Darren McGavin

Birth Name:

William Lyle Richardson

Birth Date:

May 7, 1922

Birth Place:

Spokane, Washington

Death Date:

February 25, 2006

Place of Death:

Olympia Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Age:

Cause of Death:

Cardiovascular disease and multiple organ failure

Cemetery Name:

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Show Business

Seasoned actor of stage, screen and television, Darren McGavin has notched in excess of 200 performances and is most fondly remembered as Ralphie's father in A Christmas Story. On television, McGavin portrayed the title character in Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1958–1959), and starred in Riverboat (1959–1961) and Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974–1975). For his recurring role on the sitcom Murphy Brown, he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. His film credits include Airport '77 (1977), Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978), A Christmas Story (1983), Happy Hell Night (1992), and Billy Madison (1995). Despite playing a significant role in the baseball film The Natural (1984), due to a contract dispute, McGavin was uncredited for his portrayal of a shady bookie, Gus Sands.

Fun Fact

Prior to arriving in Hollywood, McGavin had aspirations of being an architect. He attended College of the Pacific in Stockton, but found another passion doing something else. Upon building scenery for a small theater group, he took interest in the production itself. “Finally, I asked if I could be in the play if I built the scenery… So they let me have the part. It was a lot of fun,” he said. Shortly after, McGavin dropped out and moved to New York. He spent more than a dozen years performing on Broadway, beginning in 1953, including appearing in “The Rainmaker”.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

6000 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, California, 90038

USA

North America

Map:

Map of Hollywood Forever Cemetery at Hollywood, California

Grave Location:

Section 7, Lot 203, Grave 14

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery turn left and drive to the first intersection – turn right and park. On your left you will see the black upright monument to Dee Dee Ramone and across the street and 30 feet off the road you will find the final resting place of Darren McGavin.