We went to girls camp one year at some camp in the Los Angeles mountains. This was probably summer of 70 or 71. Back when girls camp was fun and no one took their scriptures.
We went on a "hike" on a well-maintained dirt road but had only had to move for a couple of cars. Then this limo--yes, limo, is coming down the road. Course it was going slow, but a couple of idiots stand in the middle of the road to make it stop. They were saying "maybe it's somebody famous." I thought, "yeah, somebody with a bodyguard who will shoot you dead."
So it stops and a guy got out and it was James Garner. They were shooting a movie up there. He talked to us for about 5 minutes. Told us to stay on the road and stay together and watch for bears (who had already visited our camp). We thought we had died and gone to heaven. He was so nice and SO handsome.
Cool dude....great and versatile actor...good race car driver and he stood up for his rights & won when the studios tried to screw him out of his earnings. RIP Jim.
I just started re-watching the Rockford files on Netflix last week. It brings back so many memories of staying up late and covering the TV so my parents wouldn't know I wasn't in bed.
Loved James Garner. Met him a few times at The Long Beach Grand Prix & Willow Springs raceway. Next trip to So. Cal. I'll have to stop by The Sandcastle in Malibu & have a cold one for him. Neat little restaurant that was next to Rockford's trailer. RIP Jim.
I was sad when I heard of his passing today. Have always liked him. One of my favourite films is 'Support Your Local Sheriff'; must watch it again one of these days.
I think tongue-in-cheek humor was one of Jim's trademarks. I can remember watching "Maverick" with my Dad (who died over 50 years ago) and we both laughed like loons at some of the situations and lines.
Giving away my age here but I used to watch maverick on tv as a boy, one year for christmas my parents took us on a trip to lake cachuma. on christmas eve we went into town and bought my brothers and I a pair of cowboy boots at a shop. With them We each recieve a photo of james garner as james maverick. I also remember him from rockford files as well as the great escape. Rest in peace james you will be missed
Rather the dashing daredevil as well, recalling his role in John Frankenheimer's 'Grand Prix' wherein Jim did his own driving for the racing footage. The real F1 racers were impressed with his ballsy driving skills, as I recall.
Jimbo certainly shone at playing up the anti-hero schitck, long before Eastwood or Gibson ever thought of it.
Loved him in the Rockford Files. And one of my all time favorite movies is Murphy's Romance, with Sally Field. If you haven't seen it, he was awesome as the crusty older pharmacy owner who fell in love with Field's horse-trainer character.