Stalker* (1974–1975) and as the father in *A Christmas Story* (1983). His film credits include *Airport '77* (1977), *The Natural* (1984, uncredited) and *Billy Madison* (1995). He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his recurring role on *Murphy Brown*. McGavin died on 25 February 2006 in Los Angeles, California. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Murphy Brown* (1988), Fi1m 77, as Bill Brown — [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md) - *Mission: Impossible* (1966), Fi1m 82, as J. Richard Taggart — [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md) - *The Man with the Golden Arm* (1955), Fi1m 78, as Louie — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-with-the-golden-arm.md) ## Complete filmography (152) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Night Stalker* (2005), series, Actor - *Pros & Cons* (1999), as Mr. Stanford - *Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas* (1997), as Mr. Parker (archive footage) - *Small Time* (1996), as Sam - *Millennium* (1996), series, as Henry Black - *Derby* (1995), as Lester Corbett - *Billy Madison* (1995), as Brian Madison - *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as G.F. Benton/Dominic Dracon (voice) - *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as George Zarko - *A Perfect Stranger* (1994), as John Henry Phillips - *Mysteries of the Ancient World* (1994), as Narrator - *Burke's Law* (1994), series, as Conrad Hill - *Grace Under Fire* (1993), series, as Grace's Dad - *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Agent Arthur Dales — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md) - *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, as Old Man — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md) - *The American Clock* (1993), as Older Arthur Huntington - *Mastergate* (1992), as Folsom Bunting - *Civil Wars* (1991), series, Actor - *Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker* (1991), as actor (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Happy Hell Night* (1991), as Henry Collins - *The Commish* (1991), series, Actor - *Blood and Concrete* (1991), as Hank Dick - *Sisters* (1991), series, Actor - *Perfect Harmony* (1991), as Mr. Hobbs - *Clara* (1991), as Albert Kroll - *The General Motors Playwrights Theater* (1991), series, as Albert Kroll - *Captain America* (1990), as General Fleming - *By Dawn's Early Light* (1990), as Condor - *Child in the Night* (1990), as Os Winfield - *Unclaimed Fortunes II* (1990), as Host - *Kojak: It's Always Something* (1990), as Wainwright - *Around the World in 80 Days* (1989), series, as Benjamin Mudge - *The Diamond Trap* (1988), as Chief Walter Vadney - *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Bill Brown — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md) - *Monsters* (1988), series, as Hubert - *Dead Heat* (1988), as Dr. Ernest McNab - *Inherit the Wind* (1988), as E.K. Hornbeck - *Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson* (1987), as A. Z. Nathan - *From the Hip* (1987), as Craig Duncan - *Worlds Beyond* (1986), series, as Harry Hewart - *Raw Deal* (1986), as Harry Shannon - *Turk 182!* (1985), as Det. Kowalski - *My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn* (1985), as Dr. Gerrit Koets - *The Baron and the Kid* (1984), as Jack Beamer - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Martin Tremaine - *Tales from the Darkside* (1984), series, as Van Conway - *Highway to Heaven* (1984), series, Actor - *The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.* (1984), as Dr. David Jennings - *The Natural* (1984), as Gus Sands (uncredited) - *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, as Old Man - *A Christmas Story* (1983), as The Old Man - *Small & Frye* (1983), series, Actor - *Firebird 2015 A.D.* (1981), as Red - *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Buck Gibson - *Hangar 18* (1980), as Harry Forbes - *Waikiki* (1980), as Capt. McGuire - *The Martian Chronicles* (1980), series, as Sam Parkhill - *Love for Rent* (1979), as Coach John Martin - *Ike* (1979), as Gen. George S. Patton - *Ike* (1979), series, as Gen. George S. Patton - *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Sheriff Milt Singleton - *Donovan's Kid* (1979), as Timothy Donovan - *The Users* (1978), as Henry Waller - *Hot Lead & Cold Feet* (1978), as Mayor Ragsdale - *Zero to Sixty* (1978), as Michael Nolan · Screenplay - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Lawrence Evans - *Airport '77* (1977), as Stan Buchek - *Law and Order* (1976), as Deputy Chief Brian O'Malley - *Crackle of Death* (1976), as Carl Kolchak - *Brinks: The Great Robbery* (1976), as James McNally - *Demon and the Mummy* (1976), as Carl Kolchak - *No Deposit, No Return* (1976), as Duke - *B. Must Die* (1975), as Pal Kovak - *Kolchak: The Night Stalker* (1974), series, as Carl Kolchak · Producer - *Happy Mother's Day, Love George* (1973), Director - *The Evil Touch* (1973), series, as Alvin Hazeltine · Director - *Police Story* (1973), series, as Matt Hallett - *The Six Million Dollar Man* (1973), as Oliver Spencer - *The Night Strangler* (1973), as Carl Kolchak - *43: The Richard Petty Story* (1972), as Lee Petty - *Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole* (1972), as Dr. Lou Grazzo - *Here Comes the Judge* (1972), as Judge - *The Rookies* (1972), as Sgt. Eddie Ryker - *Something Evil* (1972), as Paul Worden - *The Night Stalker* (1972), as Carl Kolchak - *Sam Cade* (1972), Actor - *Mooch Goes to Hollywood* (1971), as Darren McGavin (uncredited) - *The Death of Me Yet* (1971), as Joe Chalk - *Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law* (1971), series, as McClain - *Banyon* (1971), as Lieutenant Pete Cordova - *Mrs. Pollifax — Spy* (1971), as Farrell - *Tribes* (1970), as Drake - *Berlin Affair* (1970), as Paul Killian - *The 48-Hour Mile* (1970), as David Ross - *The Challengers* (1970), as Jim McCabe - *The Challenge* (1970), as Jacob Gallery - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Corbett - *The Bold Ones: The Lawyers* (1969), series, Actor - *Bracken's World* (1969), series, Actor - *Anatomy of a Crime* (1969), as David Ross - *Boomerang, Dog of Many Talents* (1968), as Barney B. Duncan - *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Jesse Gil McCray, Sam Hardy, Eddie Gannon - *The Outsider* (1968), series, as David Ross - *Mission Mars* (1968), as Col. Mike Blaiswick - *The Outsider* (1967), as David Ross - *Mannix* (1967), series, as Mark - *Cimarron Strip* (1967), series, Actor - *Custer* (1967), series, Actor - *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as J. Richard Taggart — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md) - *Felony Squad* (1966), series, Actor - *African Gold* (1965), as Mike Gregory - *The Great Sioux Massacre* (1965), as Captain Frederick William Benton - *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (1964), series, as Viktor Karmak - *The Rogues* (1964), series, as Amos Champion - *Bullet for a Badman* (1964), as Sam Ward - *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Sheridan Westcott - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Mark Troxel, Sam Evans - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Prof. Felix Holman - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Howard Potter, Marty Wisnovsky - *Witchcraft: The Doll in Brambles* (1961), as Fred - *Special for Women* (1960), series, as The Social Worker - *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor - *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, Actor - *The Islanders* (1960), series, as Phil - *Riverboat* (1959), series, as Captain Grey Holden · Director - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Jed Hadley - *Buckskin* (1958), series, Director - *The Case Against Brooklyn* (1958), as Pete Harris - *Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer* (1958), series, as Mike Hammer - *Beau James* (1957), as Charley Hand - *The Delicate Delinquent* (1957), as Mike Damon - *The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell* (1955), as Capt. Russ Peters - *The Man with the Golden Arm* (1955), as Louie — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-with-the-golden-arm.md) - *The Alcoa Hour* (1955), series, Actor - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Red Hillman, Lyle Endicott - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Will Helmick, Lon Gorman, Joe Bascome - *Summertime* (1955), as Eddie Yaeger - *A Word to the Wives...* (1955), as George Peters - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as John Jay Forrest, Timothy Donovan - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Walter - *Death Valley Days* (1952), series, as Zacharias Gurney - *Tales of Tomorrow* (1951), series, Actor - *Queen for a Day* (1951), as Dan - *Casey, Crime Photographer* (1951), series, as Jack Casey - *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, as Joe Gillis - *Suspense* (1949), series, as Ted Larson - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Will Sorrell, Johnny Quigg, Tom Kendall - *The Philco Television Playhouse* (1948), series, as Bill Starbuck - *Your Next Job* (1945), as Balancing hobbyist - *She Wouldn't Say Yes* (1945), as The Kid - Soldier in Hospital (uncredited) - *A Song to Remember* (1945), as Student (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Darren McGavin as Mike Hammer in Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1958)](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-d3aaf449fa03.jpg) Darren McGavin as Mike Hammer in Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1958) — Unknown; MCA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Darren_McGavin_as_Mike_Hammer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Darren McGavin stars as "The Night Stalker," the first feature on the SPECIAL WEDNESDAY DOUBLE FEATURE MOVIE OF THE WEEK, three hours of suspense drama, Wednesd (1970)](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-8a3e04eb61c8.jpg) Darren McGavin stars as "The Night Stalker," the first feature on the SPECIAL WEDNESDAY DOUBLE FEATURE MOVIE OF THE WEEK, three hours of suspense drama, Wednesd (1970) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Darren_McGavin_%22The_Night_Stalker%22_%281970s_ABC_press_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Hunting the killer of massage parlor girls, crime reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) uncovers a bizarre story involving a 19th century murderer in "The Ripp (1974)](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-8d4b789f7cd6.jpg) Hunting the killer of massage parlor girls, crime reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) uncovers a bizarre story involving a 19th century murderer in "The Ripp (1974) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Darren_McGavin_%22Kolchak_The_Night_Stalker%22_%281974_ABC_press_photo%29.jpg/1280px-Darren_McGavin_%22Kolchak_The_Night_Stalker%22_%281974_ABC_press_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Darren McGavin](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-9ba967b7a0d9.jpg) Darren McGavin — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Darren_McGavin_%22Riverboat%22_%281960_NBC_press_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Darren McGavin](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-9297c6140e96.jpg) Darren McGavin — Image via TMDB - ![Darren McGavin](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-45cb5ab2578b.jpg) Darren McGavin — Image via TMDB - ![Darren McGavin](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-0be145c17fe5.jpg) Darren McGavin — Image via TMDB - ![Darren McGavin and Linden Chiles in The Virginian episode "The Deadly Past" (1964)](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-c510ca426506.jpg) Darren McGavin and Linden Chiles in The Virginian episode "The Deadly Past" (1964) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Darren_McGavin_and_Linden_Chiles_in_The_Virginian.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Barbara Feldon and Darren McGavin in The Nurses (1964)](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-6fdc4459b937.jpg) Barbara Feldon and Darren McGavin in The Nurses (1964) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Barbara_Feldon_and_Darren_McGavin_-_The_Nurses.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Darren McGavin](https://film.one/media/person/287176/gallery-cec333c986cf.jpg) Darren McGavin — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/darren-mcgavin