The Rockford Files is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974, and January 10, 1980, and has remained in syndication to the present day. Garner portrays Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford with Noah Beery, Jr., in the supporting role of his father, a retired truck driver nicknamed "Rocky".
The series debuted with a made-for-TV movie simply titled The Rockford Files. During the series run, there were a number of two-part episodes, as well as long (90 or 120 minutes) episodes that were split into two parts for syndication (and on later DVD releases). Filming stopped in the middle of the sixth season (1979–80), on the advice of star James Garner's doctor. Garner, who had filmed many of his own stunts, had injured his back and knees and also developed an ulcer.
In the 1990s, after the settlement of several long-running legal actions between Garner's Cherokee Productions and Universal Studios, Rockford returned to the air in a series of eight TV movies on CBS.
"Backlash of the Hunter", starring James Garner (as Jim Rockford), Joe Santos (as Dennis Becker), and Stuart Margolin (as Evelyn "Angel" Martin) all debut in their series roles. Also featured is Robert Donley as Joseph "Rocky" Rockford, a role that would be recast in the subsequent series. Lindsay Wagner plays the role of Sara Butler.
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
"The Rockford Files" syndicated version retitled "Backlash of the Hunter" | Richard T. Heffron | Story by : Roy Huggins Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | March 27, 1974 |
James Garner stars as Jim Rockford, and Noah Beery as his father Rocky. Joe Santos is a frequent recurring guest as Dennis Becker. Gretchen Corbett appears on a recurring basis as Beth. Stuart Margolin appears only twice as Evelyn "Angel" Martin, but his appearances will become more frequent as the series continues. Tom Atkins is seen on a recurring basis as Lt. Diehl.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "The Kirkoff Case" | Lou Antonio | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | September 13, 1974 |
2 | 2 | "The Dark and Bloody Ground" | Michael Schultz | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett | September 20, 1974 |
3 | 3 | "The Countess" | Russ Mayberry | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | September 27, 1974 |
4 | 4 | "Exit Prentiss Carr" | Alex Grasshoff | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett | October 4, 1974 |
5 | 5 | "Tall Woman in Red Wagon" | Jerry London | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | October 11, 1974 |
6 | 6 | "This Case Is Closed" | Bernard L. Kowalski | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | October 18, 1974 |
7 | 7 | ||||
8 | 8 | "The Big Ripoff" | Vincent McEveety | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Robert Hamner | October 25, 1974 |
9 | 9 | "Find Me If You Can" | Lawrence Doheny | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett | November 1, 1974 |
10 | 10 | "In Pursuit of Carol Thorne" | Charles S. Dubin | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | November 8, 1974 |
11 | 11 | "The Dexter Crisis" | Alex Grasshoff | Gloryette Clark | November 15, 1974 |
12 | 12 | "Caledonia – It's Worth a Fortune" | Stuart Margolin (Angel Martin) | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett | December 6, 1974 |
13 | 13 | "Profit and Loss: Part 1" | Lawrence Doheny | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | December 20, 1974 |
14 | 14 | "Profit and Loss: Part 2" | Lawrence Doheny | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | December 27, 1974 |
15 | 15 | "Aura Lee, Farewell" | Jackie Cooper | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Edward J. Lakso | January 3, 1975 |
16 | 16 | "Sleight of Hand" | William Wiard | Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell and Jo Swerling Jr. Based on the novel "Thin Air" by : Howard Browne | January 17, 1975 |
17 | 17 | "Counter Gambit" | Jackie Cooper | Howard Berk and Juanita Bartlett | January 24, 1975 |
18 | 18 | "Claire" | William Wiard | Edward J. Lakso and Stephen J. Cannell | January 31, 1975 |
19 | 19 | "Say Goodbye to Jennifer" | Jackie Cooper | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett and Rudolph Borchert | February 7, 1975 |
20 | 20 | "Charlie Harris at Large" | Russ Mayberry | Story by : John Thomas James Teleplay by : Zekial Marko | February 14, 1975 |
21 | 21 | "The Four Pound Brick" | Lawrence Doheny | Story by : Leigh Brackett Teleplay by : Leigh Brackett and Juanita Bartlett | February 21, 1975 |
22 | 22 | "Just by Accident" | Jerry London | Charles Sailor & Eric Kaldor | February 28, 1975 |
23 | 23 | "Roundabout" | Lou Antonio | Story by : Mitchell Lindemann Teleplay by : Mitchell Lindemann and Edward J. Lakso | March 7, 1975 |
Garner and Beery are billed as stars. Santos, Corbett, Margolin and Atkins are frequently recurring guests.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 1 | "The Aaron Ironwood School of Success" | Lou Antonio | Stephen J. Cannell | September 12, 1975 |
25 | 2 | "The Farnsworth Stratagem" | Lawrence Doheny | Juanita Bartlett | September 19, 1975 |
26 | 3 | "Gearjammers: Part 1" | William Wiard | Story by : Stephen J. Cannell Teleplay by : Don Carlos Dunaway | September 26, 1975 |
27 | 4 | "Gearjammers: Part 2" | William Wiard | Story by : Stephen J. Cannell Teleplay by : Don Carlos Dunaway | October 3, 1975 |
28 | 5 | "The Deep Blue Sleep" | William Wiard | Story by : Chas. Floyd Johnson Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett | October 10, 1975 |
29 | 6 | "The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company" | Lawrence Doheny | Juanita Bartlett | October 17, 1975 |
30 | 7 | "The Real Easy Red Dog" | Ivan Dixon | Stephen J. Cannell | October 31, 1975 |
31 | 8 | "Resurrection in Black and White" | Russ Mayberry | Juanita Bartlett and Stephen J. Cannell | November 7, 1975 |
32 | 9 | "Chicken Little Is a Little Chicken" | Lawrence Doheny | Stephen J. Cannell | November 14, 1975 |
33 | 10 | "2 Into 5.56 Won't Go" | Jeannot Szwarc | Stephen J. Cannell | November 21, 1975 |
34 | 11 | "Pastoria Prime Pick" | Lawrence Doheny | Gordon Dawson | November 28, 1975 |
35 | 12 | "The Reincarnation of Angie" | Jerry London | Stephen J. Cannell | December 5, 1975 |
36 | 13 | "The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club" | James Garner | Juanita Bartlett | December 19, 1975 |
37 | 14 | "The Hammer of C Block" | Jerry London | Gordon Dawson | January 9, 1976 |
38 | 15 | "The No-Cut Contract" | Lou Antonio | Stephen J. Cannell | January 16, 1976 |
39 | 16 | "A Portrait of Elizabeth" | Meta Rosenberg | Stephen J. Cannell | January 23, 1976 |
40 | 17 | "Joey Blue Eyes" | Lawrence Doheny | Walter Dallenbach | January 30, 1976 |
41 | 18 | "In Hazard" | Jackie Cooper | Juanita Bartlett | February 6, 1976 |
42 | 19 | "The Italian Bird Fiasco" | Jackie Cooper | Edward J. Lakso | February 13, 1976 |
43 | 20 | "Where's Houston?" | Lawrence Doheny | Don Carlos Dunaway | February 20, 1976 |
44 | 21 | "Foul on the First Play" | Lou Antonio | Story by : Chas. Floyd Johnson and Dorothy J. Bailey Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | March 12, 1976 |
45 | 22 | "A Bad Deal in the Valley" | Jerry London | Donald L. Gold & Lester Wm. Berke | March 19, 1976 |
Garner, Beery and Santos are the series stars. Corbett and Margolin are frequently recurring guests. James Luisi begins his recurring role as Lt. Chapman.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
46 | 1 | "The Fourth Man" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | September 24, 1976 |
47 | 2 | "The Oracle Wore a Cashmere Suit" | Russ Mayberry | David Chase | October 1, 1976 |
48 | 3 | "The Family Hour" | William Wiard | Gordon Dawson | October 8, 1976 |
49 | 4 | "Feeding Frenzy" | Russ Mayberry | Story by : Lester Wm. Berke & Donald L. Gold Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | October 15, 1976 |
50 | 5 | "Drought at Indianhead River" | Lawrence Doheny | Stephen J. Cannell | November 5, 1976 |
51 | 6 | "Coulter City Wildcat" | Russ Mayberry | Don Carlos Dunaway | November 12, 1976 |
52 | 7 | "So Help Me God" | Jeannot Szwarc | Juanita Bartlett | November 19, 1976 |
53 | 8 | "Rattlers' Class of '63" | Meta Rosenberg | David Chase | November 26, 1976 |
54 | 9 | "Return to the Thirty-Eighth Parallel" | Bruce Kessler | Walter Dallenbach | December 10, 1976 |
55 | 10 | "Piece Work" | Lawrence Doheny | Juanita Bartlett | December 17, 1976 |
56 | 11 | "The Trouble with Warren" | Christian I. Nyby II | Juanita Bartlett | December 24, 1976 |
57 | 12 | "There's One in Every Port" | Meta Rosenberg | Stephen J. Cannell | January 7, 1977 |
58 | 13 | "Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones, but Waterbury Will Bury You" | Jerry London | David Chase | January 14, 1977 |
59 | 14 | "The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 1" | Jerry London | Gordon Dawson | January 21, 1977 |
60 | 15 | "The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 2" | Jerry London | Gordon Dawson | January 28, 1977 |
61 | 16 | "The Becker Connection" | Reza Badiyi | Story by : Chas. Floyd Johnson and Ted Harris Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett | February 11, 1977 |
62 | 17 | "Just Another Polish Wedding" | William Wiard | Stephen J. Cannell | February 18, 1977 |
63 | 18 | "New Life, Old Dragons" | Jeannot Szwarc | Story by : Bernard Rollins & Leroy Robinson Teleplay by : David C. Taylor | February 25, 1977 |
64 | 19 | "To Protect and Serve: Part 1" | William Wiard | David Chase | March 11, 1977 |
65 | 20 | "To Protect and Serve: Part 2" | William Wiard | David Chase | March 18, 1977 |
66 | 21 | "Crack Back" | Reza Badiyi | Juanita Bartlett | March 25, 1977 |
67 | 22 | "Dirty Money, Black Light" | Stuart Margolin | David C. Taylor | April 1, 1977 |
Garner, Beery and Santos are the series stars. Corbett, Luisi and Margolin are frequently recurring guests, though Corbett leaves the show halfway through the season. Atkins returns for one episode.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
68 | 1 | "Beamer's Last Case" | Stephen J. Cannell | Story by : Booker Bradshaw & Calvin Kelly Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell | September 16, 1977 |
69 | 2 | "Trouble in Chapter 17" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | September 23, 1977 |
70 | 3 | "The Battle of Canoga Park" | Ivan Dixon | Juanita Bartlett | September 30, 1977 |
71 | 4 | "Second Chance" | Reza Badiyi | Gordon Dawson | October 14, 1977 |
72 | 5 | "The Dog and Pony Show" | Reza Badiyi | David Chase | October 21, 1977 |
73 | 6 | "Requiem for a Funny Box" | William Wiard | Story by : Burt Prelutsky Teleplay by : James Crocker | November 4, 1977 |
74 | 7 | "Quickie Nirvana" | Meta Rosenberg | David Chase | November 11, 1977 |
75 | 8 | "Irving the Explainer" | James Coburn | David Chase | November 18, 1977 |
76 | 9 | "The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls" | Ivan Dixon | William R. Stratton | November 25, 1977 |
77 | 10 | "Hotel of Fear" | Russ Mayberry | Juanita Bartlett | December 2, 1977 |
78 | 11 | "Forced Retirement" | Alexander Singer | William R. Stratton | December 9, 1977 |
79 | 12 | "The Queen of Peru" | Meta Rosenberg | David Chase | December 16, 1977 |
80 | 13 | "A Deadly Maze" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | December 23, 1977 |
81 | 14 | "The Attractive Nuisance" | Dana Elcar | Stephen J. Cannell | January 6, 1978 |
82 | 15 | "The Gang at Don's Drive-In" | Harry Falk | James Crocker | January 13, 1978 |
83 | 16 | "The Paper Palace" | Richard Crenna | Juanita Bartlett | January 20, 1978 |
84 | 17 | "Dwarf in a Helium Hat" | Reza Badiyi | Stephen J. Cannell and David Chase | January 27, 1978 |
85 | 18 | "South by Southeast" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | February 3, 1978 |
86 | 19 | "The Competitive Edge" | Harry Falk | Gordon Dawson | February 10, 1978 |
87 | 20 | "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall" | Ivan Dixon | Story by : Chas. Floyd Johnson and Maryann Rea Teleplay by : Stephen J. Cannell and David Chase | February 17, 1978 |
88 | 21 | "The House on Willis Avenue" | Hy Averback | Stephen J. Cannell | February 24, 1978 |
89 | 22 | ||||
Garner, Beery and Santos star. Luisi and Margolin are frequently recurring guests. Bo Hopkins is a recurring guest as John Cooper for this season only.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
90 | 1 | "Heartaches of a Fool" | William Wiard | Stephen J. Cannell | September 22, 1978 |
91 | 2 | "Rosendahl and Gilda Stern Are Dead" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | September 29, 1978 |
92 | 3 | "The Jersey Bounce" | William Wiard | Story by : Stephen J. Cannell, David Chase and Juanita Bartlett Teleplay by : David Chase | October 6, 1978 |
93 | 4 | "White on White and Nearly Perfect" | Stephen J. Cannell | Stephen J. Cannell | October 20, 1978 |
94 | 5 | "Kill the Messenger" | Ivan Dixon | Juanita Bartlett | October 27, 1978 |
95 | 6 | "A Good Clean Bust with Sequel Rights" | William Wiard | Rudolph Borchert | November 3, 1978 |
96 | 7 | "A Three-Day Affair with a Thirty-Day Escrow" | Ivan Dixon | David Chase | November 10, 1978 |
97 | 8 | "The Empty Frame" | Corey Allen | Stephen J. Cannell | November 17, 1978 |
98 | 9 | "Black Mirror" | Arnold Laven | David Chase | November 24, 1978 |
99 | 10 | ||||
100 | 11 | "A Fast Count" | Reza Badiyi | Gordon Dawson | December 1, 1978 |
101 | 12 | "Local Man Eaten by Newspaper" | Meta Rosenberg | Juanita Bartlett | December 8, 1978 |
102 | 13 | "If the French Heel is Back, Can the Nehru Jacket Be Far Behind?" | Ivan Dixon | Rudolph Borchert | January 5, 1979 |
103 | 14 | "The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar" | Ivan Dixon | Story by : Mann Rubin and Michael Wagner Teleplay by : Rogers Turrentine | January 12, 1979 |
104 | 15 | "Guilt" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | January 19, 1979 |
105 | 16 | "The Deuce" | Bernard McEveety | Gordon Dawson | January 26, 1979 |
106 | 17 | "The Man Who Saw the Alligators" | Corey Allen | David Chase | February 10, 1979 |
107 | 18 | "The Return of the Black Shadow" | William Wiard | Stephen J. Cannell | February 17, 1979 |
108 | 19 | "A Material Difference" | William Wiard | Rogers Turrentine | February 24, 1979 |
109 | 20 | "Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | March 3, 1979 |
110 | 21 | ||||
111 | 22 | "A Different Drummer" | Reza Badiyi | Rudolph Borchert | April 13, 1979 |
Garner, Beery and Santos star. Luisi and Margolin are frequently recurring guests.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
112 | 1 | "Paradise Cove" | Stephen J. Cannell | Stephen J. Cannell | September 28, 1979 |
113 | 2 | "Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs" | William Wiard | Juanita Bartlett | October 12, 1979 |
114 | 3 | ||||
115 | 4 | "Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die: Part 1" | William Wiard | David Chase | October 19, 1979 |
116 | 5 | "Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die: Part 2" | William Wiard | David Chase | October 26, 1979 |
117 | 6 | "Love Is the Word" "Some Things You Can Tell Yourself" | John Patterson | David Chase | November 9, 1979 |
118 | 7 | "Nice Guys Finish Dead" | John Patterson | Stephen J. Cannell | November 16, 1979 |
119 | 8 | "The Hawaiian Headache" | William Wiard | Stephen J. Cannell | November 23, 1979 |
120 | 9 | "No Fault Affair" | Corey Allen | Juanita Bartlett | November 30, 1979 |
121 | 10 | "The Big Cheese" | Joseph Pevney | Shel Willens | December 7, 1979 |
122 | 11 | "Just a Coupla Guys" | Ivan Dixon | David Chase | December 14, 1979 |
123 | 12 | "Deadlock in Parma" | Winrich Kolbe | Story by : Donald L. Gold & Lester Wm. Berke Teleplay by : Donald L. Gold & Lester Wm. Berke and Rudolph Borchert | January 10, 1980 |
The following four episodes were scripted and slated for production during season six. However, when Garner was forced to leave the series due to medical issues, the series was shut down and these episodes were never filmed.
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "I Still Love L.A." | James Whitmore Jr. | Juanita Bartlett | November 27, 1994 | |
In the midst of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Jim Rockford investigates a carjacking that led to murder. | |||||
2 | "A Blessing in Disguise" | Jeannot Szwarc | Stephen J. Cannell | May 14, 1995 | |
Jim Rockford helps an actress whose movie is being boycotted by Angel's church. | |||||
3 | "If the Frame Fits" | Jeannot Szwarc | Juanita Bartlett | January 14, 1996 | |
Jim Rockford works to clear his name in the murder of a P.I. with a bad reputation. | |||||
4 | "Godfather Knows Best" | Tony Wharmby | David Chase | February 18, 1996 | |
Lt. Becker's drifter son - whose godfather happens to be Jim Rockford - gets mixed up in the murder of a fashion model. | |||||
5 | "Friends and Foul Play" | Stuart Margolin | Stephen J. Cannell | April 25, 1996 | |
Jim Rockford investigates the murders of his friend Babs and her son by taking a criminal behavioral class. | |||||
6 | "Punishment and Crime" | David Chase | David Chase | September 18, 1996 | |
Jim Rockford gets involved with Russian mobsters. | |||||
7 | "Murder and Misdemeanors" | Tony Wharmby | Juanita Bartlett | November 21, 1997 | |
Jim Rockford struggles to deal with both a prostitute complaining about two Vice cops and his old cellmate's terminal illness. | |||||
8 | "If It Bleeds, It Leads" | Stuart Margolin | Story by : Stephen J. Cannell & Juanita Bartlett Teleplay by : Reuben Leder | April 20, 1999 | |
Jim Rockford helps his old friend Rita Capkovic when her husband is suspected of being the "Westside Rapist". |
James Scott Garner was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, which included The Great Escape (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy Chayefsky's The Americanization of Emily (1964) with Julie Andrews; Cash McCall (1960) with Natalie Wood; The Wheeler Dealers (1963) with Lee Remick; Darby's Rangers (1958) with Stuart Whitman; Roald Dahl's 36 Hours (1965) with Eva Marie Saint; as a Formula 1 racing star in Grand Prix (1966); Raymond Chandler's Marlowe (1969) with Bruce Lee; Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) with Walter Brennan; Blake Edwards's Victor/Victoria (1982) with Julie Andrews; and Murphy's Romance (1985) with Sally Field, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He also starred in several television series, including popular roles such as Bret Maverick in the ABC 1950s Western series Maverick and as Jim Rockford in the NBC 1970s private detective show, The Rockford Files.
The Rockford Files is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974, to January 10, 1980. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator Jim Rockford, with Noah Beery Jr. in the supporting role of his father, Joseph "Rocky" Rockford, a retired truck driver. The show was created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell. Huggins had created the American western TV show Maverick (1957–1962), which Garner also starred, and he wanted to create a similar show in a modern-day detective setting. In 2002, The Rockford Files was ranked No. 39 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
Stephen Joseph Cannell was an American television producer, writer, novelist, occasional actor, and founder of Cannell Entertainment and The Cannell Studios.
Glenn Corbett was an American actor in movies and television for more than 30 years. He came to national attention in the early 1960s, when he replaced George Maharis in the cast of the popular CBS adventure drama Route 66. He followed this with roles in high-profile films and television shows, including a guest role in the original Star Trek series, the daytime soap opera The Doctors, the primetime soap Dallas, and movies such as Chisum with John Wayne, as one of Jimmy Stewart's sons in Shenandoah, and the World War II epic Midway.
Lloyd Vernet "Beau" Bridges III is an American actor. He is a three-time Emmy, two-time Golden Globe and one-time Grammy Award winner, as well as a two-time Screen Actors Guild Award nominee. Bridges also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to television. He is the son of actor Lloyd Bridges and elder brother of fellow actor Jeff Bridges.
James Scott Rockford is a fictional character on the television series The Rockford Files. The character, played by James Garner, is a struggling private investigator operating in the greater Los Angeles area. Rockford is the principal character of the series, and Garner was the only actor to appear in every episode of the series.
Noah Lindsey Beery was an American actor often specializing in warm, friendly character roles similar to many portrayed by his Oscar-winning uncle, Wallace Beery. Unlike his more famous uncle, however, Beery Jr. seldom broke away from playing supporting roles. Active as an actor in films or television for well over half a century, he was best known for playing James Garner's character's father, Joseph "Rocky" Rockford, in the NBC television series The Rockford Files (1974–1980). His father, Noah Nicholas Beery enjoyed a similarly lengthy film career as an extremely prominent supporting actor in major films, although the elder Beery was also frequently a leading man during the silent film era.
Joe Santos was an American film and television actor, best known as Sgt. Dennis Becker, the friend of James Garner's character on the NBC crime drama The Rockford Files.
Mary Loretta Hartley is an American film and television actress. She is possibly best known for her roles in film as Elsa Knudsen in Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country (1962), Susan Clabon in Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie (1964), and Betty Lloyd in John Sturges' Marooned (1969). She has appeared extensively on television, with notable roles as Claire Morton in the ABC soap opera Peyton Place (1965), various roles in the CBS television western drama series Gunsmoke, and a series of commercials with James Garner in the 1970s and 1980s.
Stuart Margolin was an American film, theater, and television actor and director who won two Emmy Awards for playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin on the 1970s television series The Rockford Files. In 1973, he appeared on Gunsmoke as an outlaw. The next year he played an important role in Death Wish, giving Charles Bronson his first gun. In 1981, Margolin portrayed the character of Philo Sandeen in a recurring role as a Native American tracker in the 1981–1982 television series, Bret Maverick.
Bret Maverick is an American Western television series that starred James Garner in the title role, a professional poker player in the Old West. The series aired on NBC from December 1, 1981, to May 4, 1982. It is a sequel series to the 1957-1962 ABC series Maverick, as well the short-lived 1979 TV series Young Maverick, and that series' pilot, the 1978 TV movie The New Maverick, all of which starred Garner in the same role. In the two previous series, Bret Maverick had been a solitary rounder who travels from riverboat to saloon looking for high-stakes games. In this series, Maverick has settled down in Sweetwater, Arizona Territory, where he owns a ranch and is co-owner of the town's saloon. However, he is still always on the lookout for his next big score, and continues to gamble and practice various con games whenever the chance arises. The series was developed by Gordon Dawson, and produced by Garner's company Cherokee Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
The New Maverick is a 1978 American Western television film based on the 1957–1962 series Maverick starring James Garner as Bret Maverick. The New Maverick also stars Charles Frank as newcomer cousin Ben Maverick, Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick, and Susan Sullivan as Poker Alice Ivers.
Gretchen Hoyt Corbett is an American actress and theater director. She is primarily known for her roles in television, particularly as attorney Beth Davenport on the NBC series The Rockford Files, but has also had a prolific career as a stage actress on Broadway as well as in regional theater.
Nichols is an American Western television series starring James Garner. It was first broadcast in the United States on NBC during the 1971–72 season. Set in the fictional town of Nichols, Arizona, Nichols differed from traditional Western series. The time period was 1914, at the beginning of the motorized era and well after the decline of the "Old West". The main character, a sheriff also named Nichols, rode on a motorcycle and in an automobile rather than on the traditional horse. Nichols did not carry a firearm and was generally opposed to the use of violence to solve problems, preferring other means. Margot Kidder played his love interest, a barmaid named Ruth.
Tom Stone is a crime drama series that ran in Canada on CBC Television for two 13-episode seasons beginning on March 25, 2002. In the United States, the series is syndicated by PPI Releasing and Sony Pictures Television under the title Stone Undercover.
Juanita Bartlett was an American screenwriter and television producer best known for her work on The Rockford Files and The New Maverick, both starring James Garner. She also worked on Garner's series Nichols, as well as The Greatest American Hero, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and several others.
James A. Luisi was an American professional basketball player and actor. Luisi is perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Doug Chapman, the apoplectic foil to detective Jim Rockford, in a total of 23 episodes during Seasons 3 through 6 of the television series The Rockford Files.
Toma is an American crime drama television series that ran on ABC from March 21, 1973, to May 10, 1974. The series stars Tony Musante as the real-life detective Dave Toma, who was a master of disguise and undercover work. Susan Strasberg and Simon Oakland play his wife and his boss.
Some Blondes Are Dangerous is a 1937 American drama film directed by Milton Carruth and written by Lester Cole. It is based on the 1930 novel Iron Man by W. R. Burnett. The film stars Noah Beery Jr., William Gargan, Nan Grey, Dorothea Kent, Roland Drew, Lew Kelly, Polly Rowles and John Butler. The film was released on November 1, 1937, by Universal Pictures.