Darren McGavin was born in 1922 and A Christmas Story was released in 1983. So, he was 56 at that time. His performance added a lot of charm to the movie.
In 'A Christmas Story', Darren McGavin's character is a bit gruff but I don't recall any profanity. The movie is set in a family context in the 1940s. The language used is more of the everyday, old - fashioned kind that was typical of that era. It focuses more on the humor of the family's Christmas experiences rather than using strong language.
Yes, he did. His performance in 'A Christmas Story' was quite enthusiastic, which might suggest that he had a certain fondness for the story and his role in it.