James Garner
Born James Scott Baumgarner on
April 7, 1928
in Norman, OK
James Garner’s folksy charm and adventurous spirit has won over audiences for the past half-century. He first shot to fame with the subversive Western “Maverick,” starring as cheeky card shark Bret Maverick. Unlike other heroes of the genre, Garner’s character was loath to fire a gun and would rather skip town than draw a weapon. Garner has spent much of his career playing some variation of the lovable anti-hero. Garner’s own story was rather dramatic in its own right. A self-described “scrounger,” he lost his mother at the age of three, clashed violently with his stepmother and by the time he graduated high school, had joined the Merchant Marines and worked as a swimsuit model. Garner served in Korea, where he was injured twice and awarded two Purple Hearts — although he would have to wait until 1983 to receive the second one. Garner starred in “Maverick” for only three seasons, leaving in 1960 over a contract dispute. In the ’60s, he focused on his film career, starring in action fare like “The Great Escape” and “Grand Prix.” The latter film would spark in him a passion for racing, one that he shared with his good friend Paul Newman. In the ’70s, Garner returned to network television with “The Rockford Files,” a modern spin on the “Maverick” formula. Garner played Jim Rockford, a wrongly-imprisoned ex-con who lives in a beachside trailer. He insisted on doing his own stunts, leading to health problems that would hasten the show’s end in 1980. Garner would return to the role for a series of television movies in the ’90s. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in “Murphy’s Romance,” a 1986 romantic comedy with Sally Field. In recent years, he’s developed his softer side, starring in “The Notebook,” “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and two seasons of “8 Simple Rules.”
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Points of interest
Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Best Actor | Murphy's Romance | Nomination |
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Three thoughts about James Garner
Yes, James Garner deserves a star on the Walk of Fame. He is a great actor and has played in many different roles.
Mr. Garner Knows my father Gene Skieff. Mr. Garner raced in sebring some years ago and my father worked on his engine.
He is a respected actor. I believe he definitely should have more written about him.
I was washing my car in the early 80s in Encino, and Mr. Garner was having his washed too. He had, what else, a Firebird. He was just off of Rockford, and I assumed still recovering from the painful injuries of that show, so I chose to leave him alone, to his paperback, and not introduce myself as a really big fan. I did that out of respect for a man who has given all of us so many, many hours of fine entertainment. Yes, if anyone deserved to be on the walk of fame, a man who starred in two hugely successful series, and some 30 films should without question be there. Now, as he hopefully enjoys his later years, I wish him only the very best. Thanks Mr. Garner. I only hope the Jim Garner Files are as enjoyable as the Rockford Files have always been, and always will be.
Dan Misko
Felton, Ca.
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