James Garner movies: 12 greatest films ranked worst to best

Tom O'Brien
·2 min read
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Emmy-winning actor James Garner always did things a little differently. In an era where Western shootouts were all the rage, Garner brought a touch of light comedy to “Maverick” and redefined what a TV Western could be. When a successful lawsuit ended his involvement in “Maverick,” Garner turned to films and defied yet another tradition. It was thought for years that TV actors simply did not cross over into films — “Why pay to see an actor in a movie while you can stay home and see him for free?” said the smart money in Hollywood. Yet Garner did just that, going on to co-star in hit after hit — from romantic comedies (“The Thrill of It All”) and action classics (“The Great Escape”) to wide-screen spectacles (“Grand Prix”) and, yes, more Westerns (“Support Your Local Sheriff!”).

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When Garner did return to television, he enjoyed perhaps his biggest hit ever — “The Rockford Files” — as Jim Rockford, an ex-con and struggling private eye who lived in a Malibu trailer that doubled as his office. The series earned Garner five Emmy nominations, with a Best Drama Actor victory in 1977. In fact, over his entire career, Garner earned 15 Emmy nominations (with two wins), 12 Golden Globe nominations (with three wins) and four competitive SAG Awards, plus receiving the SAG Life Achievement Award. And in his spare time, Garner was nominated for an Oscar for his work opposite Sally Field in “Murphy’s Romance.” He is also an inductee into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

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To celebrate his 96th birthday posthumously, let’s raise a glass and offer a toast to the memory of the great actor by ranking and counting down his 12 best performances from worst to best.

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