His Wikipedia entry and his Times obit are both worth a read.
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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?
It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.
Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.
Fuck these fucking interesting times.
Accountability, motherfuckers.
Only Democrats have agency, apparently.
The words do not have to be perfect.
My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.
Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!
It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.
Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.
It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.
Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.
You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.
These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.
“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”
The current Supreme Court is a dangerous, rogue court.
“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”
Washington Post’s Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.
Republicans don’t trust women.
They punch you in the face and then start crying because their fist hurts.
Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.
There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.
Impressively dumb. Congratulations.
Comrade Dread
Aw, man… I loved his work. RIP, Maverick.
Keith P
“Murphy’s Romance” was one of my mom’s favorite movies. She adored James Garner. He may have been second only to Sean Connery.
smintheus
He was a lifelong Democrat and supporter of liberal causes, and in fact took part in MLK’s 1963 March on Washington.
geg6
@smintheus:
Yup. All that and handsome, smart and witty on top of that. Loved him. RIP.
ThresherK
Not a small number of people thought that he and Mariette Hartley were a real-life couple based on the Polaroid commercials they made together.
Something I’ll remember the next time I think about seeing a big box movie with absolutely no chemistry between the leads.
Keith G
Being a teenager in the 70’s, James Garner was ubiquitous as being a good example of a gentle type of guy’s guy – as opposed to the Eastwood model.
I don’t know it was just all acting, but Garner seemed like a nice guy.
Debg
I’ll never forget him in Victor/Victoria–I was in college, maybe, when that came out and it opened my eyes to all sorts of gender implications (even if those implications seem dated now).
Villago Delenda Est
“Maverick’ was a groundbreaking television show…one that addressed a cliched genre with wit and style. The hero would actively seek to avoid violent confrontations, preferring to use guile and cunning to achieve the hero’s objective. Garner made that possible with his wit, style and class.
He was fantastic in “Victor/Victoria” playing opposite Julie Andrews, he was terrific in “The Great Escape”, and well, I could go on and on and on.
A splendid life, well lived and will be well remembered.
Head on down that trail to the next poker game, Maverick.
gogol's wife
That’s sad. He was a wonderful actor. And incredibly handsome. Take a look at him in Move Over, Darling.
Villago Delenda Est
ZOMG, I used a banned word in my comment, referring to a card game that Maverick played often.
/shakefist at spammers for “Gaming Sites” who have made that word FYWP bait.
Hungry Joe
” … riding the trails to who knows where / Luck is his companion, gambling is his game.”
“Maverick” was one great show — well-plotted, great dialog, frequently hilarious; somehow it both mocked and was reverent to horse opera tradition. Jack Kelly was fine as Bart Maverick, but as Brett, James Garner made it a classic.
Brief clip from “A Shady Deal at Sunny Acres”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VjaH4v1gMg
The “Gunsmoke” parody was more than a riot, too.
Garner was a hell of an actor and from all accounts a hell of a good guy, too. Now riding the trails to who knows where.
smintheus
@ThresherK: Garner had chemistry with almost everybody he ever appeared with. He seemed to radiate good will toward all … except the occasional bully and thug.
c u n d gulag
I loved all of his TV shows and movies.
He had wit and intelligence, and it showed in the roles that he chose, and his acting style.
I can’t remember a film he was in that wasn’t good.
I might have missed a few, though.
My favorite movie of his is probably “Grand Prix” – not only because he’s terrific as an American race-car driver – and because it’s full of other terrific actors – but that movie has all of those great open-wheeled Formula One cars from the mid-60’s.
KRK
Aw, so sad. I loved him. Any Juicers who haven’t seen The Americanization of Emily should put it at the top of their to-do lists.
Davis X. Machina
Anyone else remember the Polaroid ads he did with Mariette Hartley in the late ’70’s?
JimV
They should do a remake of “The Rockford Files” starring, say, Matt Damon (now that he is about old enough). It was one of my all-time favorite shows, mainly because it made me laugh, but there was sort of a sense of reality about it also, perhaps because Rockford was not a Clint Eastwood superman and tended to screw up at times.
As I recall, studios used to routinely screw actors out of residuals when TV shows were syndicated, until JG sued them (after “The Rockford Files” was being shown every night somewhere in the USA and JG was being told that the studio was barely breaking even on it). Jerry Seinfeld should feel very grateful to him.
Violet
Loved him. Consistently great in everything he did, even TV commercials. RIP.
Cervantes
@Davis X. Machina: Here.
Here also.
Cervantes
@JimV:
Also, too, he was an ex-con.
WaterGirl
@Davis X. Machina: I’m gonna have to say “yes”. :-)
See ThresherK at #5.
Edit: What a charmer! Those two were great together in those commercials.
Hungry Joe
From “Gun Shy,” the “Gunsmoke” parody: Maverick (Garner) is playing cards in the saloon; deputy Clyde Diefendorf spots him, then hurries to the office of Marshal Mort Dooley.
Dooley: How do you know he’s a professional gambler, Clyde?
Clyde: He’s wearin’ a clean white shirt, and a black necktie — and he’s a-winnin’, Mr. Dooley!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXlhs72UAZ4
Mike E
@c u n d gulag: He drove nearly all of his own stunts on The Rockford Files…damn, what a clunky name for a show, and yet he made it must see teevee. I loved the hell outa that series!
WaterGirl
I am hoping that Maverick and The Rockford Files are playing on one of the “old TV show” channels. And if they’re not, I hope they soon are.
Hungry Joe
In blasted moderation because I named a certain card game Maverick played. Here it is, sanitized for your protection:
From “Gun Shy,” the “Gunsmoke” parody: Maverick (Garner) is playing cards in the saloon; deputy Clyde Diefendorf sees him, then hurries to the office of Marshal Mort Dooley.
Dooley: How do you know he’s a professional gambler, Clyde?
Clyde: He’s wearin’ a clean white shirt, and a black necktie — and he’s a-winnin’, Mr. Dooley!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXlhs72UAZ4
srv
@WaterGirl: The guy could have his own channel with all the episodes he did.
srv
If you can handle Charlie Rose, here’s an interview with Garner.
ThresherK
Oh, and from somewhere else: “Bob, the Devil and God”.
WaterGirl
@srv: Finally, a cable channel that would be worth the subscription fee!
gnomedad
@Villago Delenda Est:
This gave me a flash of him as the Doctor.
/nerd
Rock
He was awesome. Anyone who hasn’t seen the Rockford Files should check it out. Good for some 1970s nostalgia.
Death Panel Truck
@Hungry Joe: There was also a parody of Bonanza, but it did not feature Garner, who had left the show. The ranching baron’s name was Joe Wheelwright (played by Jim Backus), who owned the Subrosa Ranch. He had three idiot sons he was trying to marry off: Moose (Hoss), Henry (Adam) and Small Paul (Little Joe).
Another episode was a parody of Dragnet, narrated Joe Friday style by Jack Kelly.
Thoughtcrime
@Villago Delenda Est:
No wonder Garner was a huge admirer of Obama:
http://variety.com/2011/biz/opinion/in-new-memoir-james-garner-slams-reagan-other-actors-who-run-for-office-37170/
KS in MA
My, he was fun to watch. RIP, Mr. Garner.
dp
Jim Garner was awesome. So sad he’s gone.
c u n d gulag
@Mike E:
Yeah, I don’t remember ever missing it, back in the day!
Too many laughs.
“Maverick” was brilliant, too!
It spoofed movie and TV Westerns, while also being respectful – if not a bit reverential.
Great, great man!
rikyrah
Loved James Garner. He’s one of those actors that I’d watch a bad movie just to see his performance. Found Maverick through re-runs, and grew up watching The Rockford Files with Daddy. He was so genuine..jumped through the screen.
ruemara
I grew up on tv reruns (cheap babysitter). I’d watch M.A.S.H, Monty Python, Rockford Files, Quincy and Columbo. Garner was someone I loved. I loved heroes, nice ones. Ones who weren’t arrogant, mean or brutish. His Rockford was so humane and hapless. What was nice was finding out later that he was a decent person, not just an actor portraying a decent character.
gogol's wife
@Hungry Joe:
John Dehner! (in the clip)
WaterGirl
@rikyrah: For me it was watching Maverick with Daddy.
johio
Damn, one of my favorites. He held a door open for me once. I was about 16, we were on a ski vacation and I was clumping my way into the lodge for lunch, someone held the door for me, I looked up to say thanks and there he was smiling at me. Dressed in a bright orange ski jacket and very tall and incredibly handsome. I gaped. One of my favorite memories.
LAC
Awwwww! Loved him in “the Rockford files.” So much good work. Last time I watched something with him on it was when “the notebook” was on TV. Those scenes with Gena Rowlands just broke my heart.
WereBear
Yep.
Awesome fella, fine actor, and a great slice of if-you-swing-that-way beefcake, too.
Sorry he’s gone, but what a legacy he left.
karen marie
@WaterGirl: Rockford Files is shown weekdays at noon, Sundays at 6 pm, on MeTV. I hope they get Maverick because I’ve never seen it. It would be a great addition to their afternoon “rope” opera offerings of Gunsmoke, Bonanza and The Big Valley, with The Rifleman from 5 to 6. MeTv also now runs Columbo. Tonight at 7 the pilot episode will be on. RIP James Garner.
Elizabelle
I loved James Garner.
Comfortable in his own skin. RIP.
WaterGirl
@Elizabelle: He has that in common with our President. In fact, I think that’s part of what enrages them about Barack Obama. A black man, comfortable in his own skin, comfortable in his own power.
Ruckus
He lead a life that looked very well lived and was reasonably long. He provided laughs and enjoyment for many. His work will last and be appreciated for some time.
We should all be so lucky.
Crouchback
From wikipedia, there’s a link to a good interview from about 20 years back. Worth reading if only for the Gore Vidal reference.
steverinoCT
JG first caught my eye when I was a young teen and my father was watching yet another “cop” show. The Good Guy catches the Bad Guy and socks him on the jaw, and then carries on with what he was doing while going “Ow, ow, ow,” and shaking his hand in pain. Wow– a bit of reality, and humor, too! I was hooked on The Rockford Files.
Ajabu
Garner also made another little known (and hard to find) film with Lou Gossett Jr. called “Skin Game” that’s a great little movie. The two play con men in the pre-Civil War south, selling Gossett and then stealing him free and moving on to the next scam. It sounds like an awkward plot – and would be if not for the chemistry of the two leads and the bounce between the horror of the subject and their comedic interplay. It’s essentially a comedy/drama and I don’t think any other actors could have pulled it off. Try to find it.
Chris
@ruemara:
Thedissolve.com has a decent article about him here.
And after that article, one of the commenters had this to say:
That’s something that occurred to me about a year ago while watching classic sixties action movies – how much the genre changed in just twenty or thirty years and the fact that while the genre claimed to have become more “gritty” and “realistic” and “badass” at the same time, the new Action Heroes were being played by people almost none of whom had ever been in that kind of environment in real life.
I have movie stars I like and dislike in both eras, but taken as a whole the eighties action genre just feels like a giant overcompensation. It’s like John Wayne’s personal history became extended to the entire industry. (Draw the obvious lines between that and the general mood of the nation as you will…)
Sherparick
My Mom, who grew up in Norman during the 20s and 30s, was acquainted Garner’s family, and my Uncle Dick attended high school in Norman the same years that Garner went.
Reading the obituaries and extracts of interview that Garner did during his book tour in 2011 on his memoir, he rather courageously admits to have used marijuana for the over fifty years. He also discusses that he believes his mother died when he was 4 due to an infection caused by a botched abortion.
He really rated only two of his movies as terrific, the underrated “Americanization of Emily” and “the Notebook.” I would have put “Victor/Victoria” and “The Great Escape” in there as well. I think he felt a strong emotional connection to the anti-war views of his character in the “Americanization of Emily” after his Korean War service.
JustRuss
One of my favorite actors, just loved him in “The Rockford Files”. He was very active in the Screen Actors Guild when Reagan was president (of the guild), his comments on Ronnie are worth googling.