Breaking: James Garner, Legendary Actor (& Democrat), Dead at 86 [View all]

[Hissyspit]

Last edited Sun Jul 20, 2014, 08:18 AM - Edit history (13)

Source: TMZ

LEGENDARY ACTOR
JAMES GARNER
DEAD AT 86

44 Minutes Ago

EXCLUSIVE

Legendary actor James Garner -- star of "The Rockford Files" and "The Notebook" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us an ambulance was dispatched to the actor's home in Los Angeles around 8PM Saturday evening ... and he was dead when they arrived on scene.

We do not know his cause of death at this time.

Garner was one of the first actors to amass success in both television and film ... and he starred in a long list of classic films -- as well as a co-starring role in the '94 big screen version of "Maverick" starring Mel Gibson. Garner was the original Bret Maverick from 1957-1960 ... as well as the same character in a short lived '80s remake.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/#Article/2014/07/19/james-garner-dead-dies-maverick-rockford-files

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From Wikipedia:

On August 28, 1963, Garner was one of several celebrities to join Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." In his autobiography, Garner recalled sitting in third row listening to Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

For his role in the 1985 CBS miniseries Space, the character's party affiliation was changed from Republican as in the book to reflect Garner's personal views. Garner said, "My wife would leave me if I played a Republican".

Prior to the entry of ex-San Francisco Mayor (later U.S. Senator) Dianne Feinstein, there was an effort by Democratic party leaders, led by state Senator Herschel Rosenthal, to persuade James Garner to seek the 1990 Democratic nomination for Governor of California.

I love/d "The Rockford Files." He was also in 'The Americanization of Emily,' 'Murphy's Romance,' 'Marlowe,' and 'Barbarians at the Gate.'