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James Garner was an American actor who was born on April 7, 1928. His parents were Weldon Warren Bumgarner (1901-1986), a widower, and Mildred Scott (Meek) (1907-1933). His mother died five years after his birth. He had two siblings; Jack Garner, also an actor, and Charles Bumgarner, a school administrator.
James Garner stayed with his father in Los Angeles after the Second World War. He had his education at Hollywood High School While at Hollywood High School, he was voted the most popular student. He also schooled at Norman High School and was actively involved in football and basketball.
He Is noted to have played roles in over 50 theatrical films. Some of these films are The Great Escape (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy Chayefsky’s The Americanization of Emily (1964) with Julie Andrews; Cash McCall (1960) with Natalie Wood; The Wheeler Dealers (1963) with Lee Remick; Darby’s Rangers (1958) with Stuart Whitman; Roald Dahl’s 36 Hours (1965) with Eva Marie Saint; Raymond Chandler’s Marlowe (1969) with Bruce Lee; Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) with Walter Brennan; Blake Edwards’s Victor/Victoria (1982) with Julie Andrews; and Murphy’s Romance (1985).
It must be noted that even in the 21st century James Garner was still active in acting and he featured in films such as Space Cowboys (2000) with Clint Eastwood; the animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) (voice work) with Michael J. Fox and Cree Summer; The Notebook (2004) with Gena Rowlands and Ryan Gosling; and in his TV sitcom role as Jim Egan in 8 Simple Rules (2003–2005).
James Garner joined the California Army National Guard and spent his first 7 months in California. He was in Korea as a rifleman in the 5th Regimental Combat Team for 14 months.
He was part of the 24th Infantry Division and on two different occasions, he got injured; once in the face and later on the hand. It must be noted that for his first wound, he received the Purple Heart in Korea.
James Garner Cause of Death
It must be noted that had a chronic knee problem. He underwent six to seven knee operations. Later in 2000, James Garner underwent knee replacement surgery for both knees.
Earlier on April 22, 1988, he had had quintuple bypass heart surgery and he was advised to put a stop to smoking but stopped smoking 17 years later. After suffering a severe stroke, he underwent surgery on May 11, 2008.
James Garner died on July 19, 2014, in his Los Angeles home. He was found dead. He died at the age of 86 due to a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease.
Personal Life
James Garner got married to Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke on August 17, 1956. James Garner and Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke gave birth to a daughter on January 4, 1958.
Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke also had a daughter aged 7 from a previous marriage. Her daughter was then recovering from polio. James Garner and Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke were married till 2004 when James Garner died.
Initially, they separated in 1970 for three months and again in 1979.
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