When I heard the news this morning about James Garner's passing, I was very sad because to me he was one of those people that I just always wanted around. Of course that isn't possible, but he was just so iconic and real and I just didn't want it to happen.
He's been one of my favorite actors for a long time, even before I was really into classic films the way that I am now. The Thrill of It All I think is kind of what sold me on his talent and charm. His facial expressions were priceless and he just had that way of being so real with his characters whether they were funny, dramatic or romantic, you always were intrigued and interested in what he was doing. 36 Hours is one of the great performances from an underrated movie. I think that one is actually one of my favorites.
Of course The Rockford Files is one of his best TV roles and I remember when I first watched it with my dad (he has the seasons on dvd) and I wanted to see it because I liked him and after I saw it, it made me like him even more than before because I saw how effortless he made it all look. It was almost like he was just playing himself, I mean essentially he was just with a different last name. I think it is probably one of the roles he is most proud of and for good reason.
Even the movies he did in more recent years like The Notebook where the charm and talent was still there in his later years. Plus all the great actresses he worked with: Doris Day, Julie Andrews, Audrey Hepburn...the list goes on. He has a fine body of work that he left us and he had a big influence on my life. He will be greatly missed.
