Why James Garner Quit His Hit '50s Western Series Maverick After Just Three Seasons
James Garner became a household name in the 1950s thanks to Maverick, but when push came to shove, Garner had to be a maverick, too, and leave the TV series.
James Garner's departure from the hit 1957 Western series, Maverick, after just three seasons was due to a breach of contract lawsuit. The actor, known for his iconic role as Bret Maverick, filed the lawsuit as a result of the 1960 entertainment industry strikes, which drastically affected the work environment on the beloved show.
Garner explained that he sued the studio for breach of contract back in 2005, but the studio was upset with him due to his comments about being under contract for Warner Bros. That led to a court battle and the successful termination of his contract. Garner claimed he won the lawsuit and opted not to renegotiate or resign a contract, but to leave the show entirely, stating he wanted to be in control of his career.
Despite leaving behind a milestone role, Garner went on to have a second iconic role as Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files, which aired in 1974.
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