James Garner: Stars mourn loss of Hollywood icon
Hollywood is reeling following the death of veteran actor James Garner.
The "Maverick" and "Notebook" star, who died on Saturday at his home in Los Angeles at 86, left an impression on many of his co-stars through the years.
"Jim was a mentor to me and a friend, and I will miss him," said Tom Selleck, who early in his career guest-starred on Garner's 1970s series "The Rockford Files."
Shirley Jones recalled that in the mid-1950s she arrived in Hollywood and landed the lead role in "Oklahoma!" Before location shooting began, she was invited by a photographer to join him for dinner with another promising young star -- James Garner.
"I see this gorgeous man and I said, 'Oh, my!' He was very sweet. We went to this little restaurant and I told him, 'You're gonna be a giant star.' He said, 'How? I'm not sure I know how to act.'"
Jones said she followed his ascent but didn't run into him again for decades until they co-starred in the 1984 film "Tank."
"Not only was he a great actor, but he didn't hit on me," she said. "He didn't have that reputation, like a lot of actors I worked with. He was very married, a family man. And a real straight-on guy."
Sally Field co-starred with Garner in the film which landed him his first and only Oscar nomination -- 1985's "Murphy's Romance."
"My heart just broke," Field said after learning of Garner's death. "There are few people on this planet I have adored as much as Jimmy Garner. I cherish every moment I spent with him and relive them over and over in my head. He was a diamond."
Another "Murphy's Romance" co-star, singer-songwriter Carole King, shared her thoughts about Garner on Twitter:
I worked with #JamesGarner on the set of "Murphy's Romance". He was one of the nicest people... He will be missed. http://t.co/KFvTIu2OXt
— Carole King (@Carole_King) July 20, 2014
Some of Garner's other co-stars from his lengthy career -- including James Woods, Gary Sinise and Marlee Matlin -- also took to Twitter to memorialize the star:
James Woods:
Lois Garner just told me, "I'll never be the same. My Jim is gone." Her tears speak for all of us. #JamesGarner RIP pic.twitter.com/vUFLkfZMsX
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 20, 2014
Gary Sinise:
R.I.P James Garner.Such a lovely man I had the pleasure of working him in 1989 in My Name Is Bill W with James Woods. http://t.co/YoRLWM95wz
— Gary Sinise (@GarySinise) July 20, 2014
Marlee Matlin:
Away from home; can't sleep. Now sad to read my dear friend & costar James Garner passed. RIP sweet Jim Rockford. XX pic.twitter.com/WUHJ2ic59z
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) July 20, 2014
Comedians Kathy Griffin and Loni Love both noted Garner's ties to the Civil Rights Movement:
CoolRT @L_EdwinSaar: handsome man. good person, James Garner holding Diahann Carroll's hand at MLK March on Wash 1963 pic.twitter.com/dZ2IKZSBg6
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) July 21, 2014
James Garner with Diane Carroll at The March on Washington in 1963 #RIP #morethanaactor http://t.co/R8cxZMwGqb
— Loni Love (@LoniLove) July 21, 2014
Here's what other stars had to say about Garner:
Pat Sajak:
No one was ever a bigger star for a longer time in both TV and movies. And a very sweet man, too. RIP #JamesGarner
— Pat Sajak (@patsajak) July 20, 2014
Montel Williams:
James Gardner will always be remembered for HOW HE LIVED not just his work as an actor. Thoughts/Prayers w/ his family #RIP #JamesGarner
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) July 20, 2014
Rob Lowe:
Comedy, drama. Movies and TV movies. Did series when it wasn't cool and made them iconic. Never stooped to "acting! " James Garner: my hero.
David Boreanaz:
Life as we know it, has missed a beat today with the passing of a #Legend and true Man , James Garner. #RIP
— David Boreanaz (@David_Boreanaz) July 20, 2014
Stephen Fry:
So sad to hear that James Garner has gone. A real part of my childhood Rockford and the Maverick especially
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) July 20, 2014