James Garner

Cast as the mysterious Red Stevens in "The Ultimate Gift"

Starred opposite Gena Rowlands in the drama "The Notebook"; received a SAG nomination for Best Supporting Actor

Joined the cast of "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" after the death of John Ritter

Portrayed the loving, co-dependent, father and husband in the box-office hit "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"

Returned to series work as a US Supreme Court Justice in "First Monday" (CBS)

Played a recurring role on the CBS medical drama "Chicago Hope"

United with old friends, Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland, for the astronaut movie “Space Cowboys,” produced by Eastwood

Voiced the character of the Almighty in the controversial short-lived NBC animated series "God, the Devil and Bob"

Began reprising role of Jim Rockford in series of highly-rated TV-movies

Played Zane Cooper in the modern day film version of "Maverick," which starred Mel Gibson in the title role

Returned to TV as a con man who fills his late ex-wife's city council seat on the short-lived series, "Man of the People" (NBC)

Starred in the ABC movie "My Name is Bill W.," which documented the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous

TV producing debut, as one of the executive producers of "Promise", a 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' presentation

Played the leading role in the CBS miniseries "Space" based on the novel by James A. Michener

Starred as a small town druggist romancing Sally Field in "Murphy's Romance"; earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor

Reunited with Julie Andrews for Blake Edwards’ gender bending "Victor/Victoria"

Reprised his earlier role on the TV Western series, "Bret Maverick" (NBC)

Played private investigator Jim Rockford on the popular TV drama, "The Rockford Files" (NBC); also directed several episodes

Played the title role in the TV Western, "Nichols" (NBC) an army deserter reluctantly turned sheriff

Starred in the comedy "Support Your Local Sheriff" by director Burt Kennedy; inspired a spin-off in the form of the less successful "Support Your Local Gunfighter" two years later (1971)

Starred as a most impressive Wyatt Earp in John Sturges' "Hour of the Gun"

Appeared in John Frankenheimer's racing drama, "Grand Prix"; Garner developed a real life passion for racing while filming

Appeared opposite Julie Andrews in "The Americanization of Emily" directed by Arthur Hiller

Cast opposite Doris Day in both "The Thrill Of It All" and "Move Over Darling"

Starred in John Sturges' World War II film "The Great Escape" opposite Steve McQueen

First leading role in a feature film, "Darby's Rangers"

Appeared with Marlon Brando in "Sayonara"

Starred as Bret Maverick on the popular TV Western, "Maverick" (ABC); also directed several episodes

Feature film acting debut in "Toward the Unknown"

First on-camera appearance, in the TV Western series "Cheyenne"

While under contract with Warner Bros. director David Butler cast him in “The Girl He Left Behind” which starred Natalie Wood and Tab Hunter

Hooked up with acquaintance from Hollywood High School, producer Paul Gregory; made Broadway debut in "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial," had a non-speaking role as a judge

Dropped out of Hollywood High after missing too many classes; enrolled in a trade school and played football for the Hollywood Boys Club (date approximate)

Returned to Norman, Oklahoma; tried high school again but dropped out at age 18 (date approximate)

Joined his father in Los Angeles; attended Hollywood High for a time, enjoying success as a football player (date approximate)

Joined the Merchant Marine at age 16 by lying about his age and obtaining his father's written permission

Left home when he was 14 (date approximate)

Returned to Norman OK; enrolled at the University of Oklahoma but hopes for the football team dashed by wartime knee injuries; dropped out after one semester

Served in the Army; received a minor wound his second day in Korea and received his first Purple Heart; later more severely wounded by shelling from an American Panther jet

Signed a contract with Warner Brothers in Hollywood paying him $150 a week

Took correspondence courses and earned his high school equivalency and two years' worth of college credit