James Garner was born on April 7, 1928 in Norman, Oklahoma. He is an American film and television actor.

His acting career had started before his war experiences, with a non-speaking part in a play, which led to small TV roles in mini-series and adverts.

Eventually, James made contact with Warner Brothers and was spotted by director, David Butler, who cast him in 'The Girl He Left Behind' in 1956.

After co-starring in a handful of films during 1956-57, Warner Brothers gave Garner a co-starring role in the Western television series, 'Maverick'. He played the cool, likeable guy in the title role and almost immediately became a household name.

He also starred in The Great Escape (1963, with Steve McQueen, The Americanization of Emily (1964), Victor/Victoria (1982), Murphy's Romance (1985), Space Cowboys (2000) and The Notebook (2004).

In 2000, James came together with old friends, Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland, for the astronaut movie 'Space Cowboys', produced by Eastwood.

Filmography

• The Magic Shoe (2008)
• Terra (2007)
• The Ultimate Gift (2006)
• "8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter" (44 episodes, 2003-2005)
• Al Roach: Private Insectigator (2004)
• The Notebook (2004)
• The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (2003)
• Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
• "First Monday" (13 episodes, 2002)
• Roughing It (2002)
• Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
• The Last Debate (2000)
• Space Cowboys (2000)
• "Chicago Hope" (4 episodes, 2000)
• "God, the Devil and Bob" (13 episodes, 2000)
• One Special Night (1999)
• Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (1999)
• The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads (1999)
• Legalese (1998)
• Twilight (1998)
• The Rockford Files: Murder and Misdemeanors (1997)
• Dead Silence (1997)
• My Fellow Americans (1996)
• The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime (1996)
• The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play (1996)
• The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best (1996)
• The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits... (1996)
• "Streets of Laredo" (1995)
• The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise (1995)
• The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A. (1994)
• Maverick (1994)
• Breathing Lessons (1994)
• Barbarians at the Gate (1993)
• Fire in the Sky (1993)
• The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
• "Man of the People" (1 episode, 1991)
• Decoration Day (1990)
• My Name Is Bill W. (1989)
• Sunset (1988)
• Promise (1986)
• Murphy's Romance (1985)
• "Space" (1985)
• The Glitter Dome (1984)
• Heartsounds (1984)
• Tank (1984)
• Victor Victoria (1982)
• The Long Summer of George Adams (1982)
• "Bret Maverick" (1 episode, 1981)
• Bret Maverick (1981)
• The Fan (1981)
• HealtH (1980)
• Waylon (1980)
• "The Rockford Files" (122 episodes, 1974-1980)
• "Young Maverick" (1 episode, 1979)
• The New Maverick (1978)
• The Castaway Cowboy (1974)
• The Rockford Files (1974)
• One Little Indian (1973)
• They Only Kill Their Masters (1972)
• "Nichols" (24 episodes, 1971-1972)
• Skin Game (1971)
• Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971)
• A Man Called Sledge (1970)
• Marlowe (1969)
• Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)
• The Pink Jungle (1968)
• How Sweet It Is! (1968)
• Hour of the Gun (1967)
• Grand Prix (1966)
• Mister Buddwing (1966)
• Duel at Diablo (1966)
• A Man Could Get Killed (1966)
• The Art of Love (1965)
• 36 Hours (1965)
• The Americanization of Emily (1964)
• Move Over, Darling (1963)
• The Wheeler Dealers (1963)
• The Thrill of It All (1963)
• The Great Escape (1963)
• Boys' Night Out (1962)
• The Children's Hour (1961)
• "Maverick"(37 episodes, 1957-1960)
• Cash McCall (1960)
• Alias Jesse James (1959)
• Up Periscope (1959)
• Darby's Rangers (1958)
• "Sugarfoot" (1 episode, 1957)
• Sayonara (1957) .
• Bombers B-52 (1957)
• Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend (1957)
• "Cheyenne" (4 episodes, 1955-1957)
• "Conflict" (3 episodes, 1956-1957)
• "Zane Grey Theater" (1 episode, 1956)
• The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
• Toward the Unknown (1956)
• "Warner Brothers Presents" (1 episode, 1956)

Awards

• Screen Actors Guild Award Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment 2005
• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in Miniseries or Television Movie "Barbarians at the Gate" 1993
• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie "Decoration Day" 1990
• Emmy Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special "Promise" 1986 - 87
• People's Choice Award Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program 1982
• People's Choice Award Favorite Male TV Performer 1978
• Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series "The Rockford Files" 1976 - 77
• Golden Globe Award Most Promising Newcomer (Male) 1957