Told in the charming and self-deprecating style that has made him one of America’s most beloved actors, here is the real story behind Hollywood legend James Garner—from his Depression-era childhood to his colorful star-studded career. One of Hollywood’s great leading men, James Garner boasts a career that spans six decades on television and the silver screen. Whether known as Bret Maverick, Jim Rockford, or Noah Calhoun, Garner’s appeal transcends generations. Now, at last, he shares the extraordinary truth behind his rags-to-riches story.
After suffering physical abuse at the hands of his stepmother, Garner left home at fourteen. He became Oklahoma’s first draftee of the Korean War and was honored with two Purple Hearts before returning to the United States and settling in Los Angeles to become an actor. Working alongside some of the most renowned celebrities, including Julie Andrews, Marlon Brando, and Clint Eastwood, Garner became a star in his own right, despite struggles with stage fright and depression. In The Garner Files, this revered actor and quintessential self-made man recalls “trying to decipher” Audrey Hepburn, breaking Doris Day’s ribs, having a “heart-to-heart and eyeball-to-eyeball” with Steve McQueen, being “a card-carrying liberal—and proud of it,” and much more.
A page-turning blend of personal reflection and Hollywood glamour, The Garner Files emerges as a compelling portrait of a household name as he navigates the turmoil and unpredictability of a life on screen.
