Gerald McRaney Shares a Great Story about ‘Rockford Files’ Star James Garner | The Rich Eisen Show 

Hard to believe, as I only see James Garner as Rockford in my mind. Still young and handsome. Some people you never picture as ever dying.

Wow

James Garner ♥ Always remembered...

Was my dads favourite, in Rockford, and mine too. Always down to earth and never thought of himself as a “star” RIP Jim.

@@briansalisbury4764 You're exactly right. Angie Dickinson is in her 90's but no matter, I still 'see' her as Police Woman, utterly lovely!

Gerald Mccraney did a magnificent job on Longmire

Sounds like you will have to pass on the tradition when an up-and-comer reaches out to you 10-15 yrs from now and says, "hey, just wanted to let you know, I'm a big fan, and it is my pleasure to meet you". Then, you can spend a few minutes and tell them about Jim Garner, Gerald McRaney and how the tradition is being passed down from one decent, grounded person to another.

Thanks for sharing your story.

I read James Garner's biography shortly before he passed. And he wasn't your typical Hollywood buffoon, I agree.

I read Mr. Garner's autobiography as well Thomas! He has always been one of my favorite down to Earth persons of Tinsel Town! And I have always enjoyed Mr. McRaney as well! Both are class Acts! Cheers From Ohio

Ole Gerald was something to watch in “Longmire”, huh? In comparison with “Simon and Simon” and “Major Dad”, that is.

@@donaldhollums3278 I have always enjoyed Mr. McRaney's Resume of work! I loved his part in "House Of Cards"...he was absolutely in Rare Form with that character! I have to say, I did not watch "Major Dad" but I did enjoy "Simon To Simon" back in the day as it was great TV right there with "The Rockford Files" and Selleck's "Magnum PI" and many of those styles of shows. I must check out "Longmire" as well. Cheers Donald!

Thank you Gerald for sharing that story.

Very well said..........You could just tell he was a naturally good guy..........RIP

I agree. Was always one of my favorites. Just a quiet dignity he exuded.

I bet he was happy to leave the executive in the waiting room for a while too.

And evidently it drove Steve McQueen and his wife insane. LOL if you've ever seen the anniversary printing of the Great escape they have interviews in it. In one of the interviews Steve McQueen's wife explains how James Gardner tried to steal Steve's movie. LOL

A lot of those actors from that time period were combat veterans. James Garner recieved 2 Purple Hearts from serving in the Korean War.

Well he did hold his own in a movie with Steve McQueen who was the coolest guy ever

@@daleferber2096 Steve McQueen was prima donna. He thought "The Great Escape" was "his movie". It was an ensemble cast, but one could say that it was really Richard Attenborough's movie. It was just that Steve McQueen was such a big star that they needed him on the poster to promote the movie.

That's so cool ! I never got to meet the man...but he always seemed to be so down to earth and appreciative of where he was and how he got there never thinking he was better than others ! I have a story for you. My best friend and I have been friends for over 40 years, we were in a Heavy Metal band, I was lead singer, he was my guitarist. Neither of us were ever big fans of country...but in the late 1990's he turned me on to one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard called "Erase the Miles" it's about how tough it is to be in a band in a long term relationship which both me and my friend were going thru at the time. The shock was this song was BLUE GRASS ! We enjoyed the rest of the album as well, it was by a bluegrass group called IIIrd Tyme Out ( youtube it, it will make you cry ) anyway, fast forward to last year. My friend called me and said....next weekend we're all ( Me & my Wife Sarah, He and his wife Erica ) we're going to Sparta, TN. to the Earl Scruggs Bluegrass Festival to see IIrd Tyme Out. Now this festival had a Classic Car Show and continious Bluegrass music from Noon to midnight for 3 days. After IIrd Tyme Out played. I approached a Gentleman sitting close to the stage that I assumed was security and told him. "Me, my wife, my best friend and his wife are HUGE fans, we drove over 6 hours from Kentucky just to come and see IIIrd Tyme Out do Across the Miles...that song means a lot to all of us. We're not trying to get autographs or anything...I know the lead singer Russell Moore wrote it and we just want to let him know what that song means to us...can we get a minute alone and meet him ?" He replied "Why sure you can...I guess you think I'm management but I'm actually the Mayor and I know Russell...he'll wanna meet you guys. Sure enough, several minutes later her comes the whole group and Russell comes up to me and says "I'm bettin' y'all are the Kentuckians ?" I replied " Yes ! " And started telling him about how that song really touched us all..and this man who is a NINE time Grammy winner ( "Bluegrass Vocalist of the Year" ) was so humble and so kind...he spoke with us all for over and hour and then said " Hang on for just a minute, I'll be right back !" He stepped behind the stage and came out with 4 T shirts and 4 CD's for us. He said "I know you said you didn't come for for these but it's my treat...let's get some selfies and then we gotta head out ! The whole group autographed the T shirts, we took selfies and Russell shook our hands again and said " So glad to meet y'all, we'll be up in Florence, KY in Feb. hope y'all can come, we appreciate folks like you. God bless ya !" I was awestruck...I have NEVER met anyone that talented that was THAT humble ! It was almost as if we were the Grammy winners and HE was the fan...unbelievably nice guy !

Very cool.

SR ....................and a WW2 merchant marine , and Korean war double Purple Heart recipient and Army Hero .

@@keithsowder275 Wow, going to RU-vid to see them! TY!

Bought their CD. What voices!!

John, the episodes with Tom Selleck were so funny. As Lance White, he really annoyed Jim and was totally clueless about it.

@@AzucaNegra16 They sure were. Gut busting funny.

@@AzucaNegra16 Yeah lol, Lance would say things like 'things just always work out Jim', because they did for him of course lol

@@blindriv3r yep, and he was clueless to how much he annoyed Jim.

@@AzucaNegra16 Those episodes are classics. If Lance White is around, Rockfish is gonna have a bad day. Yes, that was a Gandy Fitch reference.

DINFOS trained warrior

That's where I first saw this man

You forgot, "...DINFOS, here today..." -5 for clarity.

😂 That. is. amazing.

That is hilarious!

😂

Totally agree!!!

It is the quintessential and best show of the 70's , it just makes you happy to watch it and remember.

1970s Los Angeles was so quaint. Best theme song ever.

The Rockford Files re-runs came on at 3:00pm every weekday. I watched every episode at least twice. Today's crop of movie writers should go to school on how well that show was witten.

Jimmy!

That’s so very cool!

I think Garner, and many other great stars, were from a generation who had a real sense of perspective about what was real, what mattered, and what was just "Hollywood" nonsense. Younger actors have had a very different experience of the world than have the men and women who lived through the depression and the war. Younger actors tend to believe their own publicity: They are Very Important People doing Very Important Stuff.

Couldn't have said it better. All three were atypical of Hollywood (present tense for Clint) and can be appreciated for their character as well as their work.

Likewise Henry Fonda (Democrat) and Jimmy Stewart (Republican), who were the best of friends going back to their NYC days.

Democrats from Oklahoma, like Garner, seem different from other places. They often vote Republican for president.

@@michaeldupree2502 not Garner, read up in him. He couldn’t stand that evil dimwit Ronald Reagan.

@@michaeldupree2502 It's called being a "Moderate" or Independent thinker. It seems to be nealey a lost Art today.

Fully agreed. Two of my favorites.

The words I was searching for. Thank You!!

Yes, coincidence is a better word.

Agree 100%, as a kid in the 70s Rockford files was a regular. Then to was Simon & Simon after. McRaney ranks right up there with Garner imo, he can really flesh out a bad guy character all the way to a favorite, beloved family member. While not his best known, Jericho & Longmire both couldn't have been as good without him.

You're absolutely right!

If only most of yesteryear’s generation could have a hint of James Garner’s core values. By the way, ever hear of an apostrophe??

look up the full interview. it was mentioned. love that show so much for its "B" grade fun!!

I just mentioned it lol. Great 👍 show

full interview yes. enjoyed Simon and Simon

@@stephenmccollum1391 me 2

so did I that show was the best at the time

I loved that show too.

A favorite show when I was a kid! ❤

& I remember & loved Rockford Files too, loved that show & his car..

Rick and his badass truck!!!!

Did you know Beery Jr. didn't play his Dad in the first episode ? The first episode was actually a 2 parter and an actor named Robert Donley played "Rocky" ! But Beery Jr. WAS "Rocky"! You're right his chemistry with Garner was so believable !

Can still hear the theme song

Yes, loved him in Jericho too! Another show that should have went much higher places...

I wish Deadwood would’ve had a longer run and a better ending.

@@Gr8Layks Me as well. Even when they made the movie years later, it still left me with more questions than answers.

I loved him in Designing Women! I could blissfully listen to Mr McRaney read the telephone book…👍☺🥰

Dash Goff- one of the best guest characters on that show. @@brmam1385

Me, too. Friday nights with my Dad as a kid...great memories. Got my wife into Jimmy & the gang now!

2 guys among Stephen J. Cannell's stable of actors. Of course, Gerald was busy with Simon & Simon, otherwise, he could've appeared on Hunter to put that overbearing Bernie Terwilleger in his place!!!

Me, too. I haven't seen it in awhile.

Played a great bad guy in Longmire…always liked Mr McRaney in Simon &Simon, but he showed a lot of his abilities in Longmire in being capable of being a true bad guy…

Gerald played a bad guy in the CHiPs episode, "Aweigh We Go"- trapped after the truck they hijacked jackknifed on a bridge and having to surrender to Ponch and Jon, immediately, having nowhere to run!!!

Gerald made that show for me.

Rick and AJ! Great PI show of the 80s.

I always wanted that Dodge truck as a teen

Yep and Major Dad, Gerald McRaney's follow-up to Simon & Simon!!!

Omg when i saw this thats the first show i though of but couldn’t think the name of the show.

Also try and find the movie Garner made were he was kidnapped by the Germans who messed with his memories to try and get DDay plans from him.. It also stared the girl from "North by Northwest" as a Jewish girl pretending to be a US Nurse..

Also Breathing Lessons with Joanne Woodward and Murphy's Romance with Sally Field. I loved anything he was in.

Very true. He provided an instant or additional stamp of quality to any show he appeared in.

EB: Garner started out modeling swim suits.

What a great story ❤️

Thanks for that! I just picked it up because of your recommendation. Can’t wait to start reading it.

Angel was the very best

Plus he married a hot babe in 1989 Delta Burke in her time a hottie

Probably one of the better iterations of Hearst I've seen.

@@jamesthompson8008 who did other versions ?

Which movie is the swimming pool scene in?