Amiable actor James Garner, whose moderately successful film career was eclipsed by two extraordinarily popular television series, “Maverick” and “The Rockford Files,” has died, according to reports. He was 86.
Like many popular leading men of Hollywood’s heyday, Garner boasted all-American good looks and a winning personality that carried him through comedy and drama alike. He was one of the first of TV’s leading men to cross over into films in the ’60s with such popular movies as “The Thrill of It All” and “The Americanization of Emily.” But he had his greatest impact in television, first on “Maverick” in the ’50s and then in the ’70s on “The Rockford Files,” for which he won an Emmy in 1977. He later appeared in several quality telepics including “Promise,” “My Name Is Bill W.” and “Barbarians at the Gate,” as well as the occasional strong feature such as “Victor/Victoria” and “Murphy’s Romance,” for which he captured his sole Oscar nomination for lead actor.
I have always liked James Garner from his Maverick days (I'm that old) and had been wondering of late why I hadn't seen or heard much about him, since his appearances on 8 Simple Rules. In the last several years many of the stars I had known from my younger days have gone to the great beyond.
Just watched a TV pilot from 1956 called "The Man From 1997". James Garner's role in that movie was much like his character in "Maverick" or the "Rockford Files". He was either type cast early on as the "lovable rouge" or maybe that is who he was. RIP
Many people don't know that James Garner served his country in the Korean War as an infantryman. He was wounded in a night ambush, became separated from his patrol and was later rescued by his platoon leader. Garner refused the use of a stretcher and walked back to the American line despite his leg wound.
The information about Garner's service was fairly common in the late '50s-early '60s but as his fame as an actor increased and as the nation forgot about Korea, Garner's service was also forgotten.
RIP James Garner and thank you for serving your country.
James Garner was always one of my favorites. He was superb in the Great Escape. If you haven't seen it, get Support Your Local Sheriff, which also has good performances by Walter Brennan ( Paw, you been touchin up yore hair again? ), Jack Elam, and Bruce Dern. Don't bother with the one he did after that Support Your Local Gunfighter. It is terrible.
Also remember him in early Mazda commercials. "The Great Escape" had too many great performances to pick just one. They all must have been overwhelmed with the talent around them in that movie.
Oh that's a shame. I first saw him in old reruns of Maverick and was hooked ever since. He had a subtle way of acting there and in other roles that I really enjoyed. The only one out there today who can even come close in this regard is Tom Sellec imho.
[This message has been edited by otakudude (edited 07-20-2014).]
Oh that's a shame. I first saw him in old reruns of Maverick and was hooked ever since. He had a subtle way of acting there and in other roles that I really enjoyed. The only one out there today who can even come close in this regard is Tom Sellec imho.
Appropriate considering Selleck made an appearance on the Rockford Files...
I remember the Maverick movie that he was in with Mel Gibson. I don't remember ever watching the Maverick TV series but I did watch The Rockford Files. I also remember watching him in the movie Murphy's Romance. I liked him as an actor, sad to hear he's passed .
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 07-20-2014).]
It's a sad day for those of us who love being entertained and love cars, because actor and lifelong gearhead James Garner just died. The star of The Rockford Files died at 86 of causes not yet revealed, in his home in Los Angeles.
Garner, after starring in the racing movie Grand Prix, found that he had a real aptitude for racing — real F1 drivers consulting on the film told him that had he not been an actor, he could have been a formidable racer. That started his long passion for racing and cars.
Garner was so interested in cars and racing that he even sought out novel means to share his love with family and friends, thanks to a bizarre one-off four-seat Indy car he had built. Cars continued to be prominent in his work, with his iconic series The Rockford Files featuring a Firebird that was almost as important a character to the show as Garner himself.
Garner extolled the virtues of smooth rotary engines to America as spokesperson for Mazda in the 1980s, and even came up with a novel sort of J-turn for his television show that was named "the Rockford turn."
Garner was a fine actor, a genuine lover of cars, and a surprisingly talented driver. He will be missed.
I was a fan too. From Maverick, to the Great escape(!) to his later movie roles in Space Cowboys and Murphys Romance. I don't mean to turn this political, but he was a lifelong Democrat, a supporter of civil rights, and he loathed Ronald Reagan. Sorry, guys. He was asked to run for office by the Republicans, but turned them down. Another reason I liked and admired the man. http://www.inquisitr.com/13...it-came-to-politics/
What on gods green earth made you think that was at all necessary?
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Originally posted by NEPTUNE:
I was a fan too. From Maverick, to the Great escape(!) to his later movie roles in Space Cowboys and Murphys Romance. I don't mean to turn this political, but he was a lifelong Democrat, a supporter of civil rights, and he loathed Ronald Reagan. Sorry, guys. He was asked to run for office by the Republicans, but turned them down. Another reason I liked and admired the man. http://www.inquisitr.com/13...it-came-to-politics/
I loved him in Maverick. The old series and the more recent movie with Mel Gibson.
