Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

James Garner

Role / Field:

Esteemed American actor known for roles like Bret Maverick and Jim Rockford.

Born:

1928-04-07

Died:

2014-07-19

Century / Era:

1928s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

James Scott Garner (né Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor and producer of film and television. He was an Academy Award nominee, and won three Golden Globe Awards (out of 12 total nominations) and two Primetime Emmy Awards (out of 15 total nominations). Garner achieved television stardom as the titular gambler Bret Maverick on the television Western Maverick (1957–62), which he later reprised in the sequel series Bret Maverick (1981–82). In the 1970s, he starred as private investigator Jim Rockford on the series The Rockford Files (1974–80).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He also played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including The Great Escape (1963), The Americanization of Emily (1964), Grand Prix (1966), Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), Victor/Victoria (1982), and Murphy's Romance (1985), for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Garner was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928, in Norman, Oklahoma, the youngest child of Weldon Warren Bumgarner (1901–1986) and Mildred Scott (née Meek; 1907–1933). His father was of part German ancestry, and his mother, who died when he was five years old, was half Cherokee. His older brothers...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Agnès Varda — Contemporary (Born in 1928) (1928): Pioneering French filmmaker, artist, and documentarian celebrated for her unique vision.
• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Contemporary (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• Alain Resnais — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Alexander Grothendieck — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering figure in modern algebraic geometry and category theory.
• Alan J. Pakula — Shared historical date (04-07 · Born) (1928): American film director, writer, and producer known for political thrillers.
• Albert O. Hirschman — Shared historical date (04-07 · Born) (1915): Pioneering American economist known for development and political economy theories.
• Alan Lomax — Shared historical date (07-19 · Died) (2002): Pioneering ethnomusicologist known for preserving global folk music traditions.
• Alfredo Binda — Shared historical date (07-19 · Died) (1986): Pioneering Italian cyclist, renowned for five Giro d'Italia wins and multiple world titles.
• 1928 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1928
• April 7 (04-07) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 7
• 2014 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2014
• July 19 (07-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 19

Frequently Asked Questions about James Garner