The Passing of The Old Man

It is with sadness and respect that That Fat Bastard salutes Darren McGavin, who died Saturday at the age of 83. Best know for his portrayal of The Old Man in A Christmas Story, Mr. McGavin epitomized everything that symbolizes That Fat Bastard.

On that note, I thought I'd take a moment to explain what it means to be That Fat Bastard. We all know someone who qualifies. He's the guy who's always there, drinking at the bar, playing at the poker table, or just hanging out with the boys. Even if you don't know his name, you recognize him. He's boisterous, loud, and obnoxious in a friendly manner. He's got blue-collar tastes, but can hang with the champagne crowd. There is a beautiful girl on his arm, and no one knows how she got there. He's not famous; he's never the celebrity, but he's the B-list sidekick that helps the A-list shine. The details may differ from bastard to bastard, but you'll know him when you see him. He's Friar Tuck. He's Lou Costello. He's Danny Devito. He's Darren McGavin.

If you had seen him on the street you would have recognized Mr. McGavin. You may not have said anything at the time, but later on, over a couple of beers, you'd have bragged to your friends that you'd run into the dad from that Chirstmas movie. "You know, the movie with the BB gun and that leg lamp. What was his name?"

Although he's remembered for that role, Mr. McGavin played a lot more than just The Old Man. His career spanned 50 years, as well known characters from Mike Hammer to Kolchak, and he worked with house-hold names like Bob Hope, Steven Spielberg, Adam Sandler, and Frank Sinatra.

So we at That Fat Bastard salute Darren McGavin. Here's to The Old Man!