Wrights & Maxeys of Monroe County, Mississippi - Person Sheet
Wrights & Maxeys of Monroe County, Mississippi - Person Sheet
NameBUMGARNER, James Scott , 7C2R
Birth Date7 Apr 1928
Birth PlaceNorman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Death Date19 Jul 2014 Age: 86
Death PlaceLos Angeles, California
MotherMEEK, Mildred (~1905-~1933)
Misc. Notes
James Scott2 Bumgarner was born 1928 in Norman, OK.

Changed last name to Garner, as most people know him today, James Garner has appeared in dozens of films since the mid 1950s, frequently playing amiable but crafty good guys. His greatest fame comes from two popular TV series: The Rockford Files (1974-80), in which he played an offbeat private eye; and Maverick (1957-60), a sly western with Garner as a adventurous card shark. The latter was remade as a 1994 movie with Mel Gibson in the title role.

Academy Award nominee JAMES GARNER (Raymond Hope) has been an esteemed member of the acting profession since he received widespread critical acclaim for his breakthrough performance in "Sayonara," starring Marlon Brando..

He received his Oscar® nomination in 1984 for his work in the film "Murphy's Romance" opposite Sally Field and includes among his many feature film credits starring roles in such noteworthy films as "The Great Escape," "The Children's Hour," "Grand Prix," "The Americanization of Emily," "Skin Game," "Support Your Local Sheriff," "Victor/Victoria," "Maverick" and most recently "My Fellow Americans."

James Scott Bumgarner was born in Norman, OK., 1928. His mother died when he was five. At age 16, he quit high school to join the Merchant Marines, where he served for one year. Jim then moved to Los Angeles, where his father had relocated, and attended Hollywood High School for about a year. He held numerous odd jobs, one of his first jobs was modeling swim trunks for Jantzen Sportswear. After about a year in Tinsletown Jim returned to Oklahoma where he starred in football at Norman High School, and later joined the State National Guard. In 1950 he was drafted for the Korean War; The first person from the State of Oklahoma drafted as an infantryman, He served 14 months in Korea for the Fifth Regimental Combat Team of the 24th Division and was awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds he suffered in action. After his discharge in 1952, Jim enrolled in Norman University, but dropped out after one semester and returned to Los Angeles to work with his father, a carpet layer.

Upon his return, Garner looked up an old friend who had become a producer during his absence. The friend, Paul Gregory, gave Garner his first acting job in the stage production of "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial."

His popularity was secured in the 1950s hit television series "Maverick." He also went on to star in another successful series, " The Rockford Files ," for which he was awarded an Emmy. To this day, there is still a demand for more episodes with Garner as the Malibu private investigator.

A Golden Globe winner for his work in the HBO telefilm "Decoration Day" and "Barbarians at the Gate," Garner has earned numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his work in the acclaimed telefilms "Heartsounds," "Promise," "My Name is Bill W.," "Decoration Day," and "Breathing Lessons."

Copyright © 1998 Greta "Gigi" Garner and Roger Womack. This document may be duplicated or printed for use in personal research as long as this copyright notice is included. It may not be reproduced in any other media form and/or for commercial use without the express written consent of the authors.
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Last Modified 30 May 2018Created 11 Apr 2023 by Robert Avent