James Garner, the Oscar nominee, double Golden Globe and Emmy winner who famously starred in TV’s The Rockford Files, has died at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. He was 86.
Garner played the role of the private investigator from 1974-80 before many years of mostly performing his own stunts took its toll and he called it a day. He received one Emmy and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nods for his trouble.
Years later in the 1990s he would delight fans by reprising the role in eight TV movies.
Earlier in his career the Oklahoma-born actor starred as a card player with a keen sense of self-preservation in Maverick from 1957-62.
Film roles included The Great Escape, Marlowe, Murphy’s Romance with Sally Field – for which he received a lead actor Oscar nod – The Americanization Of Emily opposite Julie Andrews, Space Cowboys and The Notebook.
Garner won two Golden Globes for TV shows Barbarians At The Gate and Declaration Day and won a second Emmy for the show Promise. SAG presented him with the lifetime achievement award in 2005.
In early life Garner graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and won two Purple Hearts for Army service in the Korean War.
He died on July 19 and is survived by his longtime wife and TV actress Lois Clarke, daughter Greta and step-daughter Kimberly.
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