# RIP James Garner **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 20, 2014, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591 "2014-07-20T07:42:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/61 "2014-07-20T20:43:18Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > Wasn’t he known for being mean to fans, punching people out at golf tournaments, punching out stuntmen, and getting into fist fights because of road rage? > > He sort of seemed like a bully to me, but ok, rest in peace. I don’t remember anyone having a bad word to say about the man. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/62 "2014-07-20T20:44:14Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > He WAS the coolest of the Maverick brothers. RIP Jim. ☹ Were they not cousins? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/63 "2014-07-20T20:58:12Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > Wasn’t he known for being mean to fans, punching people out at golf tournaments, punching out stuntmen, and getting into fist fights because of road rage? No, he wasn’t known for those things at all. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/64 "2014-07-20T21:11:30Z")
Loved the Rockford Files, and not to forget Support Your Local Sheriff/Gunfighter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/65 "2014-07-20T21:16:34Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > Wasn’t he known for being mean to fans, punching people out at golf tournaments, punching out stuntmen, and getting into fist fights because of road rage? > > He sort of seemed like a bully to me Best username/post combo _ever_. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/66 "2014-07-20T21:18:23Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > Wasn’t he known for being mean to fans, punching people out at golf tournaments, punching out stuntmen, and getting into fist fights because of road rage? > > He sort of seemed like a bully to me, but ok, rest in peace. There was that [incident at a golf tournament](http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u60lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PPMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6889%2C281869) where a heckler grabbed his hand and twisted his thumb, so Garner pushed him. No charges were filed. Doesn’t sound like a bully to me. ---
**Author:** ![Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absinthe_Anecdote)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/67 "2014-07-20T21:18:38Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No, he wasn’t known for those things at all. _ **But behind his unruffled image, a hint of suppressed anger was crucial to Garner’s screen charisma. By his own admission, he had a notoriously combustible temper. Beaten by his stepmother as a child, he finally punched her back when he was just 14. He would later cheerfully boast about “decking” fellow actors and film-makers including co-star Tony Franciosa, director John Frankenheimer and even a fan who heckled him during a golf game** _. > **[James Garner: An Appreciation](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/james-garner-an-appreciation-719842/)** > > THR film critic Stephen Dalton pays tribute to the legendary actor, an icon of no-nonsense American masculinity best known for his work in TV series like "Maverick" and "The Rockford Files." ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/68 "2014-07-20T21:25:00Z")
I demand the thread be retitled James Garner: History’s Greatest Monster ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/69 "2014-07-20T21:25:25Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > _ **But behind his unruffled image, a hint of suppressed anger was crucial to Garner’s screen charisma. By his own admission, he had a notoriously combustible temper. Beaten by his stepmother as a child, he finally punched her back when he was just 14. He would later cheerfully boast about “decking” fellow actors and film-makers including co-star Tony Franciosa, director John Frankenheimer and even a fan who heckled him during a golf game** _. IIRC, the actual Garner quote is _“Didn’t enjoy working with Tony Franciosa, who kept abusing the stunt men. He purposely wasn’t pulling his punches in fight scenes, and he kept doing it despite my warnings to stop . . . so I had to pop him one.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/70 "2014-07-20T21:29:09Z")
And there was a [road rage incident,](http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XPYrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DW0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1595%2C5567073) but Garner was on the receiving end, being punched through the window of his car, then punched some more and kicked in the head when he got out of his car. The other driver was arrested and charged with felony assault. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/71 "2014-07-20T21:33:21Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > _ **But behind his unruffled image, a hint of suppressed anger was crucial to Garner’s screen charisma. By his own admission, he had a notoriously combustible temper. Beaten by his stepmother as a child, he finally punched her back when he was just 14. He would later cheerfully boast about “decking” fellow actors and film-makers including co-star Tony Franciosa, director John Frankenheimer and even a fan who heckled him during a golf game** _. > [James Garner: An Appreciation](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-garner-an-appreciation-719842?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fnews+(The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories)&mobile_redirect=false) Yeah, I’m sticking with my answer. He wasn’t known for those things. He was known for being a great guy and a great actor. ---
**Author:** ![Agnostic\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/72 "2014-07-20T22:12:58Z")
He was one of the greats. Need more of his caliber around! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/73 "2014-07-20T22:31:33Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > IIRC, the actual Garner quote is _“Didn’t enjoy working with Tony Franciosa, who kept abusing the stunt men. He purposely wasn’t pulling his punches in fight scenes, and he kept doing it despite my warnings to stop . . . so I had to pop him one.”_ The NYT article quoted Garner as saying that he preferred to live and let live, but when he was pushed, he shoved back. Sounds like me and a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/74 "2014-07-20T22:35:21Z")
A tear came to my eye when I heard this:-( ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/75 "2014-07-20T23:01:55Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Always felt sorry for him, stuck in that pig and him being a damned good driver. But as he said, “I liked the looks of the Firebird, and I thought it was the kind of blue-collar car that Jim Rockford would drive. I’m sure he would have liked a Trans Am (I drove one in real life at the time) but couldn’t afford it. The only modification we made was to stouten up the suspension to handle all the stunts. The sticker price of the 1970 Firebird Esprit was about $3000, and Pontiac didn’t give us cars—we bought three new ones every season. We had two backups in case of damage or breakdowns because we couldn’t afford to stop production for repairs.” > > [http://www.caranddriver.com/features/what-irsquod-do-differently-james-garner-feature-i-could-do-anything-in-a-mini-cooper-page-2](http://www.caranddriver.com/features/what-irsquod-do-differently-james-garner-feature-i-could-do-anything-in-a-mini-cooper-page-2) Awesome line in that article > [@](#): > > C/D: Looking back, is there anything you’d have done differently? > > JG: I’m a country boy out of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl who came to Hollywood, got famous, made some money, traveled the world and met all kinds of people, and had great friends and a wonderful family. Would I have done anything differently? Hell, no! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/76 "2014-07-20T23:05:18Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > He WAS the coolest of the Maverick brothers. RIP Jim. ☹ > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Were they not cousins? Bret and Bart and Brent were brothers. Beau was a cousin. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/77 "2014-07-20T23:16:37Z")
For 30 years, I’ve said that there are three actors whose deaths will make me cry (I always referred to them as “The Big Three”). James Garner is the first of the three to go, and apparently I was right. ☹ He was wonderful in so many roles – of course _The Rockford Files_, _Victor/Victoria_ and _Barbarians at the Gate_. I don’t think anyone has mentioned _Murphy’s Romance_. I saw it on T.V. recently, and it still holds up. Somewhere I still have a magazine with James Garner on the cover and the headline “The Last Real Man.” RIP, Jim. [sub]Henry Winkler and Alan Alda[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/78 "2014-07-20T23:21:09Z")
Another _Rockford Files_ fan chiming in here. I’ve very sorry to hear this. I think I’ll check Netflix to see if they have Rockford available. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/79 "2014-07-20T23:50:46Z")
He was not one to get pushed around in real life. He sued studios twice and won both times. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591/80 "2014-07-21T00:17:01Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > He was not one to get pushed around in real life. He sued studios twice and won both times. They were screwing him in Maverick. That is why the show continued with the brothers/cousin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-garner/693591.md?page=5)