Did James Garner play any characters who weren’t sort of con artists?

Did James Garner play any characters who weren’t sort of con artists? Yes, James Garner is often remembered for playing charming, smooth-talking characters who had a bit of a con artist vibe, especially in roles like Bret Maverick in Maverick and Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files. However, Garner also portrayed characters who were not con artists, showing his range as an actor.

Here are a few notable examples:

Lt. Commander Charles E. Madison in Emily’s Americanization (1964)

Garner plays a cynical, but ultimately moral and sensitive, U.S. naval officer during World War II. His character deals with the absurdities of war rather than engaging in deceit or schemes.

Murphy Jones in Murphy’s Romance (1985)

In this romantic comedy, Garner’s character is a straightforward, kind-hearted small-town druggist who falls in love with a younger woman (played by Sally Field). There’s nothing con-artist-like about him here—he’s honest and earnest.

Maverick Cooper in Space Cowboys (2000)

Garner plays an astronaut in this Clint Eastwood-directed movie about retired astronauts called back to service. His character is heroic and straightforward.

Noah Calhoun (Older Version) in The Notebook (2004)

In this emotional romance, Garner plays an older version of Ryan Gosling’s character. His portrayal is of a devoted, loving man taking care of his ailing wife.

In addition to these roles, Garner also played numerous heroic or morally upright characters throughout his career, particularly in Westerns and military-themed films. While his natural charisma often lent itself to con man roles, he certainly wasn’t typecast and demonstrated considerable versatility.