GARNER, James

(1928– )

   Born James Baumgarner in Oklahoma, James Garner developed a persona in the 1960s as a devilishly handsome, worldly wise cowboy hero with a suave yet cynical sense of humor. Whatever role he took, Garner inevitably turned it to laughs. He began his career in Westerns with the highly popular television Western Maverick. Garner’s best film Western was probably the comedy Support Your Local Sheriff (1969), which was followed a few years later with Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971). When Mel Gibson reprised Garner’s old television role in the film Maverick (1994), Garner played a prominent role in the film. James Garner has made a long career in film and television and is still very active in numerous film projects.