James Garner, Actor in Maverick and The Rockford Files, Dies at 86 Dayna Evans · 07/20/14 09:10AM Handsome, sharp leading actor James Garner, who was best known for his roles in the 1950s western Maverick and as private investigator Jim Rockford on The Rockford Files, passed away in his California home on Saturday night, the LAPD confirms.