James Garner Net Worth
Publish date: 2024-05-22
| # | Fact |
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| 1 | Greatly enjoyed his late in life role in sitcom '8 Simple Rules', working with such a young and vibrant cast. In his autobiography he paraphrased General Douglas MacArthur's comment on the Korea War describing his casting as "A great gift to an old campaigner'. |
| 2 | He appeared in two films which concerned the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944: The Americanization of Emily (1964) and 36 Hours (1964). |
| 3 | His brother Jack Garner was a week older than Julie London. His brother guest-starred with her on an episode of Emergency! (1972). |
| 4 | Lifelong resident of Brentwood, Los Angeles, California. |
| 5 | At age 17, Garner, along with his father, moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1945, where he was voted the most popular student. |
| 6 | Robert Fuller's son, Rob, lived not too far away from him. |
| 7 | He nearly lost his leg, but he had emergency surgery to unblock an artery. [1998]. |
| 8 | Had appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 13 times. |
| 9 | He called his friend John Hodiak by the nickname "Hody". |
| 10 | He was Oklahoma's very first draftee for the Korean War. |
| 11 | When he was very young, he lived with his family in the back of his father's country store, in the tiny hamlet of Denver, Oklahoma, which consisted of one building, the country store, and a population of only five persons, his parents, his two brothers and himself. Denver, Oklahoma no longer exists, since it was flooded in order to create Lake Thunderbird, an Oklahoma state reservoir. |
| 12 | He considered his first director, Charles Laughton, to be his acting mentor. |
| 13 | James Garner passed away on July 19, 2014. A month after his passing, his lifelong best friend, Lauren Bacall died the month before what would have been her 90th birthday. Both Garner and Bacall had worked together on an episode of: The Rockford Files (1974), and in two movies: HealtH (1980) and The Fan (1981). |
| 14 | During the filing of Grand Prix (1966), it was discovered that James Garner was actually too tall for Formula One racing. In order to fit in the cars, the seats had to be removed and Garner sat on the frame with just a towel or a mat protecting his posterior. Additionally, the roll bars needed to be removed and fitted with taller bars, so they would look realistic and not be noticeably shorter than the top of his helmet. |
| 15 | Met Doris Day in the romance comedy Move Over, Darling (1963). The two remained close friends for over 50 years. |
| 16 | Replaced John Ritter early in the second season of 8 Simple Rules (2002), when Ritter passed away in 2003. |
| 17 | His eldest daughter, Kimberly, had suffered polio. |
| 18 | In 2008, he was planning to come out of retirement from on camera roles when he was cast in NCIS (2003), but having a stroke soon after being cast, prevented him from doing it. The role was ultimately given to Ralph Waite, who was also born in 1928, but whose health was holding up rather better at that time. In the end, Waite passed away five months before Garner. |
| 19 | Shared the same birthday as R.G. Armstrong, who was 11 years Garner's senior. Armstrong guest-starred with Garner on an episode of Maverick (1957). |
| 20 | While starring on The Rockford Files (1974), he invited many of his longtime friends and new actors to the set. |
| 21 | Had joked that the secret to his long-running marriage to Lois was learning the two words, "Yes, Dear!". |
| 22 | Lived in the same house for nearly 58 years, from 1956 until his passing in 2014. |
| 23 | Beat out Robert Blake for the lead role on The Rockford Files (1974). |
| 24 | Upon his death, he was cremated at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles, California, and his ashes were given to his family. |
| 25 | Ten days after his passing, numerous news sources reported that the Los Angeles County Coroner listed "acute myocardial infarction" (massive heart attack) as the official cause of his death. |
| 26 | Garner never shaved the hair off his chest for any of his shirtless scenes. |
| 27 | Even though his Cherokee Productions was the production company, or even part owner, of many of his movies and television series (in the case of The Rockford Files (1974), Cherokee owned 37.5% of the series) between 1965 and 1980, more often than not, he chose not to be listed in the on-screen credits as a producer. |
| 28 | Lindsay Wagner was the primary guest star on the very first episode of The Rockford Files (1974). Through much of the 1980s, James Garner and Lindsay Wagner were considered the king or queen, respectively, of quality television movies and miniseries of that period. |
| 29 | Frequently had drinks with Bill Bixby. |
| 30 | Was a celebrity spokesperson for the Office of Energy Conservation in the 1970s, through the Advertising Council's Public Service Announcement (PSA) television and radio commercials. |
| 31 | Relaunched his career as a contract player for United Artists in 1961, after successfully suing Warner Brothers in 1960 to be released from his contract for Maverick (1957). |
| 32 | Was separated from Lois in 1979, primarily because he was pushing himself too hard and abusing his body while shooting The Rockford Files (1974). Garner was hospitalized in 1979 with an ulcer and other health problems, which eventually caused the cancellation of The Rockford Files, but Lois did not forgive him until they reconciled in 1982. |
| 33 | At Norman High School, he played football, basketball, golf, and competed in track. |
| 34 | He sued Universal, a second time, for $2.2 million regarding syndication royalties. The suit charged the studio with "deceiving him and suppressing information about syndication". He was supposed to receive $25,000 for each episode running in syndication, but Universal charged him "distribution fees", which was not in the contract. He also felt that the studio did not release the show to the highest bidder for the episode reruns. [1998]. |
| 35 | In July 1983, Garner filed suit against Universal Studios for $16.5 million (USD) in connection with an ongoing dispute from The Rockford Files (1974). The suit charged Universal with "breach of contract; failure to deal fairly and in good faith; fraud; and deceit". It was eventually settled out of court in 1989. As part of the agreement Garner could not disclose the amount of the settlement, but frequently told the story about his wife, Lois, having to remind him to wipe the silly grin off his face. |
| 36 | Was closely advised by financial adviser Irving Leonard, who also advised Clint Eastwood in the late 1950s and 1960s. |
| 37 | Until 1988, he was a heavy smoker. |
| 38 | He dropped out of Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma, but was able to earn his diploma while in the United States Army. |
| 39 | At least three actresses named him as their favorite actor: Mariette Hartley, Joan Van Ark and Lauren Bacall, all three worked with him on The Rockford Files (1974). |
| 40 | Was friends with Jack Kelly, for 35 years, from 1957 until his death in 1992. |
| 41 | Had suffered a fall while working on 8 Simple Rules (2002). [January 7, 2004]. |
| 42 | Was friends with Roy Huggins, for 45 years, from 1957 until his death in 2002. |
| 43 | Before his The Rockford Files (1974) co-star, Stuart Margolin, appeared with him on Rockford, they worked together on Garner's short-lived series, Nichols (1971). |
| 44 | Had twice worked with Harry Morgan: in Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) and its sort of sequel, Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971). |
| 45 | His ex-Maverick (1957) co-star, Jack Kelly guest-starred with him in a two-part episode of The Rockford Files (1974), in 1977. |
| 46 | When Charlton Heston backed out of the lead role in Darby's Rangers (1958) before shooting began, Warner Brothers contract player Garner, who had already been cast in the film in a supporting role, was selected to replace Heston in the lead. |
| 47 | Acting mentor and friends with Tom Selleck, Kaley Cuoco and Amy Davidson. |
| 48 | Was Roy Huggins first choice for the lead role on the Western series Cheyenne (1955), but that role eventually went to an another largely unknown actor, Clint Walker, because the casting director could not reach Garner in time (according to Garner's autobiography), and Garner wound up playing an Army officer in the pilot instead. |
| 49 | Used to play golf with James Woods and Bill Bixby. |
| 50 | Is the youngest of three children of Weldon "Bill" and Mildred Meek Bumgarner. |
| 51 | After his final two roles, DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection (2010) and Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (2010), both voice only roles, he completely retired from acting at age 82. |
| 52 | Long lives ran in his family. |
| 53 | When he was starring on The Rockford Files (1974), having to appear in nearly every scene of the series, doing many of his own stunts, including one that injured his back, was wearing him out. A knee injury from his National Guard days worsened in the wake of the continuous jumping and rolling, all of which led to his 1979 hospitalization, with a bleeding ulcer. |
| 54 | James Garner passed away on July 19, 2014, at age 86, just one month before he would have celebrated his 58th wedding anniversary with his wife, Lois. |
| 55 | He changed his last name from Bumgarner to Garner when he became a Warner Brothers contract player. He was credited as Jim Bumgarner for his two stage roles. First as a non-speaking Member of the Court (Martial Tribunal), in the Broadway production of "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial", and second, a featured speaking role in the national touring company of the same play. In part because he hated speaking in public, he never again took a stage role, and the name Bumgarner "died" when his Warner Brothers contract was signed in 1956. |
| 56 | Garner survived a series of health problems, from a knee operation, to a bleeding ulcer, to quintuple bypass heart surgery, to a fall, to emergency surgery to unblock an artery and finally to a stroke. |
| 57 | James Garner passed away on July 19, 2014, at age 86, and within five months of four other television legends, also born in 1928, either aged 85 or 86: Shirley Temple, Ralph Waite, Maya Angelou, and Horace Silver, and just twenty-four days before his close friend Lauren Bacall, born 1924. |
| 58 | He was absent from his role on Maverick (1957), when filming for the fourth season began, because of a contract dispute with Warner Brothers. Garner fought with the studio consistently in court, and his tenacity was rewarded at the end of 1960, when the case was decided in his favor, and the court ordered him to be released from his contract because Warner Brothers had violated several of the provisions in the contract. |
| 59 | In the four years (1985-89), he was the television and radio commercial spokesman for Mazda cars, he was reportedly paid $1 million per year, plus one Mazda vehicle of his choice per year. He chose three Mazda RX-7's and one Mazda truck, all of which he was known to drive frequently. |
| 60 | He began his film career in 1956 (the same year he got married), as a contract player for Warner Brothers, at a rate of $200 per week. |
| 61 | The name of his most famous character, James Scott Rockford, from The Rockford Files (1974), shared his own first and middle name. |
| 62 | He was widely known to be a very private man. |
| 63 | When speaking at the Summer Special Olympics in Norman, Oklahoma, he took the opportunity to remind the Oklahoma officials, who invited him to speak, of the circumstances of his original departure. "It's nice to be invited back as a VIP after being run out of town on a rail." This was a reference to him being "asked" to leave for his "extracurricular activities". |
| 64 | Had played the same character (Bret Maverick) on four different series: Sugarfoot (1957), Maverick (1957), Young Maverick (1979) and Bret Maverick (1981). |
| 65 | Had played Wyatt Earp in two movies: Hour of the Gun (1967) and Sunset (1988). |
| 66 | A ten foot bronze statue of Garner, as his character Bret Maverick, was unveiled in Garner's hometown of Norman, Oklahoma. He was present for the unveiling ceremony. [21 April 2006]. |
| 67 | Best known by the public for his starring roles as the title characters on both Maverick (1957) and The Rockford Files (1974). |
| 68 | Has a street named after him in his hometown of Norman, Oklahoma: James Garner Avenue. |
| 69 | Narrated the intro videos for the University of Oklahoma football team as they entered the stadium. |
| 70 | James Garner adopted his wife's 8 year-old-daughter, Kimberly, after he and Lois were married. About a year later, Jim's biological daughter, Gigi Garner, was born in Santa Monica, California. So, Kimberly and Gigi are 9 years apart. |
| 71 | In 1995, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, in his hometown of Norman, Oklahoma. This was one month after bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. He was quoted as saying during his commencement ceremony speech, "If there's anything positive to come from this event, it is seeing the character, the toughness with the dignity of the Oklahoma people as they suffer the grief and carry on with their lives. It makes every Oklahoman, where ever we are, to be PROUD to be an Oklahoman.". |
| 72 | Once owned a four hundred acre vineyard in Santa Ynez California called "White Rhino" vineyard and bottled his own Chardonnay called "Chateau Jimbeaux". |
| 73 | Underwent surgery after suffering a mild stroke in May 2008 and was recovering well enough, his voice was no longer impaired, that he was able to resume voice acting parts, such as DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection (2010). |
| 74 | His hobbies included: golfing, spending time with his family, auto racing, liberal causes, political activism and watching sports. |
| 75 | He was good friends with the late Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward. Garner appeared with both Newman and Woodward in various productions, although all three of them never appeared in the same production. |
| 76 | He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6927 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960. |
| 77 | Driver of pace cars at the 59th Indianapolis 500 (May 25, 1975), the 61st Indianapolis 500 (May 29, 1977), and at the 69th Indianapolis 500 (May 26, 1985). |
| 78 | Friends with: Shirley Jones, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke, William Windom, Adam West, Alan Hale Jr., Henry Fonda, Lauren Bacall, Clint Eastwood, Lloyd Nolan, Bill Bixby, Mariette Hartley, Ed Bruce, Mac Davis, James Whitmore, James Whitmore Jr., Roy Huggins, Robert Conrad, Larry Manetti, Harry Belafonte, Jack Kelly, David McCallum, Marlon Brando, James Coburn, Abby Dalton, Ruta Lee, Doris Day, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Julie Andrews, Tom Selleck, Stuart Margolin, Luis Delgado, Meta Rosenberg, Juanita Bartlett, Suzanne Pleshette, James Arness, Red West, Mickey Rooney, Beverly Garland and next-door neighbor Steve McQueen. |
| 79 | In a 1973 interview, John Wayne named Garner as the best American actor. |
| 80 | He was a student of Bruce Lee's in his "jeet kune do" style of martial art, after starring with Lee in the film, Marlowe (1969). |
| 81 | Although Garner was a lifelong liberal Democrat, his oldest friend was a conservative Republican. |
| 82 | Inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1986. |
| 83 | Quit smoking following his quintuple heart bypass. [April 22, 1988]. |
| 84 | Is a huge fan of the Oakland Raiders. Could be seen on sidelines with the team during games. |
| 85 | Enjoyed great celebrity with his Polaroid commercial series with Mariette Hartley, which started in 1977. He and Mariette were so convincing as husband and wife that Mariette had a T-shirt made that proclaimed, "I am not James Garner's wife!". More than 300 commercials were produced. |
| 86 | Of all his films, The Americanization of Emily (1964) was his favorite. |
| 87 | Had played two different characters named Jim who served in the Korean War: Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files (1974) and Jim Egan in 8 Simple Rules (2002). |
| 88 | Had starred on three popular television series: Maverick (1957) for three seasons, The Rockford Files (1974) for six seasons, and 8 Simple Rules (2002), for two seasons. |
| 89 | He was attending Hollywood High School in Los Angeles when his gym teacher recommended him for a job modeling Jantzen bathing suits. He got the job making $25 an hour. |
| 90 | Was a Korean War veteran and began his career as a contract player in 1956 for Warner Brothers. |
| 91 | Was the first actor to co-star with Julie Andrews in three movies: The Americanization of Emily (1964), Victor Victoria (1982) and One Special Night (1999). |
| 92 | Had helped organize the Hollywood contingent of Martin Luther King's famous "March on Washington" civil rights demonstration. |
| 93 | He was very disappointed about his series, The Rockford Files (1974), being cancelled due to his illness. He accepted his doctor's advice and learned that season 6 was his last. |
| 94 | Was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer, during filming for the 1979-1980 season of The Rockford Files (1974). [1979]. |
| 95 | Was a volunteer with Save the Children. |
| 96 | Was involved with many humanitarian causes. |
| 97 | Lost his mother when he was 5, and he and his two brothers were split up and sent off to live with relatives. |
| 98 | He and his wife Lois Clarke were married at the Beverly Hills Court House just two weeks after they met at a political rally for 1956 Democratic Presidential Candidate Adlai Stevenson. |
| 99 | Biological father of Gigi Garner, wrote two books "The Cop Cookbook" and "Girl Talk". Ms. Garner continues her father's legacy through the production company he started, Cherokee Productions and runs her own successful talent management company. |
| 100 | Before he was a very successful actor, he had 75 different jobs including everything from pumping gas to modeling men's clothing. |
| 101 | Early in his career, he appeared as one of the judges in "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" on Broadway. He said his part consisted mostly of listening to the other actors, and he said it was a great lesson, even though he sometimes had to fight to stay awake during the evening performances. He felt listening was just as important as speaking as an actor. |
| 102 | Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1990. |
| 103 | Has two older brothers: Jack Garner and Charlie Bumgarner. Jack died in 2011 and Charlie died in 1985. |
| 104 | James had English, and some German and Irish, ancestry. James's maternal grandfather, Charles Bailey Meek, was described in James's New York Times obituary as a "full-blooded Cherokee". However, James's grandfather had no documented Native American ancestry, and Charles Meek and his own parents, Thomas Jefferson Meek and Delilah Frances Bailey, were all listed as "White" on United States Censuses. |
| 105 | Had quintuple heart bypass surgery. [1988]. |
| 106 | Had both knees replaced. [2000]. |
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