James Garner

Amiable and handsome James Garner had obtained success in both films and television, often playing variations of the charming anti-hero/con-man persona he first developed in Maverick, the offbeat western TV series that shot him to stardom in the late 1950s. James Garner was born James Scott Bumgarner in Norman, Oklahoma, to Mildred Scott (Meek) and Weldon Warren Bumgarner, a carpet layer. He dropped out of high school at 16 to join the Merchant Marines. He worked in a variety of jobs and received 2 Purple Hearts when he was wounded twice during the Korean War.

Was a Korean War veteran, assigned to the 24th Infantry Division. He received two Purple Hearts. The first was for wounds to his hands and face inflicted by shrapnel from an enemy mortar round. The second wound was received on 24 April 1951. As he was diving into a foxhole, he was hit in the buttocks by "friendly fire", which doesn't usually "garner" a Purple Heart, but given the fact that it occurred during a combat engagement, it qualified under those terms. He finally received his second medal at a ceremony in 1983.

He had his first chance to act when a friend got him a non-speaking role in the Broadway stage play "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial (1954)". Part of his work was to read lines to the lead actors and he began to learn the craft of acting. This play led to small television roles, television commercials and eventually a contract with Warner Brothers.

Director David Butler saw something in Garner and gave him all the attention he needed when he appeared in The Girl He Left Behind (1956).

After co-starring in a handful of films during 1956-57, Warner Brothers gave Garner a co-starring role in the the western series Maverick (1957). Originally planned to alternate between Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) and Bret Maverick (Garner), the show quickly turned into the Bret Maverick Show. As Maverick, Garner was cool, good-natured, likable and always ready to use his wits to get him in or out of trouble.

Had starred on three popular television series: Maverick (1957) for three seasons, The Rockford Files (1974) for six seasons, and 8 Simple Rules (2002), for two seasons.

The series was highly successful, and Garner continued in it into 1960 when he left the series in a dispute over money.

In the early 1960s Garner returned to films, often playing the same type of character he had played on "Maverick".

His successful films included The Thrill of It All (1963), Move Over, Darling (1963), The Great Escape (1963) and The Americanization of Emily (1964).

Was the first actor to co-star with Julie Andrews in three movies: The Americanization of Emily (1964), Victor Victoria (1982) and One Special Night (1999).

After that, his career wandered and when he appeared in the automobile racing movie Grand Prix (1966), he got the bug to race professionally. Soon, this ambition turned to supporting a racing team, not unlike what Paul Newman would do in later years.

Portrayed Wyatt Earp in two movies: Hour of the Gun (1967) and Sunset (1988).

Garner found great success in the western comedy Support Your Local Sheriff (1969).

After 11 years off the small screen, Garner returned to television in a role not unlike that in Support Your Local Sheriff (1969).

He tried to repeat his success with a sequel, Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971), but it wasn't up to the standards of the first one.

The show was Nichols (1971) and he played the sheriff who would try to solve all problems with his wits and without gun play. When the show was canceled, Garner took the news by having Nichols shot dead, never to return in a sequel.

In a 1973 interview, John Wayne named Garner as the best American actor.

In 1974 he got the role for which he will probably be best remembered, as wry private eye Jim Rockford in the classic The Rockford Files (1974). This became his second major television hit, with Noah Beery Jr..

Most of his appearances after that were in numerous TV movies based upon The Rockford Files (1974).

Driver of pace cars at the 59th Indianapolis 500 (May 25, 1975), the 61st Indianapolis 500 (May 29, 1977), and at the 69th Indianapolis 500 (May 26, 1985).

and Stuart Margolin, and in 1977 he won an Emmy for his portrayal.

Inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1978 (the same year as his immediate next door neighbor, Steve McQueen) and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1986.

Was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer in 1979 during filming for the 1979-80 season of The Rockford Files (1974).

However, a combination of injuries and the discovery that Universal Pictures' "creative bookkeeping" would not give him any of the huge profits the show generated soon soured him and the show ended in 1980.

In the 1980s Garner appeared in few movies, but the ones he did make were darker than the likable Garner of old.

These included Tank (1984) and Murphy's Romance (1985). For the latter, he was nominated for both the Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

In the four years (1985-89) he was the television and radio commercial spokesman for Mazda cars, he was reportedly paid $1 million per year, plus one Mazda vehicle of his choice per year. He chose three RX-7s and one truck, all of which he was known to drive frequently.

Returning to the western mode, he co-starred with the young Bruce Willis in Sunset (1988), a mythical story of Wyatt Earp, Tom Mix and 1920s Hollywood.

In the 1990s Garner received rave reviews for his role in the acclaimed television movie about corporate greed, Barbarians at the Gate (1993).

After that he appeared in the theatrical remake of his old television series, Maverick (1994), opposite Mel Gibson.

In 1995 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, in his hometown of Norman. This was one month after the bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. He was quoted as saying during his commencement ceremony speech, "If there's anything positive to come from this event, it is seeing the character, the toughness with the dignity of the Oklahoma people as they suffer the grief and carry on with their lives. It makes every Oklahoman, where ever we are, to be PROUD to be an Oklahoman.".

Underwent surgery after suffering a severe stroke in May 2008.

Had two older brothers: Jack Garner and Charlie Bumgarner. Jack died in 2011 and Charlie died in 1985.

Passed away on July 19, 2014, at age 86, and within five months of four other television legends, also born in 1928, either aged 85 or 86: Shirley Temple, Ralph Waite, Maya Angelou, and Horace Silver, and just twenty-four days before his close friend Lauren Bacall, born 1924.