Darren McGavin

Darren McGavin was an American actor best known for his portrayal of the grumpy but loving father in the film A Christmas Story, and for the title role in the television horror series Kolchak The Night Stalker. He appeared as the title character in the 1950s television series Mickey Spillanes Mike Hammer. From 19591961, McGavin starred in the NBC Western series Riverboat, first with Burt Reynolds and then with Noah Beery, Jr., and in later years, he had a recurring role in the sitcom Murphy Brown, as the title characters father, for which he received an Emmy Award.

McGavin was born William Lyle Richardson in Spokane, Washington, a son of Reed D. Richardson and his wife Grace Watson. In interviews in the 1960s, McGavin said his parents divorced when he was very young. His father, unable to care for him, placed him in an orphanage at age 11.

Source: Wikipedia