William Lyle Richardson (May 7, 1922 â€" Feb. 25, 2006), known
professionally as Darren McGavin, was an American actor. He was known
for his portrayals of worldly, often somewhat gruff characters.Born in
Spokane, Washington, McGavin claimed to have been a child runaway who
spent his later childhood squatting in Tacoma. He began his film
career while working as a set painter for Columbia Pictures, appearing
in uncredited roles, and also starred in a regional Chicago production
of Death of a Salesman in 1950. He subsequently originated roles in
Broadway productions of My 3 Angels and The Rainmaker (both 1954), and
went on to star in a further four Broadway productions before the end
of the decade.Simultaneous to his stage career, McGavin also forged a
career in film, starring in David Lean's Summertime and The Man with
the Golden Arm (both 1955). From 1958 to 1959, he played the title
character in the 1950s television series Mickey Spillane's Mike
Hammer, and subsequently starred in the NBC Western series Riverboat,
first with Burt Reynolds and then with Noah Beery Jr.McGavin went on
to have a prolific career in television, appearing in numerous
guest-starring roles throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He starred in the
successful TV movie The Night Stalker and its 1973 sequel, The Night
Strangler, playing reporter Carl Kolchak. Subsequently, he played
Kolchak in the short-lived television horror series Kolchak: The Night
Stalker (1974â€"1975).
professionally as Darren McGavin, was an American actor. He was known
for his portrayals of worldly, often somewhat gruff characters.Born in
Spokane, Washington, McGavin claimed to have been a child runaway who
spent his later childhood squatting in Tacoma. He began his film
career while working as a set painter for Columbia Pictures, appearing
in uncredited roles, and also starred in a regional Chicago production
of Death of a Salesman in 1950. He subsequently originated roles in
Broadway productions of My 3 Angels and The Rainmaker (both 1954), and
went on to star in a further four Broadway productions before the end
of the decade.Simultaneous to his stage career, McGavin also forged a
career in film, starring in David Lean's Summertime and The Man with
the Golden Arm (both 1955). From 1958 to 1959, he played the title
character in the 1950s television series Mickey Spillane's Mike
Hammer, and subsequently starred in the NBC Western series Riverboat,
first with Burt Reynolds and then with Noah Beery Jr.McGavin went on
to have a prolific career in television, appearing in numerous
guest-starring roles throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He starred in the
successful TV movie The Night Stalker and its 1973 sequel, The Night
Strangler, playing reporter Carl Kolchak. Subsequently, he played
Kolchak in the short-lived television horror series Kolchak: The Night
Stalker (1974â€"1975).
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