James Garner, the understated, wisecracking everyman actor who enjoyed multi-generational success on both the small and big screen, has died at the age of 86.
Garner starred in hit TV series almost 20 years apart — “Maverick” in the late 1950s and “The Rockford Files” in the 1970s. He also starred in the ABC Family serie “8 Simple Rules” and had a notable film career, starring in such classics as “The Great Escape” (1963), “The Americanization of Emily” (1964), and more recent films such as “Space Cowboys” (2000) and “The Notebook” (2004).
James Garner was also a longtime political activist. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington and frequently donated to Democratic candidates and liberal causes.
But he’ll likely be best remembered for a James Garner persona that seemed inseparable from the real-life man: professional, unruffled, witty and never too impressed with himself.
He is survived by his wife and their two daughters, Kim and Gigi.
For more on James Garner, visit Todd Leopold (CNN).
