I think most everyone was saddened by the recent passing of James Garner. He had such an easy, friendly persona onscreen that seemed effortless but which belied how good an actor he really was.

I, for one, spent many hours as a child enjoying him in the Maverick TV series. And I watched a few of The Rockford Files episodes while dating a woman who was a big fan of that show.

But mainly I enjoyed his movies. Some of his best were: The Great Escape, The Americanization of Emily, 36 Hours, Grand Prix, Marlowe, Victor /Victoria, Murphy’s Romance, Space Cowboys, and The Notebook.

Two of my all-time favorite comedies featured him: Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) and Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971). If you haven’t seen any of the films I’ve listed, check if your local library has copies or can request one from another library. You’ll enjoy them all.

The Turner Classic Movies channel will feature an entire day of James Garner movies on Monday, July 28th, in honor of his passing. A few of the ones I’ve listed will be shown. So call in sick, then turn off your phone, lock the door and get the popcorn ready. You’re in for a treat.

By the way, my caricature of James Garner was created in Illustrator and tweaked in Photoshop. Hope you enjoy it. (Click on the image for a larger version.)