James Garner
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Last Updated: 4/29/26
Real Name: James Scott Bumgarner
Born: April 7, 1928
Died: July 19, 2014 (Aged 86)
Height: 6' 1"
Grade: B-
Actor/Movie Star: 10%-90%
Prime Years: 1957-66, 1969, 1974-82, 1985-86, 1989-90, 1993-97, 2000, and 2004
Most Famous Film: The Great Escape (1963)
Most Famous TV Show: Maverick (1957-60)
Masterpiece: The Great Escape (1963), Promise (1986), and
Barbarians at the Gate (1993)
Outstanding: Dead Silence (1997) and The Notebook (2004)
Honorable: The Fan (1981) and Fire in the Sky (1993)
Opinion: From the 50's to the 70's, I viewed James Garner as a bona fide movie star. When the 80's
rolled around, he started doing made-for-TV movies full-on, and that's when he transformed himself into a
serious actor. I thought he was the handsomest man in The Great Escape, sometimes stealing scenes from
Steve McQueen, and that may be due to the white turtleneck sweater he wore constantly. Of all films James Garner
ever did, I have to say the greatest performance he gave is in Barbarians at the Gate. It's completely
unlike him by stepping out of his comfort zone. I won't be surprised if James Garner admitted he's the most
proud of either Promise or My Name Is Bill W. [it turns out to be
The Americanization of Emily although an argument can be made for Grand Prix], thanks to James
Woods' arresting performance. If there's one area James Garner had clearly excelled at, it's charisma.
Confirmed:
Born and raised in Denver, Oklahoma. Was a quarter Cherokee with some African bloodline. Had been named after
his father's drinking buddy. His middle name came from the doctor who delivered him and also his mother. An
alcoholic, father owned a country store, and it burned down when he was seven, causing his family to move to
Norman and him to be shuffled back and forth among his relatives. A few years earlier, mother died of uremic
poisoning due to a failed abortion. Was a fan of listening to the radio and watching movies, most especially
The Grapes of Wrath since he lived through the Dust Bowl. As a child, loved Spencer Tracy and
later singled out Gene Hackman as his most favorite actor.
Had been physically beaten by stepmother and would be forced to dress like a girl. She had sex with one of
James Garner's brothers when he was in 3rd or 4th grade. At 14, finally stood up to his stepmother by punching
her in the face and choking her. Was mostly abandoned by his father, being forced to fend for himself by
working a lot of different jobs, but they eventually reconciled. Didn't care for education and showed no
ambition for anything. Played football in high school but dropped out entirely [would later get his GED].
Enlisted in the Merchant Marine at age 16 right near the end of WWII but didn't like it and quit.
Had been the first person from Oklahoma to be drafted for the Korean War and was placed in the National Guard.
Saw combat action, got wounded (dislocated his shoulder, tore his knees, and got shot in the butt), and was
awarded a couple of Purple Hearts (never got the medal until 1983), among others. Was lucky to escape alive after
being spotted by over 150 North Koreans because he was with a South Korean being mistaken for a North Korean
guard holding him as a prisoner.
After the war, tried to attend Oklahoma University to play football but couldn't do it due to his knees [as a
matter of fact, James Garner was 6'3" to begin with and lost some height due to disintegrated disks in his back
and neck] and dropped out. Didn't know what to do with the rest of his life but remembered a producer
friend in Hollywood encouraging him to become an actor and decided to check on him. That's when he was 25 years
old.
Worked on the stage for a while and did commercials before transitioning to movies and TV shows, most especially
Maverick which actually put the word as part of the national consciousness. The studio dropped "Bum"
from James Bumgarner's last name for convenience's sake without his permission. Did his first serious film
Sayonara and became good friends with Marlon Brando, citing him as a big help in becoming a better actor.
Had been underpaid by Warner Bros. for years and sued them during the run of Maverick due to breach of
contract, causing everybody to think of him to be totally finished in Hollywood. Won the lawsuit and became a
free agent after the third season but ultimately lost money overall in legal fees compared to his contract.
Considered it to be a good move in fear of being typecast as Bret Maverick. Was immediately hired to act in
The Children's Hour afterwards.
Starred in the greatest film of his career: The Great Escape. Met Steve McQueen for the first time and
became good friends. Had become his next-door neighbor while sharing their love for cars and motorcycles. While
shooting in Germany, got caught in the Munich Riots, causing him to have an encounter with the police and give a
damaging interview afterwards about it being similar to treatment by Nazis. Was forced to apologize to the
German government or be deported. Didn't get along with Charles Bronson and called him a pain in the ass.
Participated in the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. Called Steve McQueen about taking a part in
Grand Prix, causing him to become upset and break off communication for four years because he wanted
to be the first to put out a racing picture about Formula One while viewing James Garner as an outsider to
the sport. While Steve McQueen was stuck in Asia for the filming of Sand Pebbles for seven months,
Grand Prix came out first and was a success while Le Mans was finally released five years later,
becoming a massive box-office failure. Because of Grand Prix (Steve McQueen admitted it was a "pretty
good" movie), became more involved with auto racing, having found it to be so much fun. Did his own driving
during filming.
Agreed to do The Rockford Files, which lasted from 1974 to 1980, but insisted on changing
the first name of his character from "Tom" to "Jim." Predicted Tom Selleck would be a huge star after
guest-starring in a couple of episodes, hence the next stint: Magnum, P.I. Did most of his driving
on the show. Found the work too hard to the point of taking painkillers to get through the day and had
seven knee operations, eventually needing both replaced. Due to failing health, couldn't keep going with
more episodes of The Rockford Files, so it was canceled during the sixth season and he got sued by
Universal for malingering, but the case was settled in his favor after a countersuit. In 1980, got into an
altercation with an ex-Green Beret while driving and was seriously injured as a result; the guy was found
guilty and went to jail.
Was Oscar-nominated for the first and only time of his career as Best Actor in Murphy's Romance.
Did commercials for Polaroid with Mariette Hartley for years. Met James Woods for the first time
during The Rockford Files, and they went on to do two strong made-for-TV movies: Promise and
My Name Is Bill W. Was nicknamed "Jim" or "Jimmy" by everybody and had disdain for being called "Okie"
for Oklahoman. Didn't care for religion. Developed a phobia of public speaking, hence the sparse credentials
on stage which amounted to only two plays. Found acting hard from the outset, was forced to work hard on his
easygoing persona, and never had lessons.
Was an avid golfer. Had a temper and would resort to physical violence, especially in golf. Admired Henry Fonda.
Didn't think of himself as a good actor for a long while. Liked to play backgammon. Was a longtime heavy smoker,
starting at 8, and quit after 60 years. Became a pothead, a habit he never stopped, due to being in constant
pain as a result of broken bones, sprains, tears, sprains, stitches, etc., in just about everywhere on his body
from doing his own stunts. Had two open-heart surgeries in 1988.
Would have done Maverick longer if he was paid appropriately. Considered himself as a liberal. Didn't
like Charlton Heston, especially when he went from liberal to conservative. Had been asked to run for office
but refused to due to feeling unqualified. Never said the words about John McCain when it came to being a
maverick but would've done so if he had thought of them before. Didn't think Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald
Reagan were qualified as governors of California and U.S. President and said the latter didn't possess an
original thought. Hated Hollywood and the show business. Was considered by everybody a straight arrow and
totally honest.
Rumors: None.