"it's a clinker..!"
He played Mike Hammer... He played Kolchak the Night Stalker...

but as far as I'm concerned, he will always be "the old man...".
The world got a little smaller and a little less funny when Don Knotts passed away, but it got even smaller and Christmas will never be the same with the passing of Darren McGavin.
His perfect portrayal of everyone's father in A Christmas Story is something to behold; It is such subtle acting that you have to really pay attention to see what a great performance it really was.
So, fare thee well to "the old man". May there be a constant supply of Turkus Americanus, cheap fuses and no hound dogs nor furnaces in that better place.
Thanks. I am missing you already.
what say you..?