Jack Garner, Older Brother of James Garner, Longtime Actor
In addition to roles in many other series, Garner appeared opposite his brother in more than 60 episodes of The Rockford Files.
Jack Edward Garner, who appeared in more than 60 episodes of The Rockford Files alongside his younger brother, series star James Garner, died September 13, 2012, near his home in Palm Springs. He was 85.
A former minor-league baseball player in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Garner was a singer in the house band at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles before turning to acting.
Garner began appearing in small roles on television in the late 1960s with guest roles on such series as The Green Hornet, The Doris Day Show, Daniel Boone, Love, American Style, Medical Center, Gunsmoke and The Bionic Woman.
He played a variety of small parts on The Rockford Files and later played Jack the Bartender on his brother's series Bret Maverick in 1981-82.
He returned to appear with his brother again in a series of Rockford Files made-for-TV movies from 1996-99.
Garner’s feature films included Wild Rovers and Sunset, the latter of which starred James Garner, as well as Maverick and My Fellow Americans, which also starred his brother.
Jack Edward Bumgarner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, together with his two brothers. After their mother died, the boys were shuttled around to different relatives while the senior Bumgarner got married a couple more times. Jack and Jim eventually moved to Los Angeles to catch up with their father.
Garner is survived by his wife, Betty; a daughter; and his youngest brother, James, whom he always called "Babe."