‘The Rockford Files’ 50th anniversary: Emmy-winning James Garner series broke all the rules for detective dramas

In an era of suave and well-dressed TV detectives, Jim Rockford is a wrongly convicted ex-con who specializes in cold cases and insurance scams, operates out of a ramshackle trailer and is as comfortable in a pair of worn jeans as he is a suit. He’s a handsome devil who prefers to talk his way out of trouble over physical violence whenever possible — although he’s rarely able to avoid trouble of the physical kind. The actor portraying this rascal had had another hit show playing a smooth-talking handsome fella. James Garner rose to fame as gambler Bret Maverick on “Maverick” in the 1950s before transitioning to starring roles in film, and it was the creator of that series who had an idea for a different spin on a detective series, leading to the development of “The Rockford Files,” which premiered September 13, 1974. Read on for more about “The Rockford Files” 50th anniversary.

Roy Huggins had been the creative mind behind such hit TV series as “Maverick,” “77 Sunset Strip” and “The Fugitive,” and he conceived of a series with a Maverick-type character as a P.I. in contemporary times. He teamed with another writer/creator who was a driving force behind many hits TV series from the 1970s through the 1990s, Stephen J. Cannell. The two men created Jim Rockford, who had served time in prison for an armed robbery he did not commit, and had been pardoned (NOT paroled) after five years. He lives in a worn-down mobile home on the beach, barely scraping by on his $200-a-day earnings from his detective work (when he is actually able to collect), and keeps his gun in a cookie jar. Garner is one of the few actors who could not only make this character believable, but could deliver him with such a charm and earthiness that made him lovable to both women and men — who tuned in for six seasons and eight made-for-TV films.

With its blend of humor, mystery and action, “TheRockford Files” had several ongoing gags and elements that set it apart from other detective series at the time, some of which Garner personally brought to the program. Garner’s love for auto racing bloomed during the production of his 1966 film “Grand Prix,” and he became involved in the sport in real life. The daredevil had fun with Rockford’s customized gold Firebird, making the show famous for his “Jim Rockford turn-around” during chase scenes. Although the outside of the car was the “Espirit” model, reflecting what P.I. Rockford could afford, on the inside it had the mechanisms of the higher tier “Formula” model to have enough horsepower for Garner to maneuver his tricky moves. The actor was supplied a new car each season until 1979, when Garner reportedly did not like the newest model.

The theme song proved as popular as the series, with Mike Post and Pete Carpenter composing a tune befitting the cool, laid-back Rockford. Post has many claims to TV-theme-song fame, but this score is his best, winning him a Grammy and landing him on Billboard’s Top 100 for four months, peaking at number 10.

Right before the theme song, another Rockford trait starts each episode. The detective had a device that was fairly “high-tech” at the time, although half a century later is nearly obsolete. Each episode began with his phone ringing, and answering machine clicking on, with the message, “This is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message. I’ll get back to you.” Then someone would leave a message, that rarely had to do with the episode, but sometimes referred back to an earlier storyline, or was a creditor looking for payment or a quirky reference that gives viewers an inside glimpse to Rockford’s past.

Garner had a solid supporting cast, with veteran character actor Noah Beery, Jr., portraying Rockford’s dad Rocky, a retired truck driver who is fairly easygoing – but gets a little grumpy when his son ropes him into helping with a case. Rockford also has a steady friend in the police department, with Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) having his back on many occasions. Several people had recurring or frequent appearances, with the Primetime Emmys honoring a few.

Garner had received his first Emmy nomination for Best Drama Actor in 1959, for “Maverick,” over a decade before his first of five nominations for his role as Jim Rockford in 1976; he won the award in 1977. Beery earned three bids in supporting, losing the last two in 1979 and 1980 to his co-star Stuart Margolin, who won back-to-back for his role as Angel Martin, a pal of Rockford’s from prison who often turns up and creates havoc in Rockford’s life. In 1979, Santos also garnered a nomination, with “The Rockford Files” claiming three of the five spots for Best Drama Supporting Actor.

One year after completing her EGOT with a win for her appearance on “The Muppet Show,” Rita Moreno nabbed another statue in 1978 for her guest appearance on “The Rockford Files.” Her role as Rita Capkovick garnered her a second nomination the following year, this time for Best Drama Actress. One year later, in 1980, Lauren Bacall and Marietta Hartley each received a bid for Best Drama Actress for their roles on the series.

Besides all the acting nominations and wins, “The Rockford Files” earned three consecutive nominations for Best Drama, beginning in 1978 for its fourth season, winning once on that first nomination. And although he didn’t receive any Emmy recognition for “The Rockford Files,” one of Tom Selleck’s earliest roles was as the more successful P.I. Lance White, whom Rockford both envies a bit and worries is too naive for his own good. Selleck would go on to portray the handsome and devil-may-care “Magnum, P.I.,” a role which earned him five nominations for Best Drama Actor, with a win in 1984. Selleck has often named Garner as a friend and mentor.

“The Rockford Files” was still going strong when Garner had to step back in the middle of Season Six. The actor had performed most of his stunts throughout the run of the series, and flare ups from knee problems from a past injury as well as a back injury from a “Rockford” stunt had put stress on Garner, and he ended up in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer. After doctors advised Garner to take time off, NBC cancelled “The Rockford Files,” claiming location shooting and high-end guests stars led the series to lose millions of dollars. Garner and his production team disputed this, claiming the studio was indulging in “creative accounting,” leading to a decade-long legal dispute with Universal Television. This was the second time Garner had run into legal issues with a studio, as he had triumphed in a legal dispute against Warner Bros. after leaving “Maverick,” with the actor claiming that his contract was void due to a writers strike. Garner won both cases, paving the way for actors and producers to receive fair wages and practices.

Once the legal disputes were settled and Garner’s health improved, eight “Rockford File” TV movies were made from 1994-1999, nearly 15 years after the last episode aired, with most of the original cast participating, except for Beery, who passed away in 1994.

Portrayed by one of the most likable actors ever, Jim Rockford was not only popular 50 years ago, but has continued to find new generations of fans in syndication and on streaming services, and never goes out of style. That’s precisely why the Emmy-winning James Garner series broke all the rules for detective dramas.

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