Darren McGavin Dies at 83

Darren McGavin, who created the role of Starbuck in the original Broadway production of The Rainmaker and co-starred in The King and I at Lincoln Center, died on February 25 in California of natural causes. He was 83.

In addition to The Rainmaker, McGavin appeared on Broadway in numerous plays, including Death of a Salesman, Two for the Seesaw, Blood, Sweat, and Stanley Poole, and Tyrone Guthrie’s 1966 revival of Dinner at Eight. He also was seen Off-Broadway in such shows as The Night Hank Williams Died and Greetings.

Although McGavin never appeared on Broadway in a musical, he co-starred with opera great Risë Stevens in a celebrated 1964 production of The King and I at Lincoln Center’s New York State Theater. The following year, he performed the role opposite Celeste Holm in California. He also appeared in stage productions of The Music Man, Wonderful Town, and Camelot.

McGavin’s many film credits include The Man With the Golden Arm, Summertime, Ride the High Wind, and A Christmas Story. He starred in five television series — most notably in Mike Hammer — and in such TV movies as The Night Stalker and Ike. He also guest starred in numerous series, including Murphy Brown, for which he won an Emmy Award.

He is survived by his four children: York, Megan, Bridget, and Bogart.