Skip to content
MovieCove
James Garner

James Garner

Actor and producer · Died July 19, 2014, aged 86 · Norman, Oklahoma, USA

James Scott Garner (né Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor, producer, and voice artist. He starred in several television series over more than five decades, including such popular roles as Bret Maverick in the 1950s western comedy series Maverick and Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files, and played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including The Great Escape (1963) with Steve McQueen, Paddy Chayefsky's The Americanization of Emily (1964), Grand Prix (1966), Blake Edwards' Victor Victoria (1982), Murphy's Romance (1985), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, Space Cowboys (2000) with Clint Eastwood, and The Notebook (2004).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 7, 1928
Died
July 19, 2014 (aged 86)
From
Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
75 on MovieCove · 104 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

What are James Garner's films like?

Across their 73 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Western2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Western movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Morality
25%
Self
25%
Society
9%
Survival
8%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Justice20 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds18 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth10 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 67 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 35 · Serious 22 · Dark 10

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 48 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 29 · Charged 26 · Intense 12

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 39 · Shifting 26 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 32 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 18

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 27 · Even-paced 39 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 42 · Engaged 20 · Full focus 5

Easy watch: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their easy watch movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 37 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 57 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

60 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 34 of 60 analyzed roles.

Hero
34 of 60
Mentor
10 of 60
Ally
8 of 60
Trickster
4 of 60
Shapeshifter
2 of 60
Threshold guardian
2 of 60
Show the 60 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
36
Warm
25
Melancholic
21
Joyful
15
Hopeful
17
Other
72

How their films linger

Feel-good32 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy30
  • Bittersweet38
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch James Garner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 75 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Garner's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

104 credits, 75 with a MovieCove page; 45 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Disclosure(2020)

    as King Marchand (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • I Am Steve McQueen(2014)

    as Hendley 'The Scrounger'

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam(2010)

    as Shazam (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Shazam (segment "The Return of Black Adam") (voice)

  • Battle for Terra(2007)

    as Doron (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Ultimate Gift(2006)

    as Howard 'Red' Stevens

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Notebook(2004)

    as Older Noah 'Duke'

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration(2003)

    as Pat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • 8 Simple Rules(2002)

    Show 43 episodes · as Jim Egan

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood(2002)

    as Shep Walker

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Roughing It(2002)

    as Samuel Clemens

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Roughing It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Samuel Clemens

  • First Monday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 13 episodes · as Thomas Brankin

  • Century of Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • The Unbeatable Bruce Lee(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Atlantis: The Lost Empire(2001)

    as Rourke (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Last Debate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mike Howley

  • Space Cowboys(2000)

    as Tank Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • God, the Devil and Bob(2000)

    Show 13 episodes · as God (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • One Special Night(1999)

    as Robert Woodward

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads(1999)

    Producer · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Legalese(1998)

    as Norman Keane

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Hidden Dimension (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Grandpa

  • Twilight(1998)

    as Raymond Hope

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda(1997)

    Producer · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Dead Silence(1997)

    as John Potter

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • My Fellow Americans(1996)

    as President Matt Douglas

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime(1996)

    Producer · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play(1996)

    Producer · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Jim Rockford

  • The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...(1996)

    Producer · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Streets of Laredo(1995)

    Show 3 episodes · as Captain Woodrow Call

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise(1995)

    Producer · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.(1994)

    Producer · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Hubert 'Hue' Miller

  • Maverick(1994)

    as Marshal Zane Cooper

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Breathing Lessons(1994)

    as Ira Moran

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Barbarians at the Gate(1993)

    as F. Ross Johnson

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Fire in the Sky(1993)

    as Frank Watters

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Distinguished Gentleman(1992)

    as Jeff Johnson

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • HBO First Look (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Man of the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 12 episodes · as Jim Doyle

  • Decoration Day(1990)

    as Albert Sidney Finch

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • My Name Is Bill W.(1989)

    Executive Producer · as Dr. Robert Smith

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Sunset(1988)

    as Wyatt Earp

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Executive Producer · as Bob Beuhler

  • Murphy's Romance(1985)

    as Murphy Jones

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 5 episodes · as Norman Grant

  • The Glitter Dome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sgt. Aloysius Mackey

  • Heartsounds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Harold Lear

  • Tank(1984)

    as Zack

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Lily for President? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Bret Maverick

  • Victor/Victoria(1982)

    as King Marchand

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Long Summer of George Adams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as George Adams

  • Bret Maverick(1981)

    Show 18 episodes · as Bret Maverick

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Fan(1981)

    as Jake Berman

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • HealtH (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Harry Wolff

  • Off the Minnesota Strip(1980)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The New Maverick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Bret Maverick

  • Laugh-In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Guest Performer (uncredited)

  • Scott Free (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Executive Producer

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 122 episodes · Director · as Jim Rockford

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Castaway Cowboy(1974)

    as Lincoln Costain

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jim Rockford

  • Sidekicks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Executive Producer

  • One Little Indian(1973)

    as Keyes

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • They Only Kill Their Masters(1972)

    as Abel Marsh

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Skin Game(1971)

    Executive Producer · as Quincy Drew

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Nichols (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 24 episodes · as Sheriff Frank Nichols

  • Support Your Local Gunfighter(1971)

    Executive Producer · as Latigo

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • A Man Called Sledge(1970)

    as Luther Sledge

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Marlowe(1969)

    Executive Producer · as Philip Marlowe

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Support Your Local Sheriff!(1969)

    Executive Producer · as Jason McCullough

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Racing Scene(1969)

    Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Pink Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Executive Producer · as Ben Morris

  • How Sweet It Is!(1968)

    Executive Producer · as Grif

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Hour of the Gun(1967)

    as Marshal Wyatt Earp

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Grand Prix(1966)

    Executive Producer · as Pete Aron

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Mister Buddwing(1966)

    Executive Producer · as Mister Buddwing

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Duel at Diablo(1966)

    Producer · as Jess Remsberg

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Man Could Get Killed(1966)

    Executive Producer · as William Beddoes

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Art of Love(1965)

    Producer · as Casey Barnett

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • 36 Hours(1964)

    Executive Producer · as Major Jefferson F. Pike

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Americanization of Emily(1964)

    as Lt. Commander Charles E. Madison

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Move Over, Darling(1963)

    as Nicholas Arden

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Wheeler Dealers(1963)

    as Henry Tyroon

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Thrill of It All(1963)

    as Gerald Boyer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Great Escape(1963)

    as Hendley 'The Scrounger'

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Boys' Night Out(1962)

    as Fred Williams

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Children's Hour(1961)

    as Joe Cardin

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Cash McCall(1960)

    as Cash McCall

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Whicker's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Up Periscope(1959)

    as Lt. J. G. Kenneth M. Braden

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Darby's Rangers(1958)

    as William Orlando Darby

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Sayonara(1957)

    as Capt. Mike Bailey

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 79 episodes · as Bret Maverick

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Sugarfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Bret Maverick (uncredited)

  • Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend(1957)

    as Sgt. John Maitland

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Girl He Left Behind(1956)

    as Preston

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Jim Collins

  • Toward the Unknown(1956)

    as Lt. Col. Joe Craven

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Conflict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lt. Brad Forsythe

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Sidney · as Bob · as Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith aka Dr. Bob · as Ira Moran

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 103 titles from 1951 to 2020; peak year 1971.

Biggest box office

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

$186M worldwide

Highest rated

The Great Escape (1963)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Rockford Files (1974)

Film career

19512020

Peak 1971 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 32 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting99 of 103: 84 only acting, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thDirecting1 of 103: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing18 of 103: 4 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score70th

103 titles, 15 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 14 of them.

By decade

1950s13 · acting1960s20 · 19 acting · 11 crew1970s13 · 11 acting · 5 crew1980s15 · 14 acting · 3 crew1990s24 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s2 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 43% of 40 roles
5767728797

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do James Garner's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 68; across their 67 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 67

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 67

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 67

Midcredits score across 75 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up34
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

43 of their 75 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser43
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

The Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001)

84th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Great Escape (1963)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 63 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is James Garner's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles29–58 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles10–47 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles13–58 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles29–39 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles25–72 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does James Garner work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Garner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joe Santos shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • Mike Post7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Mike Post
  • Pete Carpenter6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Pete Carpenter
  • Pamela Malouf5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Pamela Malouf
  • Steve Yaconelli5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Steve Yaconelli

Producers

  • Mark Horowitz8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Mark Horowitz
  • Chas. Floyd Johnson7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Chas. Floyd Johnson
  • Maryann Rea7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Maryann Rea
  • Mark R. Schilz5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Mark R. Schilz

Mixed roles