Much admired and handsome actor James Garner was a Hollywood good guy who took a heartbreaking secret to his grave.
Garner – who won millions of fans in the ’50s as TV’s “Maverick” and then again in the ’70s on “The Rockford Files” – was found dead at his Los Angeles home on July 19 at age 86.
But for several years, his ready smile had hidden a long flirtation with death, The National ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.
“More than once in his life, Jim thought about killing himself,” disclosed a close friend. “He suffered bouts of depression, which would cripple him.”
The popular star admitted to smoking marijuana to ease his sadness and once confessed, “I’ve had times when I couldn’t make a decision whether to take a shower or a bath so I didn’t do either and just sat there – for days.”