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Were James Garner and Tom Selleck Friends In Real Life?
By Reagan Johnson
When it comes to Western icons, James Garner and Tom Selleck stand tall. Garner was the fast-talking gambler Bret Maverick and the no-nonsense lawman in Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), while Selleck made his mark in The Sacketts (1979) and Quigley Down Under (1990). But were these two Hollywood cowboys friends off-screen?
The answer is an enthusiastic yes!
Garner and Selleck shared a mutual respect that turned into a lasting friendship. Their most famous collaboration came in the hit series The Rockford Files (1974), where Selleck played Lance White, a picture-perfect private investigator who unknowingly frustrated Garner’s Jim Rockford. While they played rivals on-screen, behind the scenes, they got along famously.
Selleck often credited Garner as a mentor, admiring his effortless acting style and professionalism. The two later reunited in the 2003 Western Monte Walsh, proving their connection wasn’t just limited to detective dramas—it was forged in the saddle, too.
Whether riding the range or solving cases, Garner and Selleck were cut from the same cloth: Western stars who brought charm, grit, and authenticity to every role they played. Even though Garner died in 2014, their friendship remains a fan-favorite piece of Western cinematic history.
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