James Garner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Garner
Garner at the 39th Primetime Emmy Awards in September 1987
Born	James Scott Bumgarner (1928-04-07)April 7, 1928 Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	July 19, 2014(2014-07-19) (aged 86) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	James Scott Garner James Bumgarner James Scott Bumgarner
Occupation	Actor, producer, voice artist
Years active	1954–2014
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Lois Josephine Fleischmann Clarke ​ (m. 1956)​
Children	2
Military career
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Merchant Marine United States Army
Years of service	1944–1952
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Oklahoma National Guard 5th Regimental Combat Team
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Purple Heart

James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was a famous American actor. He was also a producer and a voice artist. He starred in many TV shows and over 50 movies during his long career. Some of his most well-known roles were Bret Maverick in the TV western series Maverick and Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files.

Early Life: Growing Up in Oklahoma

James Scott Bumgarner was born on April 7, 1928, in Norman, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three brothers. After World War II, James moved to Los Angeles to live with his father. He went to Hollywood High School and was even voted the most popular student!

James also played football and basketball at Norman High School. He was on the track and golf teams too. But he left school before finishing his last year. He later said in an interview that he was "a terrible student." He got his high school diploma while in the Army.

Military Service: Serving His Country

Before becoming an actor, James Garner worked several jobs he didn't like. When he was 16, he joined the United States Merchant Marine near the end of World War II. He enjoyed the work and the people he met. However, he often felt sick from being on the ship.

Later, Garner joined the California Army National Guard. He served for seven months in California. Then, he went to Korea for 14 months. He was a rifleman in the 5th Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War.

Wounds and Awards

James Garner was wounded twice during his service. The first time, he was hit in the face and hand by pieces of a mortar round. He received the Purple Heart award for this injury.

The second time, he was hurt by "friendly fire" from U.S. fighter jets. This happened while he was fighting the enemy. He qualified for a second Purple Heart. However, he didn't actually receive it until 1983, which was 32 years later!

Acting Career: From Stage to Screen

In 1954, a friend from Hollywood High School convinced James to try acting. He got a small, non-speaking role in a play called The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial on Broadway. This was a great chance for him to watch famous actor Henry Fonda perform every night. Fonda's calm and honest style really influenced Garner.

James Garner as Bret Maverick

After the play, James started appearing in television commercials. Soon, he got roles in TV shows. In 1957, he was in an episode of the show Conflict called "Man from 1997." The show's producer, Roy Huggins, noticed James's funny facial expressions. He decided to cast James as the main character in Maverick.

James changed his last name from Bumgarner to Garner. The studio had already credited him as "James Garner" without asking him first.

Big Roles in Movies and TV

When actor Charlton Heston turned down the main role in the movie Darby's Rangers, James Garner got the part. He did very well in the film. Because of his performance in Darby's Rangers and his popularity in Maverick, he started getting lead roles in other movies.

In the 1970s, Roy Huggins had an idea for a new show. He wanted to make a modern version of Maverick, but this time with a private detective. James Garner was chosen to star in the show, which became The Rockford Files. Many of the stories in The Rockford Files were actually recycled from the original Maverick series.

James played private investigator Jim Rockford for six seasons, starting in 1974. He won an Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1977 for this role.

The Rockford Files ended in 1980. The show's ratings were a reason, but it was also very hard on James physically. He was in almost every scene and did many of his own stunts. This caused him to injure his back. An old knee injury from his National Guard days also got worse from all the jumping and rolling he did for the show.

Awards and Honors: A Star on the Walk of Fame

James Garner in The Rockford Files (1974)

James Garner was nominated for 15 Emmy Awards during his TV career. He won an Emmy in 1977 for his acting in The Rockford Files. He also won an Emmy in 1987 as an executive producer for the movie Promise.

For his amazing work in movies and TV, James Garner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1990, he was honored at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame that same year. In 2005, he received the Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates an actor's entire career. In 2010, the Television Critics Association also gave him a Career Achievement Award.

On April 21, 2006, a 10-foot-tall bronze statue of James Garner as Bret Maverick was revealed. This statue is in his hometown of Norman, Oklahoma. James Garner was there for the ceremony.

Personal Life: Family and Hobbies

The Garners in 1961

James Garner was married to Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke. When they got married, Lois's daughter, Kim, was seven years old. James and Lois also had a daughter together named Greta, who they called "Gigi."

James's knees became a big problem while filming The Rockford Files in the 1970s. He had six or seven knee operations during that time. In 2000, he had surgery to replace both of his knees. In 1988, James also had heart surgery. He recovered quickly, but he was told to stop smoking. He finally quit smoking 17 years later.

Sports and Racing

James Garner during the filming of Grand Prix in 1966

James Garner loved cars and racing. From 1967 to 1969, he owned an auto racing team called "American International Racers" (AIR). He even helped make a racing documentary called The Racing Scene in 1969. His team raced in famous endurance races like Le Mans and Daytona. He was also known for bringing attention to early off-road racing events. In 1978, he was added to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.

James was also a very enthusiastic golfer for many years. He played golf in high school with his brother, Jack. He started playing again in the late 1950s to see if he could beat Jack. He often played in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament. In 1990, he won the Most Valuable Amateur Trophy at the AT&T Golf Tournament. He also appeared on a TV show called Sam Snead's Celebrity Golf, where he played charity golf matches against other Hollywood stars.

James Garner was a big fan of the Oakland Raiders football team in the NFL. He especially loved them when they played in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994. He would often go to their games and spend time with the players.

Later Life and Passing

James Garner was described as a private person by his family and friends. On July 19, 2014, police and rescue workers were called to his home in Los Angeles. They found the actor had passed away at 86 years old. He had been in poor health since having a severe stroke in 2008. He died less than a month before what would have been his 58th wedding anniversary.

Filmography

Television Roles

Images for kids

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  With Karen Steele in Maverick

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  With Louise Fletcher in Maverick

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  With Jack Kelly in Maverick

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  With Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine in The Children's Hour

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  With Katharine Ross in Mister Buddwing (1966)

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  With Margot Kidder in Nichols

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  With James Whitmore Jr. in The Rockford Files (1977)

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  Garner at age 59 in 1987

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  With step-daughter Kim in 1958

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  The Garners in 1959, (clockwise) Lois, Kim, Garner and Greta ("Gigi").

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  Children's Hour trailer

See also

In Spanish: James Garner para niños