James Garner's Kids 'Hit the Jackpot' with Him after He Married Their Mom despite His Family's Objections

James Garner grew up knowing what sort of parent he wanted to become. The ladies loved him, but he chose only one woman with whom he built his family. Years after his demise, his kids still speak of his fond memories.

James Garner may have died a Hollywood icon, but he was not born into that life. Some may call him the modern-day Oliver Twist because of just how much he had to endure in his earliest years.

At age five, Garner lost his mother, so his relatives took care of him and his two brothers. The boys met their father, Weldon, three years later when he introduced them to their first stepmother.

Garner's first stepmother was like the popular stereotypes from fairy tales like Cinderella—a villain who would physically abuse them daily. The bitter woman beat them all, but Garner always seemed to be the one she hit the most.

His father was an upholsterer and carpet layer who worked hard; however, he had faults too. He was known as a rake and would always indulge in the bottle much too often. Garner once said:

"He would come home bombed and make us sing to him or get a whipping."

It looked a lot like bullying, making Garner develop an intolerance for bullies and empathy for those usually on the receiving end of their antics. That followed him into his adult life, and he would often exhibit it at work, always ready to defend anyone abused by people who outranked them.

He moved out of his home at 14 and started doing menial jobs. At 16, he lied about his age and joined the merchant marine, where he remained for months before leaving.

After that, he made his way to L.A. and enrolled at Hollywood High, where he transformed into a football hero who was only outgoing on the field. One of his childhood friends revealed that he was a sought-after guy back then, but he rarely dated.

While he lived, he did so in a way that provided transparency without compromising the safety of his girls.

It turned out that he had just been waiting for the right woman to waltz along, and when she did in the form of aspiring actress Lois Clarke in 1956, he jumped all in. The two ran into each other at a Democratic rally, and the connection was instantaneous.

Clarke had felt it too, and in the first couple of minutes they spent together, she confessed that she was a single mom whose daughter, Kimberly, had polio. It did not faze Garner, who continued to see her every day after that.

It only took two weeks for them to realize they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, and on August 17, 1956, two weeks after they initially met, the two were married.

They loved one another, and it did not matter that Garner's family had been against the wedding. This was because Clarke was raised as a Jew, while James was raised as a Methodist. This did not stop the couple from enjoying bliss after the wedding, and two years later, they welcomed their daughter Gigi.

Garner remained married to Clarke until his demise in 2014. His long-lasting marriage was not as easy as he made it look. He once compared marriage to being in an army, saying, "Everyone complains, but you'd be surprised at the large number of people who reenlist." He did not have to reenlist and once joked that the secret to their long-running marriage was learning to say "Yes, Dear."

Garner did many exploits as an actor on T.V., and his legacy lives on after his passing. Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking he lived his real life like his T.V. characters.

However, his daughter Gigi believes he was different. According to her, he was "funny" and "jovial, adding, "He was the funniest person I ever knew, so witty and so quick."

Garner Put Family over Everything

Garner had been through hell as a child but was different as a parent. It was essential to him to be a good father and husband. It would not have been shocking if he had become a terrible parent since those abused as kids often repeat the cycle; however, Garner destroyed the cycle and refused to let it burden him.

Garner was a great husband, unlike his dad, who had married several times. He was an even better father who was always ready to get on the floor to play with his kids. His daughter Gigi once admitted that she "really hit the jackpot" with him. She also said:

"To me, he was just my dad. He wasn't perfect — no one is — but he was a great dad, and we were always very close."

According to Gigi, her father enjoyed being at home watching sports and chilling with the dogs. He had other hobbies but none as important as spending time with his family.

While he lived, he did so in a way that provided transparency without compromising the safety of his girls. It was just another thing his family adored about him.

Garner's Demise

Garner lived a full life and passed away on July 19, 2014, from a severe heart attack. He was 86 at the time, and the news triggered an outpour of emotions from those whose lives he had touched in one way or the other.

Garner was a superstar loved for his values and talent, but for his daughter Gigi, he would always be just her father. Nevertheless, she is very grateful she could see him anytime she wants by watching his movies. Gigi counts herself lucky in this regard because as long as records of his work remain, she never has to worry about never seeing him again.