ACTOR
James Garner
Known for Late Night with Conan O'Brien · The View · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
James Scott Garner (né 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…
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Apr 7, 1928
- Died
- Jul 19, 2014
- Birthplace
- Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
James Scott Garner (né 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).
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Known For
TV
Late Night with Conan O'BrienSelf - Guest · 1993
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
TV
The ViewSelf · 1997
★ 4.3
★ 4.3
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 1962
★ 7.6
★ 7.6
TV
Chicago HopeHubert 'Hue' Miller · 1994
★ 7.2
★ 7.2
TV
MaverickBret Maverick · 1957
★ 7.0
★ 7.0
TV
What's My Line?Self - Mystery Guest · 1950
★ 7.0
★ 7.0
TV
Great PerformancesSelf · 1971
★ 6.1
★ 6.1
TV
American MastersSelf · 1986
★ 7.0
★ 7.0
Filmography
Movies
The Girl He Left BehindPreston
1956
Toward the UnknownLt. Col. Joe Craven
1956
SayonaraCapt. Mike Bailey
1957
Shoot-Out at Medicine BendSgt. John Maitland
1957
Darby's RangersWilliam Orlando Darby
1958
The Western: A Lost TV SpecialSelf
1958
Up PeriscopeLt. J. G. Kenneth M. Braden
1959
Cash McCallCash McCall
1960
The Children's HourJoe Cardin
1961
Boys' Night OutFred Williams
1962
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene StealersSelf
1962
A Bob Hope Comedy SpecialSelf
1963
Move Over, DarlingNicholas Arden
1963
The Great EscapeHendley 'The Scrounger'
1963
The Thrill of It AllGerald Boyer
1963
The Wheeler DealersHenry Tyroon
1963
36 HoursMajor Jefferson F. Pike
196436 HoursExecutive Producer
1964AO
Action on the BeachSelf
1964
The Americanization of EmilyLt. Commander Charles E. Madison
1964
The Art of LoveCasey Barnett
1965The Art of LoveProducer
1965
A Man Could Get KilledWilliam Beddoes
1966A Man Could Get KilledExecutive Producer
1966
Duel at DiabloJess Remsberg
1966Duel at DiabloProducer
1966
Grand PrixPete Aron
1966Grand PrixExecutive Producer
1966
Grand Prix: Challenge of the ChampionsSelf
1966
Mister BuddwingMister Buddwing
1966Mister BuddwingExecutive Producer
1966
Hour of the GunMarshal Wyatt Earp
1967
How Sweet It Is!Grif
1968How Sweet It Is!Executive Producer
1968
The Pink JungleBen Morris
1968The Pink JungleExecutive Producer
1968
MarlowePhilip Marlowe
1969MarloweExecutive Producer
1969
Support Your Local Sheriff!Jason McCullough
1969Support Your Local Sheriff!Executive Producer
1969
The Racing SceneSelf
1969The Racing SceneProducer
1969
A Man Called SledgeLuther Sledge
1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisSelf (archive footage)
1970
Skin GameQuincy Drew
1971Skin GameExecutive Producer
1971
Support Your Local GunfighterLatigo
1971Support Your Local GunfighterExecutive Producer
1971
They Only Kill Their MastersAbel Marsh
1972
One Little IndianKeyes
1973
SidekicksExecutive Producer
1974
The Castaway CowboyLincoln Costain
1974
The Rockford Files: Backlash of the HunterJim Rockford
1974
Scott FreeExecutive Producer
1976S
SuperstuntSelf
1977
The New MaverickBret Maverick
1978
HealtHHarry Wolff
1980
Off the Minnesota StripExecutive Producer
1980SY
Sixty Years of SeductionSelf - Host
1981
The FanJake Berman
1981
Lily for President?Bret Maverick
1982
The Long Summer of George AdamsGeorge Adams
1982
Victor/VictoriaKing Marchand
1982
James Bond: The First 21 YearsSelf
1983
HeartsoundsHarold Lear
1984
TankZack
1984
The Glitter DomeSgt. Aloysius Mackey
1984
Murphy's RomanceMurphy Jones
1985
PromiseBob Beuhler
1986PromiseExecutive Producer
1986
SunsetWyatt Earp
1988
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...Self (archive footage)
1989
My Name Is Bill W.Dr. Robert Smith
1989My Name Is Bill W.Executive Producer
1989
Decoration DayAlbert Sidney Finch
1990
The Distinguished GentlemanJeff Johnson
1992
Barbarians at the GateF. Ross Johnson
1993
Fire in the SkyFrank Watters
1993
Return to 'The Great Escape'Self
1993
Breathing LessonsIra Moran
1994
MaverickMarshal Zane Cooper
1994
The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.Jim Rockford
1994
Roger Moore: A Matter of ClassSelf (archive footage)
1995
The Rockford Files: A Blessing in DisguiseJim Rockford
1995
Wild Bill: Hollywood MaverickSelf
1995
My Fellow AmericansPresident Matt Douglas
1996
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul PlayJim Rockford
1996
The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows BestJim Rockford
1996
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...Jim Rockford
1996
The Rockford Files: Punishment and CrimeJim Rockford
1996
Big Guns Talk: The Story of the WesternSelf - Host
1997
Dead SilenceJohn Potter
1997
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden PagodaJim Rockford
1997
Doris Day: It's MagicSelf
1998
LegaleseNorman Keane
1998
The Hidden DimensionGrandpa
1998
TwilightRaymond Hope
1998
One Special NightRobert Woodward
1999
The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It LeadsJim Rockford
1999
Clint Eastwood: Out of the ShadowsSelf
2000
Space CowboysTank Sullivan
2000
The Last DebateMike Howley
2000
Atlantis: The Lost EmpireRourke (voice)
2001
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
2001
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodShep Walker
2002
Roughing ItSamuel Clemens
2002
The Making of 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire'Self
2002
The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck MigrationPat (voice)
2003
The NotebookOlder Noah 'Duke'
2004
Dust to GlorySelf
2005
Pushing the Limit: The Making of Grand PrixSelf
2006
Battle for TerraDoron (voice)
2007
BrandoSelf (archive footage)
2007
Doris Day: Virgin TerritorySelf
2007
The Ultimate GiftHoward 'Red' Stevens
2007
Wrangler: Anatomy of an IconSelf (archive)
2008
DC Showcase Original Shorts CollectionShazam (segment "The Return of Black Adam") (voice)
2010
Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black AdamShazam (voice)
2010
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named DesireSelf - Actor (archive footage)
2014
Steve McQueen: The Man & Le MansSelf (archive footage)
2015
DisclosureKing Marchand (archive footage)
2020Television
Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee · 3 eps
1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Presenter · 1 eps
1944
BambiSelf · 1 eps
1948
The Bob Hope ShowSelf · 7 eps
1950
What's My Line?Self - Mystery Guest · 1 eps
1950
Hallmark Hall of FameBob · 1 eps
1951Hallmark Hall of FameDr. Robert Holbrook Smith aka Dr. Bob · 1 eps
1951Hallmark Hall of FameIra Moran · 1 eps
1951Hallmark Hall of FameAlbert Sidney · 1 eps
1951
This Is Your LifeSelf · 1 eps
1952
The OscarsSelf · 1 eps
1953
CheyenneLt. Brad Forsythe · 4 eps
1955C
Conflict1 eps
1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreLt. Jim Collins · 1 eps
1956
The Dinah Shore Chevy ShowSelf · 3 eps
1956
MaverickBret Maverick · 79 eps
1957
SugarfootBret Maverick (uncredited) · 1 eps
1957
77 Sunset StripSelf · 1 eps
1958
Whicker's World1 eps
1959
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 1 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 5 eps
1962
The Carol Burnett ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1967
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf (uncredited) · 2 eps
1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf · 2 eps
1968
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1968
Great PerformancesSelf · 1 eps
1971
NicholsSheriff Frank Nichols · 24 eps
1971
Once Upon a WheelSelf · 1 eps
1971
The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self · 1 eps
1973
The Rockford FilesJim Rockford · 122 eps
1974The Rockford FilesDirector
1974L
Laugh-InGuest Performer (uncredited) · 2 eps
1977
Bret MaverickBret Maverick · 18 eps
1981H
HartySelf · 1 eps
1983
SpaceNorman Grant · 5 eps
1985
American MastersSelf · 1 eps
1986
Man of the PeopleJim Doyle · 12 eps
1991
HBO First Look1 eps
1992
Late Night with Conan O'BrienSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1993
Chicago HopeHubert 'Hue' Miller · 4 eps
1994
Streets of LaredoCaptain Woodrow Call · 3 eps
1995
The ViewSelf · 1 eps
1997
God, the Devil and BobGod (voice) · 13 eps
2000
8 Simple RulesJim Egan · 43 eps
2002CO
Century of Country13 eps
2002
First MondayThomas Brankin · 13 eps
2002
Roughing ItSamuel Clemens · 2 eps
2002
LegendsSelf · 1 eps
2006Photos
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