Rest in peace, Darren McGavin

Darren McGavin was always one of my favorite actors from a generation ago, when I first saw him portray an astronaut in the cheesy, 1968 science fiction movie, "Mission Mars", back in 1968. I next saw Darren McGavin in the 1970 action movie, "The Challenge", which pit him man-to-man against an equally non-conformist, cunning, Asian soldier warrior on a deserted South Pacific island. I loved the movie. I loved Darren McGavin toting around his dual Madsen submachineguns bolted together, blasting away at everything on the island. I loved it when McGavin (Jacob Gallery) and his enemy Yuro (Mako) kept trash-talking each other all over the island. That cemented in my mind Darren McGavin as a man's man action hero.

Later, as he got older, Darren McGavin wisely adjusted his roles to fit his age. Everyone remembers Darren McGavin mostly as the cynical, stumbling, but ultimately brave investigative reporter in his Night Stalker movies and television series. Others remember him in his other memorable role as the family father in, "A Christmas Story". But I remember Darren McGavin before all that in his pre-Night Stalker films and tv show.

Darren McGavin came from a time in Hollywood, long since passed, where action heroes didn't have to be handsome, virile studs like today. McGavin never attempted to portray himself in any romantic light and it's wise because he didn't look the type to attract women. All this time I thought Darren McGavin was only 5'6" tall. Imdb now lists him as 5'10". Can anyone resolve this discrepancy of height? I'm not sure McGavin wss that short but nor am I certain he was that tall, maybe in-between.

I'll always miss Darren McGavin, the consummate character actor.