James Garner, star of “The Rockford Files,” dies at 86

Actor James Garner, known for his roles in various hit television series and movies, has died in Los Angeles, CNN reported Sunday. He was 86.

Garner died of natural causes on Saturday night at his Los Angeles residence, CNN said.

The star of the 1950s television series “Maverick” and the 1970s detective show “The Rockford Files” was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928, in Norman, Oklahoma.

Garner was nominated for an Academy Award for the 1985 romantic comedy “Murphy’s Romance” in which he starred with Sally Field.

He appeared in numerous feature films, including “The Great Escape” (1963), “The Americanization of Emily” (1964), “Grand Prix” (1966) and “Victor/Victoria” (1982), over his long career.

The decorated Korean War veteran won his first Golden Globe in 1958 for Most Promising Newcomer, winning again in 1991 for his role in the television miniseries “Decoration Day” (1990) and in 1994 for “Barbarians at the Gate” (1993).

Garner received five Emmy nominations for his role as Jim Rockford, a constantly broke private investigator who lived in a trailer in Malibu and drove a Pontiac Firebird, on “The Rockford Files.”

He won an Emmy in 1977 for “The Rockford Files,” which ran on NBC from 19741980, and again in 1987 for “Promise.”

Garner is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois Clarke, and daughters Greta and Kimberly. EFE