James Garner, the US star of hit TV series The Rockford Files
and Maverick and films including The Great Escape, has died aged 86.



Garner had suffered ill health since a severe stroke in 2008.

"Mr Garner died of natural causes," the West LA Division of the Los Angeles Police Department told the BBC.

His body has been released to his family by a doctor, the police spokesman said.

Garner's greatest successes were in the 70s and 80s as laconic private investigator Jim Rockford.

The actor was also Oscar-nominated for best actor in 1986 for the romantic comedy Murphy's Romance.

He won an Emmy in 1977 for The Rockford Files and a Screen Actor's Guild lifetime achievement award in 2005.

Garner also narrated and portrayed the older Ryan Gosling in the 2004 film, The Notebook.