Rest in Peace James Garner

Today I heard some sad news. James Garner died yesterday at the age of 86.

 

He is best remembered for his role as Bret Maverick in the late 1950s television show, Maverick, where he played "the acerbic hero and foil to the more subdued Jack Kelly. Maverick was an antidote to the austere television frontier shows of that era." - source 

Garner was in the first three seasons, 1957-1960.

James Garner and Jack Kelly (as Bart Maverick)

Life magazine article

Maverick tie

1950s television cowboys (Jack Kelly is 3rd from left)

James Garner and Diana Brewster as Samantha Crawford, who was in four episodes of Maverick (and the prettiest female guest star in my opinion - she also played Beaver's teacher, Miss Canfield in Leave it to Beaver)

I've posted this one before

 

Maverick theme song

Garner later played the sheriff in Mel Gibson's Maverick (1994), which was based on the original television series.

 

Trailer for the movie

 

Another movie with a character similar to Bret Maverick: Support Your Local Sheriff (1969). He plays Jason McCullough, a man passing through on his way to Australia who decides to become the sheriff of a town terrorized by the Danby family and earn a little money while he's at it.

 

 

"You are the strangest girl I've ever met"

 

Mayor Ollie Perkins: I wanted you to meet my daughter, Sheriff. She's a good cook, a mighty fine looking girl. Takes after her dear, departed mother.

Jason McCullough: Mother died, huh?
Mayor Ollie Perkins: Nope, she just departed.

Trailer

Duel at Diablo (1966) is another really good movie he's in.

 

Kind of a weird trailer...

 

Cool behind-the-scenes video

A lot of people will remember him as Duke in The Notebook (2004)

 

But I will always remember him as Bret Maverick

 

 

 

Looking handsome in a white suitcoat

His greatest talent: making one eye look at the other

A very good read!

 

The four stages of an actor's career according to James Garner:

1. Who is James Garner?

2. Get me James Garner.

3. Get me a James Garner type.

4. Who is James Garner?

 

Why am I not this girl??

Interesting links:

Slideshow

Yahoo article

8 Most Memorable Movies