Actor and Norman native James Garner was reportedly found dead Saturday evening inside his Los Angeles home. Garner died of natural causes at the age of 86, Los Angeles police said.
Garner was born in Norman, Okla., in 1928. He is most well-known for his role in the 1950s Western comedy series "Maverick" and in the 1970s detective drama series "The Rockford Files." He also starred in more than 50 films, notably, “The Great Escape” (1963), “Space Cowboys” (2000) and “The Notebook” (2004). Garner was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1985 film "Murphy's Romance"
Garner received a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2004. He was also awarded two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards throughout his 50-year career.
He joined the Marines at 16 but suffered from chronic seasickness. At 17, Garner joined his father in Los Angeles and enrolled at Hollywood High School. He quickly returned to Norman, though, and competed on both the track and golf teams at Norman High School.
Garner never graduated from high school but instead opted to join the National Guard. He served 14 months in Korea and was rewarded two purple hearts during his time there.
Garner stayed connected with his hometown throughout his career, particularly the Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts at OU and donated generously to OU’s Peggy Dow Helmerich School of Drama. He donated $500,000, establishing the James Garner Professor of Drama endowed position at OU’s Peggy Dow Helmerich School of Drama. Tom Orr, director for the School of Drama, currently holds this position.
Orr knew Garner well as both a valued friend and mentor, he said. Garner’s generous support of the School of Drama has permanently changed OU's ability to serve the students.
“The OU fine arts family was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of television and film legend James Garner. Mr. Garner gave back to his hometown and to the OU School of Drama and its students in countless ways. His long and illustrious career is a great example to our students of what talent, hard work and a positive outlook can achieve. He will be forever missed by our college,” Richard Taylor, dean of the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts and executive producer for University Theatre, said.
Garner’s generosity has not gone unrecognized here in his hometown. Norman honored Garner with a 10-foot bronze statue of the actor as Bret Maverick as well as naming a street after him, James Garner Avenue.
“At the University of Oklahoma and all across our state, James Garner will be greatly missed. He was a loyal friend to his hometown and university. At OU, he received an honorary degree and served as our commencement speaker. He has given his continuous support to the School of Drama, including a gift of many of the memorabilia of his acting career,” President David Boren said.
Garner’s memory will live on in Norman through not only his generosity and talent, but through his famous introduction of the Sooner football team as well. Garner's voice will continue to be heard before home games, saying, “This is Oklahoma football.”
