In 2011, actor James Garner published his memoir "The Garner Files". Garner's early life is the most startling: his mother died when he was four, his stepmother physically abused him for years, his father abandoned the family when Garner was just fourteen. He did odd jobs, slept at friends' houses, and generally drifted without purpose until he was drafted during the Korean War.
Garner never took acting classes or attended film school. He says his life experiences were the best training for his screen performances - an insight with which I agree.
Garner isn't a writer and doesn't pretend to be. Jon Winokur is credited as the co-writer and the style is conversational - Garner just riffing on his life. Along the way, he does reveal some fun film trivia. Part of his costume for the television series "Maverick" came from Errol Flynn's old wardrobe. The book is a quick read and recommended for any Garner fan.
