About
"'Maverick,' he didn't want to fight. He'd rather smile and laugh. He was the reluctant hero... Yeah, I'm a maverick. Always have been."
In his three-hour interview, James Garner (1928-2014) discusses his early life and what attracted him to acting. He describes his days as a struggling actor/model and tells of his big break on Broadway in The Cain Mutiny. He recalls almost being cast in the series Cheyenne and being cast as "Bret Maverick" in the classic Western series Maverick. He details his years on the program, discussing his co-stars and various writers and directors, and explains the contract dispute that led to his exit from the series. Garner also outlines his career in feature films, including The Americanization of Emily and Gran Prix and his short-lived series, Nichols. He discusses at length playing "Jim Rockford" on The Rockford Files, speaks of his subsequent made-for-television movies, including Heartsounds (with Mary Tyler Moore), and the 13-hour miniseries Space. Garner also touches on the short-lived series, Man of the People. Karen Herman and Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on March 17, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
James Garner on "Maverick" as the anti-hero
James Garner on the character of "Jim Rockford" on The Rockford Files
James Garner on studio politics and The Rockford Files
James Garner on doing a Winston cigarettes commercial
James Garner on leaving Maverick
James Garner on his popular Polaroid commercials
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years; on moving to Los Angeles; on his military service
On becoming an actor; on appearing in the play "The Caine Mutiny"; on almost getting cast in Cheyenne
Chapter 2
On doing a Winston cigarettes commercial; on his acting style; on the studio system and appearing in the film "Sayonara"
On playing the character of "Bret Maverick" on Maverick; on Jack Kelly as "Bart Maverick" on Maverick; on the writers and producers and public reaction to the show
Chapter 3
On specific episodes of Maverick; on being type-cast as "Maverick"; on leaving the show
On acting in the feature films "The Americanization of Emily" and "Gran Prix"; on acting in the series Nichols
Chapter 4
On the creation of The Rockford Files and his character, "Jim Rockford"; on the process of producing an episode of The Rockford Files; on the cast and guest stars on the show
On The Rockford Files directors; on how studio politics affected the show; on his Polaroid commercials; on the end of The Rockford Files
Chapter 5
On the made-for television movie The New Maverick; on favorite episodes of The Rockford Files and on Bret Maverick; on various made-for-television movies; on his NBC series Man of the People
On the made-for-television movie Barbarians at the Gate; on the feature film "Maverick"; on then-current projects; on how he'd like to be remembered; on various people with whom he has worked
Chapter 6
On various people with whom he's worked in his career; on meeting his wife; on the Archive of American Television
Shows
Barbarians at the Gate
James Garner on the made-for-television movie Barbarians at the Gate
Bret Maverick
James Garner on the series Bret Maverick
Cheyenne
James Garner on almost being cast in the title role of Cheyenne
James Garner on appearing on the series Cheyenne
Heartsounds
James Garner on he made-for-television movie Heartsounds
Maverick
James Garner on starring on the series Maverick
James Garner on his character, "Bret Maverick," on Maverick
James Garner on the sponsor of Maverick
James Garner on the pilot of Maverick, and how Jack Kelly came to be cast as "Bart Maverick"
James Garner on the typical Maverick workweek
James Garner on public reaction to Maverick and his fame
James Garner on the directing and writing of Maverick
James Garner on being typecast as "Bret Maverick" and the power of television
James Garner on "Maverick" as the anti-hero
James Garner on the Maverick episode "A Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" (airdate: November 23, 1958)
James Garner on the Maverick episode "Gun-Shy" (airdate: January 11, 1959), a spoof of Gunsmoke
James Garner on leaving Maverick
James Garner on returning to the role of "Bret Maverick" in the feature film "Maverick"
Nichols
James Garner on acting on the series Nichols
Rockford Files, The
James Garner on the creation of The Rockford Files
James Garner on Stephen J. Cannell and the writers of The Rockford Files
James Garner on the character of "Jim Rockford" on The Rockford Files
James Garner on The Rockford Files' supporting characters
James Garner on the process of producing an episode of The Rockford Files
James Garner on the cast and guest stars on The Rockford Files
James Garner on the directors of The Rockford Files
James Garner on a typical episode of The Rockford Files
James Garner on studio politics and The Rockford Files
James Garner on the end of The Rockford Files
James Garner on remembering the people he worked with more than specific episodes of The Rockford Files
Space
James Garner on appearing in the miniseries Space
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
James Garner on his character, "Bret Maverick," on Maverick
James Garner on "Maverick" as the anti-hero
James Garner on the character of "Jim Rockford" on The Rockford Files
Fame and Celebrity
James Garner on public reaction to Maverick and his fame
James Garner on his feelings about the press and doing interviews
Historic Events and Social Change
James Garner on his family and World War II
James Garner on serving in the Korean War
Korean War
James Garner on serving in the Korean War
Pop Culture
James Garner on his character, "Bret Maverick," on Maverick
James Garner on "Maverick" as the anti-hero
James Garner on the character of "Jim Rockford" on The Rockford Files
James Garner on his feelings about the press and doing interviews
Television Industry
James Garner on public reaction to Maverick and his fame
War
James Garner on his family and World War II
James Garner on serving in the Korean War
World War II
James Garner on his family and World War II
Professions
Actor
James Garner on becoming an actor
James Garner on stage acting verses television acting
Performers
James Garner on becoming an actor
James Garner on stage acting verses television acting
Genres
Commercials
James Garner on his popular Polaroid commercials
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
James Garner on playing "Jim Rockford" on The Rockford Files
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
James Garner on Heartsounds and the miniseries Space
James Garner on the made-for-television movie Barbarians at the Gate
Western Series
James Garner on almost being cast in the title role of Cheyenne
James Garner on starring on the series Maverick
James Garner on acting on the series Maverick
James Garner on acting on the series Nichols
People
James T. Aubrey
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - James T. Aubrey
Lauren Bacall
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Lauren Bacall
Richard L. Bare
James Garner on almost being cast in the title role of Cheyenne
Paul Bogart
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Paul Bogart
Marlon Brando
James Garner on appearing in the feature film "Sayonara"
Stephen J. Cannell
James Garner on the creation of The Rockford Files
James Garner on Stephen J. Cannell and the writers of The Rockford Files
David Chase
James Garner on Stephen J. Cannell and the writers of The Rockford Files
Angie Dickinson
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Angie Dickinson
John Frankenheimer
James Garner on working with John Frankenheimer on the feature "Gran Prix"
Leonard H. Goldenson
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Leonard H. Goldenson
Mariette Hartley
James Garner on his popular Polaroid commercials
Roy Huggins
James Garner on Maverick creator Roy Huggins
James Garner on the creation of The Rockford Files
Jack Kelly
James Garner on the pilot of Maverick, and how Jack Kelly came to be cast as "Bart Maverick"
Piper Laurie
James Garner on working with Piper Laurie on the made-for-television movie Promise
Delbert Mann
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Delbert Mann
Steve McQueen
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Steve McQueen
Mary Tyler Moore
James Garner on appearing in the made-for-television movie Heartsounds with Mary Tyler Moore
Paul Newman
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Paul Newman
Frank Price
James Garner on studio politics and The Rockford Files
Rob Reiner
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Rob Reiner
Meta Rosenberg
James Garner on Meta Rosenberg's role in The Rockford Files
Tom Selleck
James Garner on Tom Selleck guest-starring on The Rockford Files
Dinah Shore
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Dinah Shore
Brandon Tartikoff
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Brandon Tartikoff
Grant Tinker
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Grant Tinker
Dick Van Dyke
James Garner on various people with whom he's worked in his career - Dick Van Dyke
James Woods
James Garner on working with James Woods on the made-for-television movie Promise