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February 26, 2006

There Will Be No Major Award

You know, since this life is all there is, and actor Darren McGavin has left it.

The husky, tough-talking performer went on to become one of the busiest actors in television and film, starring in five TV series, including "Mike Hammer," and endearing holiday audiences with his role as the grouchy dad in the 1983 comedy classic "A Christmas Story."

McGavin, 83, died Saturday of natural causes at a Los Angeles-area hospital with his family at his side, said his son Bogart McGavin.

Mr. McGavin will be fondly remembered annually in the WWR household, as we gather around the television every December to watch "A Christmas Story." And as the kids grow older, they'll do exactly what I did when my father wanted to watch "It's a Wonderful Life." They'll go hide in their room or maybe call up their friends, failing to realize that, at some point, they will pick their own Christmas movie tradition and torture their family with it.

It's the Circle of Life.