Sunday, July 20, 2014

James Garner Has Died

James Garner, the leading man who slid seamlessly between television and the movies but was best known as Bret Maverick in the 1950s western “Maverick” and Jim Rockford in the 1970s series “The Rockford Files,” was found dead in his California home on Saturday night. He was 86.

56 comments:

Brenda L said...

RIP dude

MissInfo said...

RIP Mr. Garner.

OneEyeCharlie said...

Get in that Camaro and do a bootlegger turn with Rocky, Jimmy.

FingerBinger said...

Garner was also in Barbarians at the Gate,an excellent movie.

Rosie riveter said...

Awwwwwww
RIP

car54 said...

Oh, I liked him. He was a regular leading man in so many shows and movies when I was younger.
RIP Mr Garner.

Beetlejuice said...

RIP

AJ said...

RIP
Shame always enjoyed his work.

Jonathan Andrew Sheen said...

So saddened by this news.

My condolences to his friends, family and loved ones.

Isn't it extraordinary that millions share their loss, and thus carry a small portion of their burden?

Steampunk Jazz said...

Rest in Peace. You'll always have my heart.

Kelly said...

Glad he lived a long life. RIP.

Kelly said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yabba Dabba Doo said...

Ah, man, this makes me sad. My parents watched the Rockford Files religiously in the 70s, and one of the memories I have is hearing the theme coming from the living room as I was about to go to sleep. A show I really need to catch up on now.

The guy was married to the same woman for about 60 years. Was there ever a tabloid story about him? Ever? No. Didn't think so.

Anonymous said...

He was a truly great actor. And tons of charisma. RIP.

MovingOn said...

@Yabba Dabba same here. I can run through that theme song any time.

RIP James Rockford. Sad start to a Sunday.

Crazynailmom said...

Aww. Very charismatic actor. His presence will be missed.

Catherine said...

Crap. Just crap! RIP, Mr. Garner.

MYFAVORITEBARBIE said...

"I am no one special. Just a common man with common thoughts. I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but in one respect I've succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I've loved another with all my heart and soul and for me that has always been enough."
Garner, "The Notebook"

Merlin D. Bear said...

RIP Mr Garner.

Anonymous said...

i used to love the rockford files! the cop shows of the '70's were EPIC!

Godspeed Jimmy...

Unknown said...

LOVED watching Rockford Files growing up. James Garner was such a hunk! RIP Rockford.

blondiemelinda said...

Love!

blondiemelinda said...

Love!

Unknown said...

He was the best. So many memories.

A great actor and classy guy.

Lobed the Rockford Files.

Meanie Rhysie said...

Aw, hell no! :( My Mom and aunts loved loved loved him, he was swoon-worthy back in the day. RIP

Fins to the Left! said...

such an awesome actor. RIP

__-__=__ said...

RIP What a great life!

hairydawg said...

One of my childhood heroes. I'll always remember you Jimmy, in your plain white T...

Getting beaten up by a couple "heavies", tearing down the road in your bitchin' Camaro, then saving the girl and winning the day.

RIP Mr. Cool.

sifichick said...

This one makes me sad. From outside the fishbowl he seemed like a stand up guy. Married to the same woman most of his life. You never heard a bad word about the guy. So sad all the old Hollywood people are leaving us now. RIP James and than you for the entertainment.

auntliddy said...

Sad. Great guy and terrific actor. Showed up on time, did the job, no nonsense, no prima donna crap, kept good perspective as to what business really was, and never took the whole celeb thing seriously. One of a kind. Rest in peace, and come back and visit us anytime.

Sprink said...

Maverick & The Rockford Files

Victor Victoria - King Marchand: I don't care if you are a man. [kisses Victoria]
Victoria: I'm... not a man.
King Marchand: I still don't care.

Barbarians at the Gate - F. Ross Johnson: "Tastes like shit and smells like a fart! Got ourselves one hell of a product on our hands--it's one unique advertising strategy I'll tell ya that."

Murphy's Romance - Murphy: "I'm a widower. That's like catnip to a cat, in a town where the ladies outnumber you ten to one."

The Notebook - Duke: How's it hangin' Harry?
Harry: I keep trying to die, but they won't let me.
Duke: Well, you can't have everything.

Breathing Lessons - no quotes, just read the book and picture him...

My Fellow Americans - Man in bathroom: It's an honor, sir.
Matt Douglas: I can't shake right now. Have to keep my hands on the First Penis.

and

[Matt Douglas' made-up words to "Hail to the Chief"]
Matt Douglas: Hail to the chief, if you don't, I'll have to kill you. I am the chief, so you better watch your step, you bastards.

and the Doris Day classic, Move Over Darling (the remake of which, incidentally, was what Marilyn Monroe was filming when she died--Something's Got to Give)

Sigh. I adored him.

califblondy said...

My family saw him racing when I was very young and my Mom told us to get his autograph. I was too shy but my brother asked and for years he had a tiny piece of paper with "James Garner". I'll have to ask him if he still has it.

audrey said...

He was so handsome...truly one of those actors that the camera just loved. Jim Rockford was my regular Saturday night date for a lot of years. May he rest in peace.

JoElla said...

I am so sad to see this news. Loved everything he did, and loved him since I was a little girl.

Unknown said...

THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY is a fave. RIP.

Number12 said...

I suddenly want to locate his autobiography, in which he purportedly discusses doing coke with John Belushi.

Seven of Eleven said...

I loved him in the Maverick movie. He really did seem like a stand-up guy. RIP, Mr Garner.

witwritergirl said...

Watched that again yesterday. He was talented and handsome till the very end. RIP

Mango said...

RIP.

Count Jerkula said...

86, longer than I hope to live.

In addition to Rockford Files, I enjoyed the goofball western he did, Support Your Local Sheriff.

RIP, Bro.

rocky619ca said...

One sexy tall drink of water. Great actor and just a man's man!
My favorite is Murphy's Romance.
RIP.

MISCH said...

He was so good looking….amazingly good looking and he was born with that face…something that's not too common today…
RIP…

skippy said...

:( :(

0_0 said...

All I remember is Rockford driving the gold Firebird and trying to get Angel to do the right thing. And a few Westerns.

Hope I make it to 86 reasonably healthy. Thanks, Mr. Garner.

Maggie said...

He was a very talented actor and will be missed. Rip.

PghGirl said...

I loved My Fellow Americans. RIP sir

BaronessOrczy said...

I loved him too, especially in the Rockford Files. I envied Beth's role. RIP.

ecua said...

That was a really nice thought, JAS!

Studio54 said...

So sad! RIP to a GREAT actor and a GREAT liberal.

B626 said...

Doris Day said he was the only costar in her romcom days that people would walk up to her on the street and ask how her husband James Garner was. The chemistry was that good.
He stold every scene he was in in the Maverick remake, and surprisingly Mel Gibson let him!

AndrewBW said...

A fine actor. Agree with QueenAnne Guido that "The Americanization of Emily" is a really outstanding film. RIP.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad to see so many heartfelt tributes to James Garner here on CDAN. Several really touched me.

I've been watching The Rockford Files on ME TV for the past couple of months, here in San Francisco it's on every weekday at noon.

He was by all accounts a kind, decent and modest human being who was a consummate professional, an excellent actor, and a loyal husband. Yes, he was married to the same woman for nearly 60 years.

And this is probably the only time he qualified for mention in CDAN since never a touch of scandal attached to his name.

He was also a true MAN. I have this thing I do in my head with celebrities - I call it "Boy or Man?" Most of today's leading men are boys. Like, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt. I know they're technically men but they're not MANLY men. James Garner was a MAN. All the way.

RIP Mr. Garner.

Aoife said...

RIP.

Unknown said...

The Notebook

Mr. Garner. Your story lives on.
Rip

Ms B'have said...

My husband and I love the Rockford Files and anything we can see him in. All around great man. He was credited for inventing the "J-turn" car stunt. RIP

D Brown said...

I was a great fan and I'm definately replaying The Wheeler Dealers tonight. That being said I think he was more complex than his image. Supposedly, during the Rockford days, TV Guide did a profile that mentioned he could be short tempered and gruff. He promptly blamed the publist and fired them! Sounds short tempered and gruff to me!

Advertisements

Popular Posts from the last 30 days