James Garner played the leading male role in The Great Escape .
He starred in several television series over more than five decades , including such popular roles as Bret Maverick in the 1950s western comedy series Maverick and Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files , and played supporting roles in more than 50 theatrical films , including The Great Escape ( 1963 ) , with Steve McQueen , Paddy Chayefsky 's The Americanization of Emily ( 1964 ) , Grand Prix , 1966 , Blake Edwards ' Victor/Victoria ( 1982 ) , Murphy 's Romance ( 1985 ) , for which he received an Academy Award nomination , Space Cowboys ( 2000 ) , with Clint Eastwood , and The Notebook ( 2004 ) .
James Garner