James Garner

"Through many films and two influential television series, Maverick and The Rockford Files, James Garner, who has died aged 86, developed a persona with a subtly different appeal. It began as original and accrued familiarity over the course of four decades: a coward who was the soul of honour, a hero likely to ride away, stick his finger up the barrel of his opponent's gun or get winded in a fight and complain of damage to his dentistry.
The name of Garner's production company reflected the fact that his mother, Mildred, was part-Cherokee; he was born in Norman, Oklahoma, and she died when he was four. His father, Bill, ran a hardware store. Seasickness made the Merchant Marine hard going for him, but Korean war service brought him two Purple Hearts. His first stage experience came in bit parts touring in The Caine Mutiny Court Martial."
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jul/20/james-garner

 

I was waiting for someone to post this. Its very sad to hear of his passing. The Rockford Files has always been my favourite TV show, and James Garner was a great actor.

 

Always liked him as Bret Maverick. Thought that it was kind of cool when he portrayed Bret's father in the Mel Gibson remake.