lifestyle MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014 FEATURES Movie, TV legend James Garner dies ctor James Garner, whose whimsical ings-rich Sunday night, scheduled “Maverick” style in the 1950s TV Western against CBS’s powerhouse “The Ed Sullivan A“Maverick” led to a stellar career in TV Show” and NBC’s “The Steve Allen Show.” and films such as “The Rockford Files” and his “Maverick” soon outpolled them both. Oscar-nominated “Murphy’s Romance,” has At a time when the networks were crowd- died, police said. He was 86. He was found ed with hard-eyed, traditional Western heroes, dead of natural causes at his home in the Bret Maverick provided a fresh breath of air. Brentwood area of Los Angeles Saturday With his sardonic tone and his eagerness to evening, Los Angeles police officer Alonzo talk his way out of a squabble rather than pull Iniquez said early yesterday. Police responded out his six-shooter, the con-artist Westerner to a call around 8 pm PDT and confirmed seemed to scoff at the genre’s values. After a Garner’s identity from family members, couple of years, Garner felt the series was los- Iniquez told The Associated Press. ing its creative edge, and he found a legal There was no immediate word on a more loophole to escape his contract in 1960. specific cause of death. Garner had suffered a stroke in May 2008, just weeks after his 80th Versatility in comedies birthday. Although he was adept at drama and His first film after “Maverick” established action, Garner was best known for his low-key, him as a movie actor. It was “The Children’s wisecracking style, especially with his hit TV Hour,” William Wyler’s remake of Lillian series, “Maverick” and “The Rockford Files.” His Hellman’s lesbian drama that co-starred quick-witted avoidance of conflict provided a Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine. He fol- refreshingly new take on the American hero, contrasting with the steely heroics of John Wayne and the fast trigger of Clint Eastwood. Well into his 70s, the handsome Oklahoman remained active in both TV and film. In 2002, he was Sandra Bullock’s father in the film “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” The following year, he joined the James Garner, who will accept the 41st annual life achievement award, arrives with his family including his wife Lois Clarke, far left, for the 11th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in this Saturday, Feb 5, 2005 file photo taken in Los Angeles. — AP photos Promise,” “My Name Is Bill W.,” “The Streets of Laredo” and “One Special Night.” Wonderful offers He said he learned about acting while play- ing a non-speaking role as a Navy juror in the 1954 Broadway hit play “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” starring Henry Fonda and Lloyd Nolan. “I had no lines, and I had trouble staying awake,” Actor James Garner is shown in character Garner recalled. After “Caine Mutiny,” Garner as ‘Bret Maverick’ on the set of his televi- found work in Hollywood as a bit player in the sion show, in this April 13, 1982 file photo “Cheyenne” TV series. Warner Bros gave him a taken in Los Angeles, Calif. screen test and signed him to a seven-year con- tract starting at $200 a week. The studio cast him in supporting roles in three minor films, followed by the important James Garner holds the 41st annual life break as Marlon Brando’s sidekick in “Sayonara.” achievement award backstage at the 11th When Charlton Heston declined a war movie, annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in this “Darby’s Rangers,” because of a money dispute, Saturday, Feb 5, 2005 file photo taken in Garner assumed the role. “Maverick,” which co- starred Jack Kelly as brother Bart Maverick, Los Angeles. A file photo taken on September 2, 2000 shows US actor James Garner waving to the press made its debut on Sept 22, 1957. Garner was during the 26th Deauville Festival of American Cinema before the screening of “Space cast of “8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My born James Scott Bumgarner (some references Cowboys”. Teenage Daughter,” playing the grandfather say Baumgarner) in Norman, Okla. His mother on the sitcom after star John Ritter, who comedies with Doris Day - “The Thrill of It All” role. His only Oscar nomination came for the died when he was 5, and friends and relatives played the father, died during the show’s sec- and “Move Over Darling.” 1985 “Murphy’s Romance,” a comedy about a cared for him and his two brothers for a time ond season. When he received the Screen Throughout his long film career, Garner small-town love relationship in which he co- while his father was to California. In 1957, Garner Actors Guild’s lifetime achievement award in demonstrated his versatility in comedies (“The starred with Sally Field. married TV actress Lois Clarke, and the union pre- 2005, he quipped, “I’m not at all sure how I got Art of Love,” “A Man Could Get Killed,” “Skin His favorite film, though, was the cynical vailed despite some stormy patches. She had a here.” But in his 2011 memoir, “The Garner Actor James Garner, smiles as he holds up Game”), suspense (“36 Hours,” “They Only Kill 1964 war drama “The Americanization of daughter Kimberly from a previous marriage, and Files,” he provided some amusing and enlight- the Purple Heart medal presented to him in Their Masters,” “Marlowe”), Westerns (“Duel at Emily,” which co-starred Julie Andrews. Unlike the Garners had another daughter, Gretta Scott. In ening clues, including his penchant for bluntly a ceremony in this Monday, Jan 24, 1983 Diablo,” “Hour of the Gun,” “Support Your Local most film stars, Garner made repeated returns the late 1990s, the Garners built a 12,000-square- expressed opinions and a practice for decking file photo taken Los Angeles, Calif. Gunfighter”). In the 1980s and 1990s, when to television. “Nichols” (1971-72) and “Bret foot house on a 400-acre ranch north of Santa people who said something nasty to his face - most stars his age were considered over the Maverick” (1981-82) were short-lived, but “The Barbara. “My wife and I felt ... we’d just watch the including an obnoxious fan and an abusive lowed in a successful comedy with Kim Novak, hill, Garner’s career remained strong. He Rockford Files” (1974-80) proved a solid hit, sunset from the front porch,” Garner said in 2000. stepmother. They all deserved it, Garner “Boys Night Out,” and then fully established his played a supporting role as a marshal in the bringing him an Emmy. Among his notable TV “But then the phone started ringing with all these declared in his book. It was in 1957 when the box-office appeal with the 1963 blockbuster 1994 “Maverick,” a big-screen return to the TV movies: “Barbarians at the Gate” (as tycoon F. wonderful offers, and we decided, ‘Heck, let’s stay ABC network, desperate to compete on rat- war drama “The Great Escape” and two smash series with Mel Gibson in Garner’s old title Ross Johnson), “Breathing Lessons,” “The in the business for a while.’”—AP ‘Ninja Warrior’ competitor wants to inspire others YouTube video that shows Kacy Catanzaro, a 5-foot, 100-pound gymnast, breezing through an obstacle course where others twice Aher size often fail has garnered more than 6 million views since she competed in the “American Ninja Warriors” TV show. But being the first woman to complete one of the show’s most grueling courses is not enough for her. Catanzaro tells The Associated Press she wants to inspire women and young people to get off the couch and start getting fit. The show, a remake of a Japanese program called “Sasuke,” airs on Mondays on NBC and is repeated the next day on Esquire Network. NBC has picked up the show for a seventh season. Catanzaro qualified earlier this week in Dallas for the final round in Las Vegas. That’s set to air in August. For her, being strong enough to effortlessly scale the 14-foot- high curved “warp wall” has meant a lifetime of sacrifice. “I grew up doing gymnastics. It requires discipline, eating right, getting sleep, lots of sacri- fice. But the pros outweigh the sacrifice,” she said. Catanzaro said she will submit a new application and video to be con- sidered for next season as she did this year. “But I’m pretty sure they’ll let me back in,” she said. As for plans beyond next year, she said, she wants Colombian to spread the word about the benefits of fitness. “It’s nice to look good singer Shakira and have a great body, but you enjoy your life so much more if you are performs fit,” she said. “That is the message I definitely want to get out.” The former during a closing collegiate gymnast said she hopes to become a motivational speaker in ceremony ahead of schools to encourage young people. For now, Catanzaro and her the final football boyfriend Brent Steffensen - who is also one of the star contestants in the match between show - are part of the traveling obstacle course Alpha Warrior, which vis- Germany and its cities across the US. — AP Argentina for the FIFA World Cup at The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on July 13, 2014. — AFP Stats don’t lie: Shakira most ‘liked’ pop star on Facebook olombian pop star Shakira has become the first during the World Cup, sharing a host of pictures from Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg person to reach more than 100 million fans on behind the scenes.