Kolchak:Night Stalker Trivia

Darren McGavin Fan Tribute

Kolchak Actor Darren McGavin Dies at 83
Sun, 02/26/2006
Emmy-winning actor Darren McGavin, who played monster chaser Carl Kolchak in the 1970s television series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," died on Saturday at a Los Angeles hospital.

The original series Kolchak: The Night Stalker started as a very popular 1972 TV movie The Night Stalker, and a 1973 TV movie sequel, The Night Strangler. The series was made up of of 20 episodes, which ran from September 13, 1974, until August 30, 1975. The classic series starred Darren McGavin as Carl Kolchak a Chicago reporter who find himself hunting a different monster every week. The last new episode of Night Stalker was aired on 4/28/75.

A new Night Stalker series is on its way to ABC this fall starring Stuart Townsend as Carl Kolchak. The new Night Stalker is searching for the killer of his wife, and the F.B.I. has him as the number one suspect. The search for his wife's bizarre murder will have Kolchak finding other bizarre crimes as well along the way.

"There are things in the dark, things adults deny but children are right to fear."

Kolchak Trivia

Episode 1.15 of the original series, "Chopper", is the first script that Robert Zemeckis sold in Hollywood.

Actor Richard Kiel, before he became best known as the killer "Jaws" in the James Bond movies, was cast in two episodes as the monster. He first appeared as the "Diablero" in episode 8, "Bad Medicine" and later as "Peremalfait", the swamp monster, in episode 9 "The Spanish Moss Murders and as the robot in "R.I.N.G"." That guy was also on the Land of the Lost as Malak on the third season. He guest starred on the Fall Guy, and the Twilight Zone as well.
Darren McGavin guest starred on more than one episode of the X-files a show whose creator says was inspired by Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
The Pilot episode of the new Night Stalker featured a quick shot of Darren McGavin in the newsroom. It was an original shot of McGavin from the original series put in with computers.

TV Image Gallery

Original Kolchak: Night Stalker cast:

Darren McGavin .... Carl Kolchak (1974-1975)
Simon Oakland .... Tony Vincenzo (1974-1975)
Jack Grinnage .... Ron Updyke (1974-1975)
Ruth McDevitt .... Emily Cowles (1974-1975)
John Fiedler .... Gordy Spangler (1974-1975)
Carol Ann Susi .... Monique Marmelstein (1974-1975)

Regular guests:
Paul Baxley .... Cop in Alley / Ralf Danvers / ... (6 episodes)
Craig R. Baxley .... Robert Gurney / R.I.N.G. / ... (4 episodes)
Dennis McCarthy .... The Figure / Ballistics Man / ... (3 episodes)
Bill Deiz .... Second Reporter / First Reporter (3 episodes)
Chuck Waters .... Mickey Patchek / Jerry / ... (3 episodes)

The New Night Stalker 2005 Cast
Stuart Townsend .... Carl Kolchak
Gabrielle Union .... Perri Reed
Eric Jungmann .... Jain McManus
Cotter Smith .... Vincenzo