One of the most iconic actors of the TV generation, James Garner, died yesterday.

Though Garner did a number of movies …

… Garner was best known for two TV roles — Western card sharp Bret Maverick …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5L5T0GH078

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-fAhzUTvr8

… and private investigator Jim Rockford:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgWb2uk8NS4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3y87whyF4

Maverick and Rockford weren’t precisely the same role, but they were similar characters. Both were charming conflict-averse con men. “Maverick” didn’t have regular secondary roles like “Rockford,” other than Bret’s brother, Bart. (Garner and Jack Kelly alternated starring in episodes, so there were few episodes with Bret and Bart.)

Jim Rockford was a private eye who was sort of the anti-private eye, beginning with his past as a pardoned convict. He was as honest as a con man. He tried to avoid violence, not because he was a pacifist but because he didn’t want to get hurt himself. He lived in a house trailer, occasionally ran out of money, and had a few disreputable friends. On the other hand, he had a great car (one of the two requirements for my watching a show in the ’70s), and he sometimes got (at least until the next episode) the girl.

Garner, meanwhile, wasn’t merely a great actor; he lived the kind of life you’d like (but rarely get) celebrities to live. He served his country in the Korean War. He married one woman, and stayed married to her. His political views were on the liberal side, but unlike the liberal actors and celebrities of today, he didn’t feel the need to constantly blare his views at people who didn’t necessarily want to hear them. (For one thing, maybe he was smart enough to realize that not all the people watching him shared his views.)

And Garner could certainly drive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pruex3pgX1g