Happy 78th Birthday James Garner

Mr. Garner falls under this category for two reasons. One, he’s been a big part of favorite TV shows and movies for me. Two, I’m glad he’s lived on after having his knees replaced and heart surgery, but 78 isn’t a milestone birthday like 50 or 75. 
 
James Garner is a personal hero and favorite of mine. Unlike Reagan, Willis and Ah-nold, he actually served in the military during the Korean War (most bios have him serving in the Merchant Marine) but his politics have historically been Left leaning (he does live in Hollywood). He’s also an oddity in Hollywood for being married once, still going at 50 years now. Finally, he’s actually pretty modest in ego compared to other actors; interviews, articles, etc, I’ve come across back that. I think he honestly enjoys the career he has which may explain why he hasn’t retired yet. 
 
Reruns of The Rockford Files in college (every Sunday night on WTMJ after the news) was really got me to like him. Previously, I had seen him in movies but nothing really grabbed my attention other than the weirdness of Victor, Victoria. The Rockford Files was a rather cool, unusual and different detective show in my opinion. Sure Jim Rockford lived in Malibu, a crummy trailer on the beach counts if it’s in that ZIP code. He had a decent car yet the villains were pretty skilled at damaging it thus forcing him to borrow his dad’s truck (everyone loves Rocky). He had a heart of gold as a detective but that may have been a defense mechanism for all the clients who stiffed him. I think the show was a bit closer to what detective work was like; mundane, it involved numerous stakeouts and information gathering through deception; who doesn’t remember the little business card printing press he had in the car! 
 
Over the years as I’ve learned more about him, I think that show’s success really hinged upon how much the character was actually based upon his own life; both were in Korea, they’re named Jim, he even did some of the (safer) stunts and they’ve done odd jobs to keep afloat when times were tough. Mr. Garner has never been to prison though. I don’t know if they say Rockford and his dad originated from Oklahoma. 
 
This entry is making me really nostalgic, I think I will be calling my former roommate Paul for some air harmonica (to the show’s theme song) and ask him about that English paper he wrote referencing James Garner. I do remember our teacher Dr. Watson was familiar with the actor but more of his 1960s roles which were quite different from the 1970s and 80s material we knew.