James Garner and Lois Clarke: A Love Story Defying Doubt
Love has a mysterious way of weaving its threads into the fabric of our lives, often defying conventional norms and expectations.
“None of the critics thought Lois and I were a good team. We saw as strengths what they saw as weaknesses.”
When James Garner first laid eyes on Lois Clark, it was love at first sight.
Every love story is unique. Some people hunt for their life partner for years. Some people are lucky enough to discover their lifelong friends instantly.
They initially bonded over a friend’s barbecue.
He knew she was the one.
They went out right after he asked her out for dinner.
James’ 2012 memoir included the following narration:
At Adlai Stevenson’s barbecue for the President on August 1, 1956, I experienced my first and finally true love. It was there that I first met Lois Clarke. It was love at first sight. lightning. She was just as sweet and nice – I found myself in the pool with the kids at a BBQ.
They spent two weeks together.
And eventually, they got married after that.
On August 17, 1956, the marriage took place in a courtroom in Beverly Hills.
Almost everyone was against their union.
The first person to disagree with him was his family.
The two shared virtually little with them. Without any similarity, their relationship would probably fail and cause them grief.
First, Lois was Jewish and James was Methodist. She was from Los Angeles while he was from Oklahoma. James also married a second time.
At six feet three inches, James was taller than Lois. He was more outgoing and she liked to spend time at home. She was a dreamer, while he considered himself a realist.
None of these things mattered to the pair.
None of the doubters considered that Lois and I balanced each other out, he said. We saw as strengths what they perceived as weaknesses.
They created their family collectively.
Lois got married and they were the parents of a girl.
Her first name was Gigi.
Kim, Lois’ first child, was later adopted by James, creating a small but happy family.
The couple’s marriage was far from ideal.
They experienced their fair share of conflicts and difficulties like most couples.
In fact, they had a three-month separation in 1970.
James has consistently disputed reports that he saw a guest star on Rockford’s show.
“Lois and I never had any serious trouble,” he claimed. Ninety-nine percent of the problem was caused by Rockford’s demands. It wasn’t us; it was me who needed to go collect my thoughts.
James died aged 86 of natural causes while they were still together.
Before the wedding, they only knew each other for 14 days, yet they managed to overcome the difficulties that arose.
Their story shows that even when two people seem at odds with each other, love finds a way to bring them together.
Their commitment to each other remained unwavering throughout the years, culminating in a union that exceeded the expectations of many. Their journey together spanned nearly six decades of shared experiences, laughter, tears, and unspoken understanding. It was a partnership that transcended time and a love that grew stronger every day.