James Garner dead at age 86 (2 Viewers)

[Bob Magaw]

Wow. One of my favorite actors ever.

If all you know him from are his TV roles and some of his later movies, go watch Support Your Local Sheriff and the sequel Support Your Local Gunfighter. The are western/comedies from the 60s that are loads of fun.

RIP, he will be missed.

Watched many a Rockford Files, less Maverick, but he was always great in everything I saw him in.

He seemed in his roles like he was in life, utterly without pretension. He was a natural, like a Willie Mays of actors.

Good call on the movies, recommended.

Duel at Diablo with Sidney Poitier wasn't exactly The Searchers, but it was a decent Western.

Marlow was a lesser known 60s take on the the famous Raymond Chandler PI (played by Humphrey Bogart in the classic screen adaptation of The Big Sleep, **** Powell in Murder, My Sweet based on the novel Farewell, My Lovely, later remade under the original title with Robert Mitchum, arguably the definitive take on the character). Noteworthy for being one of Bruce Lee's first appearances in a movie.

Sayonara was based on a James Michener novel, he played a supporting role to Marlon Brando, the film won supporting actor and actress Oscars for Red Buttons and a Japanese actress.

(Synopsis - The story of American servicemen on leave in Japan during the Korean War, and the anguish they suffer after being spurned by both societies for loving Japanese women.)

I have to watch The Great Escape again, and not sure if I've ever seen Grand Prix.

 

[DCThunder]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

 

[NCCommish]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

It was pretty good.

 

[Jobber]

In high school my buddy would frequently pull what he called a Rockford. Screaming out of the driveway in reverse, whipping the front end and peeling out down the street. Rockford style.

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

Garner was I was always surprised he didn't get more plum roles. RIP

 

[grateful zed]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Tony Curtis as the scrounger in "Operation Petticoat" always reminded me of Garner.

 

[johnnycakes]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars is a big Steve McQueen fan. McQueen did most of his own stunts, IIRC. James who?

 

[grateful zed]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars is a big Steve McQueen fan. McQueen did most of his own stunts, IIRC. James who?

link

 

[Eephus]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars is a big Steve McQueen fan. McQueen did most of his own stunts, IIRC. James who?

Rick who?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

"What was I qualified to do to make a living? Nothing," he said. "You don't need qualifications as an actor or a politician. And I didn't want to be a politician."

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Garner was I was always surprised he didn't get more plum roles. RIP

That happens to a lot of talented actors who refuse to put out.

 

[wadegarrett]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Fantastic movie. The forger (Donald Plesance) was killed shortly after their plane crashed. Garner was recaptured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbU7f1rv3dY

 

[Christo]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Fantastic movie. The forger (Donald Plesance) was killed shortly after their plane crashed. Garner was recaptured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbU7f1rv3dY

Weren't Charles Bronson and James Coburn the only ones to make it?

 

[NCCommish]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Fantastic movie. The forger (Donald Plesance) was killed shortly after their plane crashed. Garner was recaptured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbU7f1rv3dY

Weren't Charles Bronson and James Coburn the only ones to make it?

Three made it. Two in a rowboat down to the Baltic and one via train to France then on to Spain. Bronson was one of the guys in the rowboat and Coburn was the guy who got to France. It was actually his characters story they wrote the book from IIRC. I forget who played Willie but he was the 3rd escapee.

 

[belljr]

RIP - loved him in Maverick

 

[Eephus]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Fantastic movie. The forger (Donald Plesance) was killed shortly after their plane crashed. Garner was recaptured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbU7f1rv3dY

Weren't Charles Bronson and James Coburn the only ones to make it?

Three made it. Two in a rowboat down to the Baltic and one via train to France then on to Spain. Bronson was one of the guys in the rowboat and Coburn was the guy who got to France. It was actually his characters story they wrote the book from IIRC. I forget who played Willie but he was the 3rd escapee.

Bronson was also the only member of The Dirty Dozen who survived.

 

[NCCommish]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Fantastic movie. The forger (Donald Plesance) was killed shortly after their plane crashed. Garner was recaptured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbU7f1rv3dY

Weren't Charles Bronson and James Coburn the only ones to make it?

Three made it. Two in a rowboat down to the Baltic and one via train to France then on to Spain. Bronson was one of the guys in the rowboat and Coburn was the guy who got to France. It was actually his characters story they wrote the book from IIRC. I forget who played Willie but he was the 3rd escapee.

Bronson was also the only member of The Dirty Dozen who survived.

Before there was Chuck there was Charles.

 

[wadegarrett]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Fantastic movie. The forger (Donald Plesance) was killed shortly after their plane crashed. Garner was recaptured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbU7f1rv3dY

Weren't Charles Bronson and James Coburn the only ones to make it?

Three made it. Two in a rowboat down to the Baltic and one via train to France then on to Spain. Bronson was one of the guys in the rowboat and Coburn was the guy who got to France. It was actually his characters story they wrote the book from IIRC. I forget who played Willie but he was the 3rd escapee.

yep... Bronson played a great character also...guy dug the tunnels but was terrified of being in one

 

[Flying V]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars is a big Steve McQueen fan. McQueen did most of his own stunts, IIRC. James who?

I remember reading somewhere that Garner thought McQueen was a hack.

 

[The Man With No Name]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars is a big Steve McQueen fan. McQueen did most of his own stunts, IIRC. James who?

I remember reading somewhere that Garner thought McQueen was a hack.

This story sounds like they got along.

And THIS is excellent, with many things I didn't know

 

[Binky The Doormat]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars is a big Steve McQueen fan. McQueen did most of his own stunts, IIRC. James who?

I remember reading somewhere that Garner thought McQueen was a hack.

This story sounds like they got along.

And THIS is excellent, with many things I didn't know

Nice - I just reserved the biography.

 

[Flying V]

In "The Great Escape", "Cooler King" Steve McQueen gets all the flashy parts like jumping his motorcycle over barbed wire and dies/is recaptured, but Garner, as "The Scrounger" is more instrumental to the plot and then helps the British guy who does the forgeries of papers and has gone blind make his escape. IIRC, they were the only two to make it back to saftey.

A really great WWII movie with some really wonderful actors.

Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars is a big Steve McQueen fan. McQueen did most of his own stunts, IIRC. James who?

I remember reading somewhere that Garner thought McQueen was a hack.

This story sounds like they got along.

And THIS is excellent, with many things I didn't know

From the second of your links:

"Like Marlon Brando he could be a pain in the ### on set. Unlike Brando, he wasn’t an actor.

“He was a movie star, a poser who cultivated the image of a macho man. He had a persona he brought to every role and people loved it but you could always see him acting. That’s the kiss of death, as far as I’m concerned.”