Charleston's WCHS Home Page Huntington, West Virginia Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 07:36:18 AM   
Charleston, WV
WCHS Home Charleston Newsroom Charleston Weather Sports News TV Shows TV Program Schedule Community



8 SIMPLE RULES...
KATEY SAGAL
as Cate Hennessy
KALEY CUOCO
as Bridget Hennessy
AMY DAVIDSON
as Kerry Hennessy
MARTIN SPANJERS
as Rory Hennessy
JAMES GARNER
as Jim
DAVID SPADE
as C.J.
FORMER CAST
JOHN RITTER
as Paul Hennessy
PROGRAM CONTACTS
& FAQ
Get the book,
Get the book at a discount
8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter
at a discount

James Garner
Jim Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter


James Garner photo One of Hollywood's most popular actors, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winner James Garner has long been regarded as one of America's foremost and distinguished actors, continually maintaining his popularity over time. In 2004 he starred in the film "The Notebook." In 2003 he starred in "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," having just wrapped as Chief Justice Thomas Brankin in the drama series, "First Monday." In 2002 he starred in the original miniseries, "Mark Twain's Roughing It." In 2001 audiences heard him as the voice of Commander Rourke in Disney's animated film, "Atlantis: The Lost Empire." In 2000 he starred in "Space Cowboys," opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland for actor/director Clint Eastwood, and in the telefilm "The Last Debate," based on the novel by PBS' Jim Lehrer. He also co-starred in the four final episodes of "Chicago Hope" and lent his voice to the character of God in the animated series, "God, the Devil and Bob."

Continuing to easily transition between film and television, Garner has starred in many projects for both mediums over the past few years. In 1999 he starred in the made-for-television movie, "One Special Night," which reunited him with his "Americanization of Emily" and "Victor/Victoria" co-star, Julie Andrews. The same year he starred as a high-powered lawyer in the television film "Legalese," which brought him his third SAG Award nomination.

In 1997 he starred in the film "Twilight," with Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon and Gene Hackman for director Robert Benton; in the HBO Original Motion Picture, "Dead Silence," with Marlee Matlin and Lolita Davidovich; and then opposite a stellar cast, including Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Sonja Braga and George Carlin, in the critically-acclaimed miniseries, "Larry McMurtry's Streets of Laredo" -- the follow-up to "Lonesome Dove." In 1996 he starred with Jack Lemmon in the film "My Fellow Americans."

Since 1994 Garner has starred as Jim Rockford, one of his best-known and loved characters, in seven, two-hour made-for-television movies of "The Rockford Files." One of Garner's most touching performances to date came in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation, "Breathing Lessons," for which he earned an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination. Also in 1994 he brought to the big screen another of his unforgettable characters, co-starring with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster in the film "Maverick."

Throughout Garner's career, he has received recognition for performances ranging from his sensitive portrayal of Murphy Jones in "Murphy's Romance," which earned him an Academy Award-nomination for Best Actor in 1985, to the misguided and over-reaching business tycoon, F. Ross Johnson, in "Barbarians at the Gate," for which he received a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination in 1993 for Best Actor.

Garner's accolades include both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor for his role in the 1984 telefilm "Heartsounds," with Mary Tyler Moore, and the 1986 telefilm "Promise," with James Woods. "Promise," produced by Garner-Duchow Productions, won five Emmy Awards, including one for Garner as executive producer of that year's Outstanding Television Drama. In 1989 Garner-Duchow produced the Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation, "My Name is Bill W." The telefilm received seven Emmy nominations, and Garner was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, as well as Executive Producer.

Coming from a background with no ties to show business, Garner was born in the mid-sized city of Norman, Oklahoma. His father, Weldon Bumgarner, was of European ancestry and his mother, Mildred, was one-half Cherokee.

When Garner was five, his mother died and he and his brothers, Jack and Charles, went to live with relatives. At 14 he left home, did odd jobs, and at 16 signed on for a stint in the merchant marines. In the meantime his father had moved to Los Angeles. Garner followed, helping his father in the carpet-laying business while attending Hollywood High School. He eventually got a job modeling swimsuits, but before his career got started, he found himself in the army with the distinction of being Oklahoma's first draftee to the Korean conflict, during which he was awarded a Purple Heart.

After the war he returned to the U.S. and eventually moved back to Los Angeles. When a friend offered him a small part in a Broadway production of "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial," he took it. That part led to a $150-a-week contract with Warner Bros. His first on-camera appearance was with Clint Walker on the TV series "Cheyenne." His feature film debut came in "Toward the Unknown." Next he gave an acclaimed performance as Marlon Brando's friend in the film "Sayonara," which led to his first big break -- the starring role in the television series "Maverick," which brought him true stardom.

Since then he has starred in roughly 40 films, including "The Children's Hour," "The Great Escape," "The Americanization of Emily" (his personal favorite), "Grand Prix," "Cash McCall," "Move Over, Darling," "Support Your Local Sheriff," "The Skin Game," "The Thrill of It All" and "Victor/Victoria."

On television he played one of the world's most famous private detectives, Jim Rockford, in "The Rockford Files" from 1974-1980, for which he won an Emmy Award in 1977, and he starred in the series "Nichols." Other television roles include the miniseries "Space," "Glitterdome" and 1990's Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation, "Decoration Day," for which he received an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.

In total Garner has received one Academy Award-nomination, 15 Emmy nominations with two wins, 13 Golden Globe nominations with four wins, two People's Choice Awards and three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. He was also the recipient of a Clio Award for his Polaroid commercials.

Away from acting, he is involved with auto racing. From 1967-69, he owned the racing team American International Racing, with its members driving at such sites as Daytona and Sebring, and in off-road races such as Baja. He has driven the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 on three occasions -- in 1975, 1977 and 1985.

Garner is involved with many humanistarian causes. He helped organize Martin Luther King's march on Washington for Civil Rights in 1963 and went to Vietnam in 1967 to visit the troops. He is a member of the National Support Committee of the Native American Rights Fund and the National Advisory Board of the United States High School Golf Association. He has been involved with the "Save the Coast" movement to stop offshore drilling in California, and is most recently involved with Save the Children.

In 1986 Garner was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He was made Ambassador of Cultural Arts for the State of Oklahoma in November of 1989. He won the Most Valuable Amateur Trophy at the AT&T Golf Tournament in February 1990. He was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK, in March 1990. In 1993 he received the Western Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film and Television from the Gene Autry Museum, and in 1995 received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the University of Oklahoma.

A gifted and ardent golfer, Garner lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Lois. They have two daughters, Kim and Gigi.

PERSONAL INFORMATION:
HOMETOWN: Norman, OK
BIRTHDATE: April 7

Need to write? Send Mail Here's where to send mail to James Garner.
Important information about How To Write To The Stars






Also Visit:
WVAH Fox 11


Please note, this is a local TV station in Charleston-Huntington, WV. If you live outside the Charleston-Huntington, West Virginia television viewing area, please contact the local TV station in your area.

Copyright ©2008, WCHS-TV8