Carl Kolchak (played by
Darren McGavin) was an investigative reporter for the Independent News Service (INS). He starred in two
TV movies ("
The Night Stalker and "
The Night Strangler") and a TV Series ("
Kolchak: The Night Stalker") in the mid 70s.
He was unreliable and messy but he had a nose for a story though they were often strange and involved extraordinary forces and beings. He often ignored the wishes of his long-suffering editor Tony Vincenzo (played by Simon Oakland) but returned with a story (though not always printable).
His adventures are credited by Chris Carter as being an inspiration for The X-Files.