Sunday, July 20, 2014

RIP James Garner 1928 – 2014

One of my all time favorite actors James Garner has died at the age of 86...he passed away at his home in Los Angeles last night of natural causes.

 

Born in Oklahoma Garner began his career in the mid-1950s, getting his breakthrough with a supporting role alongside Marlon Brando in Sayonara in 1957. After becoming a household name through his work on the TV wstern Maverick, Garner enjoyed a number of film roles in the 1960s, including Boys' Night Out, Boys' Night Out The Great EscapeThe Thrill of It All” “The Americanization of Emily.“Victor Victoria” and “Murphy's Romance"  He also co-starred with a young Bruce Willis in Sunset, a mythical story about 1920s Hollywood.

In the 1990s Garner received rave reviews for his role in the acclaimed television movie about corporate greed, Barbarians at the Gate  After that he appeared in the theatrical remake of his  television series, Maverick, opposite Mel Gibson.

In 2004 he played Duke--the older version of 's Noah in the heartfelt romance The Notebook.

As good as he was in films-for me growing up it was his work in another TV series The Rockford Files that ran from Sept. 10, 1974 through Jan. 10, 1980 and was created by Stephen J.Cannell and Roy Huggins that will stay with me. Garner starred as an ex-con who became a disheveled but charming private eye in Los Angeles with a knack for solving cold cases living out of a mobile home in Malibu. Several TV films saw the character return,

Away from his body of work he came across as a good guy--who made it look easy....

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