James Garner Quotes

United States, Actor
April 7, 1928 – July, 19, 2014.

James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor, producer, and voice artist. He starred in several television series over more than five decades, including such popular roles as Bret Maverick in the 1950s western series Maverick and Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files, and played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including The Great Escape (1963) with Steve McQueen, Paddy Chayefsky's The Americanization of Emily (1964), Grand Prix (1966), Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria (1982), Murphy's Romance (1985), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, Space Cowboys (2000) with Clint Eastwood, and The Notebook (2004).

Also known as Producer, Voice Actor

When people see me in something and say, 'That's just you - that's not acting,' it's the best compliment I can get.

James Garner
- People
I never wanted to be an actor. I got stuck in it and kind of liked what I was doing.

James Garner

People who don't know me think I'm easy-going, but I'm a pessimist by nature and an old curmudgeon.

James Garner
- People
- Nature
I spent most of my time playing pool instead of studying.

James Garner
- Time
- Pool
Acting is just common sense. It isn't hard if you put yourself aside and just do what the writer wrote.

James Garner
- Acting
- Sense
- Writer
The characters I've played, especially Bret Maverick and Jim Rockford, almost never use a gun, and they always try to use their wits instead of their fists.

James Garner
- Gun
I don't like the crowds, I don't like to get out of the house if I don't have to.

James Garner
- House
What was I qualified to do to make a living? Nothing. You don't need qualifications as an actor or a politician. And I didn't want to be a politician.

James Garner

Even my stuntman is old.

James Garner
I was a Depression kid, growing up in Oklahoma.

James Garner
- Up
- Growing
- Depression
The only reason I'm an actor is that a lady pulled out of a parking space in front of a producer's office.

James Garner
- Space
You can never have too many friends.

James Garner
- Friends
Anyway, you learn a healthy respect for war, and I'm not happy with what's going on today. Uh, you know, our sterling President-um, I shouldn't get into this. Everybody's gonna kill me, but I'm not happy with him. I-I-if he had ever been in a war, he wouldn't have been so happy...so eager to send other people into war.

James Garner
- People
- War
- Happy
I've done a lot of casual work, and acting is a lot easier than laying carpets.

James Garner
- Work
- Done

Ronald Reagan wasn't qualified to be governor, let alone president.

James Garner
- Alone
There's a lot of room for error with a wound in the rear. It's a wide target.

James Garner
There are younger directors, and anybody over 30 is ancient to them, because they're not that old.

James Garner
I'm a Methodist, but not as an actor.

James Garner
My goal has always been longevity. Not fame and fortune, just get a job and keep it.

James Garner
- Job
I've had to work hard at that easy-going manner you see on screen.

James Garner
- Work

An hour series is a killer. It's hard on you physically.

James Garner
It wasn't until I'd turned 50 and had been in the business 25 years that I realized I might actually have a career as an actor.

James Garner
- Business
- Career
I don't take success very well, because I know it's fleeting. And the next day, it can all fall apart. I know that, too. So I don't get too high, and I don't get too low. You get through the world a lot easier that way.

James Garner
- World
- High
- Success
I think people like to see a little larceny in their heroes.

James Garner
- People