Darren McGavin
ActingAbout Darren McGavin
Darren McGavin (born William Lyle Richardson; 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 his portrayal of the grumpy father given to bursts of profanity in the film A Christmas Story. He appeared as the tough-talking, funny detective in the 1950s television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. From 1959-1961, McGavin starred in the NBC western series Riverboat, first with Burt Reynolds and then with Noah Beery, Jr. Description above from the Wikipedia article Darren McGavin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Darren McGavin Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Darren McGavin reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Darren McGavin's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 78% of Darren McGavin's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Berlin Affair, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Darren McGavin Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Darren McGavin's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Darren McGavin has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Derby | Lester Corbett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Billy Madison | Brian Madison | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Mysteries of the Ancient World | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker | actor (archive footage) (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Perfect Harmony | Mr. Hobbs | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Clara | Albert Kroll | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | By Dawn's Early Light | Condor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Kojak: It's Always Something | Wainwright | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Dead Heat | Dr. Ernest McNab | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Inherit the Wind | E.K. Hornbeck | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson | A. Z. Nathan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn | Dr. Gerrit Koets | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | The Baron and the Kid | Jack Beamer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. | Dr. David Jennings | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | The Natural | Gus Sands (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | A Christmas Story | The Old Man | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Ike | Gen. George S. Patton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Donovan's Kid | Timothy Donovan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Law and Order | Deputy Chief Brian O'Malley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Crackle of Death | Carl Kolchak | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Brinks: The Great Robbery | James McNally | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | No Deposit, No Return | Duke | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Oliver Spencer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Night Strangler | Carl Kolchak | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | 43: The Richard Petty Story | Lee Petty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole | Dr. Lou Grazzo | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Here Comes the Judge | Judge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Rookies | Sgt. Eddie Ryker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Night Stalker | Carl Kolchak | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Death of Me Yet | Joe Chalk | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Banyon | Lieutenant Pete Cordova | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Mrs. Pollifax — Spy | Farrell | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Tribes | Drake | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Berlin Affair | Paul Killian | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The 48-Hour Mile | David Ross | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Challengers | Jim McCabe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Challenge | Jacob Gallery | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Anatomy of a Crime | David Ross | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Outsider | David Ross | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | African Gold | Mike Gregory | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Bullet for a Badman | Sam Ward | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | Disneyland '59 | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Case Against Brooklyn | Pete Harris | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Delicate Delinquent | Mike Damon | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Capt. Russ Peters | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Man with the Golden Arm | Louie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Summertime | Eddie Yaeger | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Queen for a Day | Dan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | She Wouldn't Say Yes | The Kid - Soldier in Hospital (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | A Song to Remember | Student (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Darren McGavin - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Darren McGavin?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Darren McGavin is "Berlin Affair" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Darren McGavin acted in?
Darren McGavin has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Darren McGavin?
Other notable films include "Brinks: The Great Robbery", "The 48-Hour Mile", and "Banyon".