Garner, James 1928–

PERSONAL

Original name, James Scott Baumgarner, born April 7, 1928, in Norman, OK; son of Weldon Baumgarner (a construction worker); married Lois Clarke, August 17, 1956; children: Kimberly, Gretta "Gigi" (an actress and author), Scott. Education: Attended University of Oklahoma; studied acting at Herbert Berghof Studios, New York. Avocational Interests: Playing golf and humanitarian causes.

Addresses:

Agent—Paradigm, 360 North Crescent Dr., North Bldg., Beverly Hills, CA 90210; Cunningham, Escott, Slevin and Doherty Talent Agency, 10635 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 140, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Manager—Bill Robinson Management, PO Box 6284, Malibu, CA 90264. Publicist—PMK/HBH Public Relations, 700 San Vicente Blvd., Suite G910, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Career:

Actor, producer, director, and song performer. Cherokee Productions, founder and president; appeared in television commercials for Polaroid, Xerox, Chevrolet Camaro, 10-10-9000 long distance service, Williams (Energy Solutions), Chevy Suburban, Financial Freedom reverse mortgage, and Chevy Tahoe. Previously worked as a salesman, oil field worker, carpet layer, swim trunks model, lifeguard, and truck driver. Pace car driver in the Indianapolis 500 in 1975, 1977, and 1985. Native American Rights Fund's National Support Committee member; United States High School Golf Association, member of national advisory board; Save the Children volunteer. Military service: Merchant Marines, U.S. Army; served during Korean conflict; received Purple Heart.

Awards, Honors:

Golden Globe Award, most promising newcomer, 1958; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, 1976, Emmy Award, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, 1977, and Golden Globe Award nominations, best television actor—drama, 1978, 1979, 1980, all for The Rockford Files; Clio Award, 1978, for Polaroid commercials; Advertising Age Star Presenter of the Year, 1978; Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a television series—comedy or musical, 1982, for Bret Maverick; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding leading actor in a limited series or special, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a miniseries or motion picture made for television, both 1985, for Heartsounds; Academy Award nomination, best actor, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture—comedy or musical, both 1986, for Murphy's Romance; Oklahoma Hall of Fame, inductee, 1986; Emmy Award (with Peter K. Duchow), outstanding special, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a miniseries or motion picture made for television, both 1987, for "Promise," Hallmark Hall of Fame; Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or special, and outstanding drama or comedy special (with Duchow), both 1989, for "My Name Is Bill W.," Hallmark Hall of Fame; National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, inductee, 1990; Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame, inductee, 1991; Golden Globe Award, best performance by an actor in a miniseries or motion picture made for television, 1991, for "Decoration Day," Hallmark Hall of Fame; Golden Globe Award, best performance by an actor in a miniseries or motion picture made for television, 1994, for Barbarians at the Gate; Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a miniseries or motion picture made for television, 1995, for Breathing Lessons; Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a male actor in a television movie or miniseries, 1995, for The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.; Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a male actor in a television movie or miniseries, 1996, for The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise; Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a male actor in a television movie or miniseries, 1999, for Legalese; Golden Boot Award, Motion Picture and Television Fund, 1999; Blockbuster Entertainment Award nomination (with others), favorite action team (Internet only), 2001, for Space Cowboys; Lifetime Achievement Award, Screen Actors Guild, 2005; Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role, 2005, for The Notebook; Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2005.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Tumblers, Joan of Arc, RKO Radio Pictures, 1948.

Preston, The Girl He Left Behind, Warner Bros., 1956.

Major Joe Craven, Toward the Unknown (also known as Brink of Hell), Warner Bros., 1956.

Captain Mike Baily, Sayonara, Warner Bros., 1957.

John Maitland, Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend, Warner Bros., 1957.

(Uncredited) Voice of anchor, search and rescue operation, Bombers B-52 (also known as No Sleep Till Dawn), 1957.

Major William Darby, Darby's Rangers (also known as William A. Wellman's "Darby's Rangers" and Young Invaders), Warner Bros., 1958.

Bret Maverick, Alias Jesse James, United Artists, 1959.

Lieutenant Ken Braden, Up Periscope, Warner Bros., 1959.

Title role, Cash McCall, Warner Bros., 1960.

Dr. Joe Cardin, The Children's Hour (also known as The Loudest Whisper), United Artists, 1961.

Fred Williams, Boys' Night Out, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1962.

Flight Lieutenant Bob Anthony Hendley, "The Scrounger," The Great Escape, United Artists, 1963.

Nicholas Arden, Move Over Darling, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1963.

Dr. Gerald Boyer, The Thrill of It All, Universal, 1963.

Henry Tyroon, The Wheeler Dealers (also known as Separate Beds), Filmways, 1963.

Lieutenant Commander Charles Madison, The Americanization of Emily (also known as Emily), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1964.

Himself, Action on the Beach, 1964.

Casey Barnett, The Art of Love, Universal, 1965.

Major Jefferson Pike, 36 Hours, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1965.

Jess Remsberg, Duel at Diablo (also known as Ralph Nelson's "Duel at Diablo"), United Artists, 1966.

William Beddoes, A Man Could Get Killed (also known as Welcome, Mr. Beddoes), Universal, 1966.

Pete Aron, Grand Prix, 1966.

(Uncredited) Himself, "Grand Prix": Challenge of Champions, 1966.

Title role, Mr. Buddwing (also known as Woman Without a Face), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966.

Wyatt Earp, Hour of the Gun, United Artists, 1967.

Grif Henderson, How Sweet It Is!, New General Pictures, 1968.

Ben Morris, The Pink Jungle, Universal, 1968.

(Uncredited) Himself, The Man Who Makes the Difference, 1968.

Philip Marlowe, Marlowe, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1969.

Himself, The Racing Scene, 1969.

Jason McCullough, Support Your Local Sheriff, United Artists, 1969.

Luther Sledge, A Man Called Sledge (also known as Sledge), Columbia, 1971.

Quincy Drew, The Skin Game, Warner Bros., 1971.

Latigo Smith, Support Your Local Gunfighter, United Artists, 1971.

Police Chief Abel Marsh, They Only Kill Their Masters, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972.

Corporal Clint Keys, One Little Indian, Buena Vista, 1973.

Lincoln Costain, The Castaway Cowboy, Buena Vista, 1974.

Harry Wolff, Health (also known as H.E.A.L.T.H.), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980.

Jake Berman, The Fan (also known as Trance), Paramount, 1981.

King, Victor/Victoria, United Artists, 1982.

Commander Sergeant Major Zack Carey, Tank, Universal, 1984.

Murphy Jones, Murphy's Romance, Columbia, 1985.

Wyatt Earp, Sunset (also known as Catalina), TriStar, 1988.

Jeff Johnson, The Distinguished Gentleman, 1992.

Sheriff Frank Watters, Fire in the Sky, 1993.

Himself, Return to "The Great Escape" (documentary short), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, 1993.

Zane Cooper, Maverick, 1994.

Matt Douglas, My Fellow Americans, Warner Bros., 1996.

Himself, Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick (documentary; also known as Wild Bill, Hollywood Maverick: The Life and Times of William A. Wellman), Turner Pictures, 1996.

Narrator, The Hidden Dimension (documentary), 1997.

Voice of homeowner, 4 Million Houseguests, 1997.

Raymond Hope, Twilight, Paramount, 1998.

Tank Sullivan, Space Cowboys, Warner Bros., 2000.

Voice of Captain Rourke, Atlantis: The Lost Empire (animated), Buena Vista, 2001.

Shepard James "Shep" Walker, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Warner Bros., 2002.

Voice of Pat, The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (animated), Universal, 2003.

Duke, The Notebook, New Line Cinema, 2004.

Title role, Al Roach: Private Insectigator, 2004.

Himself, James Garner On-Camera Interview "Rockford Files" Season 1 DVD (documentary short), Universal Studios, 2005.

Himself, The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Legacy (documentary), 2006.

Himself, Pushing the Limit: The Making of "Grand Prix" (documentary short), Warner Home video, 2006.

Red Stevens, The Ultimate Gift, FoxFaith, 2006.

Also appeared in Hawaiian Cowboy.

Film Work:

Executive producer, Grand Prix, 1966.

Television Appearances; Series:

Bret Maverick, Maverick, ABC, 1957-60.

Title role, Nichols (also known as James Garner and James Garner as Nichols), NBC, 1971-72.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files (also known as Jim Rockford, Private Investigator), NBC, 1974-80.

Title role, Bret Maverick, NBC, 1981-82.

Councilman Jim Doyle, Man of the People, 1991.

Hubert Miller, Chicago Hope, CBS, 2000.

Voice of God, God, the Devil and Bob (animated), NBC, 2000.

Chief Justice Thomas Brankin, First Monday, 2002.

Jim Egan, 8 Simple Rules … for Dating My Teenage Daughter (also known as 8 Simple Rules), ABC, 2003-2005.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Norman Grant, Space (also known as James A. Michener's "Space"), CBS, 1987.

Captain Woodrow F. Call, Streets of Laredo (also known as Larry McMurtry's "Streets of Laredo"), CBS, 1995.

Host, A Century of Country, CBS, 1999.

Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story, 1999.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files (also known as The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter), NBC, 1974.

Bret Maverick, The New Maverick, ABC, 1978.

Bret Maverick and Edmund Trueblood, federal bank examiner, Bret Maverick (also known as Bret Maverick: The Lazy Ace), 1981.

George Adams, The Long Summer of George Adams, NBC, 1982.

Dr. Harold Lear, Heartsounds, ABC, 1984.

Al Mackay, The Glitter Dome, HBO, 1984.

F. Ross Johnson, Barbarians at the Gate, HBO, 1993.

Ira Moran, Breathing Lessons, CBS, 1994.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A., CBS, 1994.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise, CBS, 1995.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits …, sCBS, 1996.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best, CBS, 1996.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play, CBS, 1996.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: Crime and Punishment, CBS, 1996.

John Potter, Dead Silence (also known as Silence de mort), Fox, 1997.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: Murders and Misdemeanors, CBS, 1997.

Norman Keane, Legalese, TNT, 1998.

Jim Rockford, The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds … It Leads, CBS, 1999.

Robert Woodward, One Special Night, CBS, 1999.

Mike Howley, The Last Debate, Showtime, 2000.

Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain, Roughing It (also known as Mark Twain's "Roughing It"), Hallmark Channel, 2002.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The Bing Crosby Special, ABC, 1959.

The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965.

Presenter, The 38th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1966.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1986, 1991.

Superstunt, NBC, 1977.

The American Film Institute Salute to Henry Fonda, CBS, 1978.

Superstunt, 1978.

James Garner, Waylon, 1980.

Host, 60 Years of Seduction, ABC, 1981.

Bret Maverick, Lily for President?, CBS, 1982.

Bob Beuhler, "Promise," Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1986.

The 12th Annual People's Choice Awards, 1986.

The 58th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1986.

Presenter, The 60th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, 1988.

Dr Robert "Dr. Bob" Holbrook Smith, "My Name Is Bill W.," Hallmark Hall of Fame, ABC, 1989.

Albert Sidney Finch, "Decoration Day," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1990.

Dinah Comes Home Again, 1990.

Host, Take Me To Your Leaders, 1990.

Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love, 1991.

Voice of General Dwight Eisenhower, The Year of the Generals, 1992.

The Great Ones: The National Sports Awards, 1993.

Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden, ABC, 1994.

100 Years of the Hollywood Western, 1994.

Golf: The Greatest Game, 1994.

Julie Andrews: Back on Broadway, PBS, 1995.

Host, Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western, TNT, 1997.

Presenter, The 50th Emmy Awards, 1998.

Doris Day: It's Magic, Arts and Entertainment, 1998.

Hollywood Salutes Jodie Foster: An American Cinematheque Tribute, TNT, 1999.

Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows, PBS, 2000.

The Making of "Space Cowboys," 2000.

The 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Fox, 2000.

Private Screenings: James Garner, TCM, 2001.

Intimate Portrait: Suzannne Pleshette, Lifetime, 2002.

TV Land Moguls, TV Land, 2004.

The 11th Annual Screen Actor Guild Awards, TNT, 2005.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Councilman Jim Doyle, Man of the People, 1991.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Forsythe, "Mountain Fortress," Cheyenne, 1955.

"The Black Hawk War," Cheyenne, 1956.

Bret, "The Last Train West," Cheyenne, 1956.

Lieutenant Lee Rogers, "Decision," Cheyenne, 1956.

Lieutenant Jim Collins, "Stars over Texas," Zane Grey Theater (also known as The Westerners and Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater"), 1956.

Jim Curtis, "The People Against McQuade," Conflict, ABC, 1956.

Jim Curtis, "The Man from 1997," Conflict, ABC, 1956.

"Explosion," Warner Brothers Presents, 1956.

Peake, "War Party," Cheyenne, 1957.

Bret Maverick, "Misfire," Sugarfoot (also known as Tenderfoot), 1957.

"Girl on the Subway," Conflict, ABC, 1957.

"The Western," Wide Wide World, 1958.

"James Garner," This Is Your Life, 1958.

Himself, "Downbeat," 77 Sunset Strip, 1959.

Beau "Pappy" Maverick, "Pappy," Maverick, ABC, 1959.

I've Got a Secret, 1962.

Here's Hollywood, 1962.

Mystery guest, What's My Line?, 1964.

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (also known as Laugh-In), 1968, 1969, 1970.

The Andy Williams Show, 1969.

Toast of the Town (also known as The Ed Sullivan Show), 1969.

The Carol Burnett Show (also known as Carol Burnett and Friends), 1978.

Bret Maverick, "Clancy," Young Maverick, CBS, 1979.

A Conversation with Dinah, 1989.

"Doris Day: It's Magic," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1998.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1998, 1999, 2002.

The Howard Stern Radio Show, 1999.

"James Garner: Hollywood Maverick," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

"Jack Webb: Just the Facts Ma'am," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Hubert "Hue" Miller, "Devoted Attachment," Chicago Hope, CBS, 2000.

Hubert "Hue" Miller, "Miller Time," Chicago Hope, CBS, 2000.

Hubert "Hue" Miller, "Thoughts of You," Chicago Hope, CBS, 2000.

Hubert "Hue" Miller, "Everybody's Special at Chicago Hope," Chicago Hope, CBS, 2000.

Hubert "Hue" Miller, "Have I Got a Deal for You," Chicago Hope, CBS, 2000.

"Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows," American Masters, PBS, 2000.

"Rod Steiger," Bravo Profiles, Bravo, 2001.

"James Garner," Private Screenings, TCM, 2001.

The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno, NBC, 2002, 2005.

Entertainment Tonight (also known as E.T.), syndicated, 2003.

TV Land Moguls, TV Land, 2003.

Larry King Live, CNN, 2004.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 2004.

Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC, 2004.

"Jack Lemmon," The Hollywood Greats (also known as Hollywood Greats), BBC1, 2006.

"Marlon Brando," The Hollywood Greats (also known as Hollywood Greats), BBC1, 2006.

Also appeared in "James Garner," Celebrity Golf (also known as The Golf Channel Presents "Celebrity Golf" with Sam Snead).

Television Executive Producer; Movies:

The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A., CBS, 1994.

The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise, CBS, 1995.

The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits … CBS, 1996.

The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best, CBS, 1996.

The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play, CBS, 1996.

The Rockford Files: Crime and Punishment, CBS, 1996.

The Rockford Files: Murders and Misdemeanors, CBS, 1997.

The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds … It Leads, CBS, 1999.

Television Executive Producer; Specials:

(With Peter K. Duchow) "Promise," Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1986.

(With Duchow) "My Name Is Bill W.," Hallmark Hall of Fame, ABC, 1989.

Television Director; Episodic:

"The Girl in the Bay City Boys' Club," The Rockford Files (also known as Jim Rockford, Private Investigator), NBC, 1975.

Also directed episodes of Maverick, ABC.

Stage Appearances:

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1954.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Recorded an album with Waylon Jennings in 1980.

Videos:

Himself, Amy Grant: Building the House of Love (documentary), A&M Video, 1994.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, St. James Press, 1996.

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, November 1, 1999, p. 139.

People Weekly, February 7, 2007, p. 95.