James Garner | |
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Garner at the 39th Primetime Emmy Awards in September 1987
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Born |
James Scott Bumgarner April 7, 1928 Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Died | July 19, 2014 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
(aged 86)
Cause of death | Heart attack |
Other names | James Scott Garner James Bumgarner James Scott Bumgarner |
Occupation | Actor, producer, voice artist |
Years active | 1954–2013 |
Political party | Democratic Party |
Spouse(s) | Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke (1956–2014; his death) |
Children | 2 |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1944–1952 |
Rank | Corporal |
Unit | |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Purple Heart |
James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor, producer, and voice artist. He starred in several television series over more than five decades, including such popular roles as Bret Maverick in the 1950s western comedy series Maverick and Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files, and played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including The Great Escape (1963) with Steve McQueen, Paddy Chayefsky's The Americanization of Emily (1964), Grand Prix (1966), Blake Edwards' Victor Victoria (1982), Murphy's Romance (1985), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, Space Cowboys (2000) with Clint Eastwood, and The Notebook (2004).
Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma on April 7, 1928. He was the youngest of three sons of Weldon Warren Bumgarner and Mildred Scott (Meek). His older brothers were Jack Garner (1926–2011) and Charles Bumgarner, a school administrator who died in 1984. His family was Methodist. His mother died when he was 5 years old. After their mother's death, Garner and his brothers were sent to live with relatives. Garner was reunited with his family in 1934, when Weldon remarried.