Film, TV legend James Garner, reluctant hero, dies

James Garner, the star of the hit TV series Maverick and The Rockford Files, has died at the age of 86. The cause of his death is yet unknown.

James Garner, the star of the hit TV series Maverick and The Rockford Files, has died at the age of 86, celebrity website TMZ reported on Sunday.

Maverick-star-James-Garner

No cause of death was given.

Garner made his name on television as the wry, laid-back professional gambler and gun slinger Bret Maverick in the 1957-1960 cowboy series that included guest appearances by Hollywood stars such as Clint Eastwood and Roger Moore.

In the 1970s Garner starred as James Rockford, a witty and resourceful private detective in the 1974-1980 series The Rockford Files. In 1977 Garner won an Emmy for his work in the series.

More recently Garner appeared in Eastwood's Space Cowboys in 2000 and The Notebook in 2004, and had a recurring role in the ABC comedy 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Daughter which ran from 2003-2005.

Born as James Scott Bumgarner in Norman, Oklahoma, Garner dropped out of school and joined the merchant marine at the end of World War II but saw no action.

He later joined the army and served during the Korean war, where he was twice wounded. He became an actor encouragement from a high school friend, working his way up from TV commercials.

People magazine described Garner as "one of Hollywood's most likable leading men on the big screen and on TV" for 50 years.