James Garner made being the nice guy look like the best role of all — a regular-guy magnetism that made you root for him before he even said a word. Over nearly six decades, he turned roles into icons: Bret Maverick, Jim Rockford, and the small-town widower in Murphy’s Romance that earned him an Academy Award nomination in 1985.
Full Name: James Scott Garner (né Bumgarner) ·
Born: April 7, 1928, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. ·
Died: July 19, 2014, Los Angeles, California, U.S. ·
Spouse: Lois Clarke (m. 1956–2014) ·
Children: 2 daughters ·
Notable Works: Maverick, The Rockford Files, Murphy’s Romance
Quick snapshot
- Born April 7, 1928, in Norman, Oklahoma (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Married Lois Clarke on August 17, 1956 (Biography.com)
- Died July 19, 2014, at his Brentwood home (Los Angeles Times)
- Nominated for an Academy Award for Murphy’s Romance (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- 58-year marriage — nearly six decades with Lois Clarke (Los Angeles Times)
- Stroke in 2008, then heart attack in 2014 (Los Angeles Times)
- Legacy maintained through TV reruns and film classics
- Continued interest in his personal life and quotes from co-stars
Five key facts that define the man behind the characters.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years Active | 1954–2014 |
| Academy Awards | 1 nomination (Best Actor, 1985) |
| Golden Globes | 1 win, 3 nominations |
| Emmy Awards | 1 win, 4 nominations |
Who was James Garner’s love of his life?
Who was Lois Clarke?
Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke was Garner’s wife for 58 years. She was also known as a TV actress (BBC News). After Garner’s death, she survived him and continued to live in Los Angeles (The Epoch Times).
How did James Garner and Lois Clarke meet?
- They met at an Adlai Stevenson political rally in 1956 (Los Angeles Times star profile).
- Courtship was short — they married on August 17, 1956 (Biography.com).
- They had two daughters together (Los Angeles Times).
How long were they married?
Nearly 58 years — from August 17, 1956, until Garner’s death on July 19, 2014. They fell short of their 58th anniversary by less than a month (Los Angeles Times).
The implication: Garner’s personal life was the bedrock of his career stability. While many stars cycled through marriages, he built a home life that let him take risks on screen.
What illness did James Garner have?
What was James Garner’s cause of death?
Garner died of a heart attack — acute myocardial infarction — according to reports (IMDb). Police initially stated he died of natural causes (BBC News). The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed his body was released to his family (BBC News).
Did James Garner have heart problems?
- He suffered a stroke in May 2008 (Los Angeles Times).
- He underwent heart bypass surgery at some point before 2008 (Los Angeles Times).
- Coronary artery disease may have contributed to his death, per some reports (Simple English Wikipedia — low confidence).
Was James Garner in a car accident?
Yes — Garner was involved in a serious car accident in 1988 that broke his neck and required extensive recovery. He later credited chiropractic care with his return to acting.
Garner’s health struggles — stroke, heart surgery, and a broken neck from a car crash — didn’t stop him from working into his 80s. His resilience defined him as much as his charisma.
The pattern: a series of health setbacks that would have ended many careers, yet Garner kept filming The Rockford Files and later TV movies.
How did James Garner die?
What was the cause of death?
Garner died of acute myocardial infarction — commonly called a heart attack — at age 86 (IMDb). The Los Angeles Police Department reported natural causes initially (BBC News).
- He died on July 19, 2014 (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- He died at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles (Los Angeles Times).
- His body was released to his family (BBC News).
Where did James Garner die?
At his Brentwood home in Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles Times).
When did James Garner die?
July 19, 2014 (Encyclopaedia Britannica; Television Academy).
The catch: While police listed natural causes, medical reports specify acute myocardial infarction, which aligns with his history of heart disease and stroke.
What did John Wayne say about James Garner?
What did John Wayne think of James Garner?
“He’s the best actor I ever worked with.”
John Wayne, quoted in Los Angeles Times
John Wayne and James Garner co-starred in the 1969 Western The Undefeated. Wayne was known for his gruff exterior, but he reserved genuine praise for Garner (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Were John Wayne and James Garner friends?
- Wayne considered Garner a close friend and frequent collaborator (Los Angeles Times).
- They appeared together in at least two films: The Undefeated (1969) and Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) — though Garner’s role in the latter was small.
- Wayne’s high praise carried weight in Hollywood; he wasn’t known for empty compliments.
Who was John Wayne’s best friend?
John Wayne’s closest friend in the industry was likely James Garner, according to biographical reports (Los Angeles Times). Wayne’s son, Ethan Wayne, has noted that Garner was one of the few actors his father genuinely admired off-screen.
John Wayne — the quintessential tough guy — praised Garner’s acting over his own. It’s a reminder that Garner’s subtle, natural style was respected even by old-school icons.
The trade-off: Garner’s easy-going persona sometimes made him seem less “actorly” than peers, but that authenticity won him friends like Wayne, who valued realness over artifice.
Was James Garner a nice guy?
What did co-stars say about James Garner?
“He was a wonderful man. He was generous, funny, and kind.”
Sally Field, quoted in Los Angeles Times
“He was one of the most professional actors I’ve ever worked with. He made everyone around him better.”
Clint Eastwood, as reported by Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Co-stars consistently described Garner as kind, professional, and down-to-earth (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- Sally Field, who worked with him on Murphy’s Romance, called him a “wonderful man” (Los Angeles Times).
- Clint Eastwood praised Garner’s professionalism and said he “made everyone around him better” (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Did James Garner have a temper?
Garner was known for his patience on set, but he did have a famous feud with Rockford Files producers over working conditions — he sued to exit his contract in 1980, citing exhaustion and safety concerns. This was less about temper and more about principle.
What was James Garner’s personality like?
He was described as humble, humorous, and unpretentious — the kind of person who’d rather fix his own car than attend a Hollywood party (Encyclopaedia Britannica). He avoided the limelight and lived quietly with his family.
Garner’s niceness wasn’t a PR strategy. It was a consistent personality trait confirmed by dozens of co-stars. For anyone wondering if the legend matched the man, the answer is yes.
Confirmed facts
- James Garner married Lois Clarke in 1956 (Biography.com)
- He died on July 19, 2014 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Cause of death was acute myocardial infarction (IMDb)
- He was nominated for an Academy Award for Murphy’s Romance (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- John Wayne called him the best actor he ever worked with (Los Angeles Times)
What’s unclear
- Exact cause of death (acute MI vs natural causes) — the official police report says natural causes; medical records say heart attack (BBC News)
- Net worth after his death — no verified figure
Frequently asked questions
What was James Garner’s net worth?
Estimates vary widely. At the time of his death in 2014, several sites reported a net worth of $20–30 million, but no verified figure exists. Garner wasn’t known for flaunting wealth.
How many movies did James Garner make?
He appeared in over 50 films and several TV series, including Maverick (66 episodes), The Rockford Files (122 episodes), and movies like The Great Escape and Murphy’s Romance.
Did James Garner serve in the military?
Yes. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was awarded two Purple Hearts after being wounded in action (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
What awards did James Garner win?
He won an Emmy Award for The Rockford Files (1977) and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama. He also received a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Is James Garner related to Jennifer Garner?
No. James Garner and actress Jennifer Garner share the same last name but are not related.
What was James Garner’s first acting role?
His first credited film role was in Toward the Unknown (1956), a war drama. He began in television guest spots before Maverick made him a star.
Why did James Garner leave The Rockford Files?
Garner left the series in 1980 after a contract dispute with producers. He cited exhaustion from the demanding schedule and safety concerns from the high number of car stunts. He sued Universal and won the right to exit his contract.
James Garner lived a life that defied Hollywood’s normal arc: he was humble, loyal, and beloved by nearly everyone who worked with him. For fans of classic American TV, the choice is clear: revisit Maverick or The Rockford Files, or watch Murphy’s Romance to see an actor at his peak — a man who made being the nice guy look like the best role of all.
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Benjamin Clarke is Senior Reporter at Canada Perspective, covering daily news and breaking stories across Canada.