Series Description

The Bret Maverick TV show was a 60 minute western action series on NBC and a "spin-off" of the series, "Maverick (1957)" which had ended nearly 20 years earlier! James Garner returned in his role as Bret Maverick who had "matured" considerably during that period of time. No longer the "footloose and fancy free" gambler, he was now the owner of a ranch. He was also a civic leader in his community who was trying to civilize his small portion of the west. Of course, it took some shoot-outs and fist-fights to accomplish that goal!

Bret Maverick Cast

James Garner .... Bret Maverick
Ed Bruce .... Tom Guthrie
Stuart Margolin .... Philo Sandine
Darleen Carr .... Mary Lou Springer
Richard Hamilton .... Cy Whittaker
David Knell .... Rodney Catlow
John Shearin .... Sheriff Mitchell Dowd
Jack Garner .... Jack The Bartender
Ramon Bieri .... Elijah Crow
Luis Delgado .... Shifty Delgrado
Marj Dusay .... Kate Hanrahan
Tommy Bush .... Deputy Sturgess
Priscilla Morrill .... Mrs. Springer

Bret Maverick Trivia

Bret Maverick's ranch was called the "Lazy Ace" and was located on the outskirts of a town called "Sweetwater" located in the Arizona Territory during the late 1880s. Bret was also the partial owner of the "Red Ox Saloon" in town. Bret Maverick was nominated for 2 Emmys and 1 Golden Globe in 1982.

James Garner's birth name was James Scott Bumgarner. Before becoming an actor, he worked at a gas station and as a model. He is part Cherokee Indian! He had quintuple bypass surgery in 1988 and had both knees replaced in 2000. In 1990, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Jack Garner is James Garner's brother. He appeared on brother James' series, "The Rockford Files (1974)" as Captain McEnroe and in other bit parts.

Bret Maverick Theme Song

Lyrics and Music By: "Ed Bruce", "Glenn Ray" and "Patsy Bruce"

Performed By: "Ed Bruce" and "James Garner"

Too many dusty trailtowns, too few and far between
Tired saloons with sawdust-covered floors
Too many one more showdowns and aces over queens
Winning's just a way of keeping score

My ole pappy always told me your fate is in your hand
Stand pat or draw, it's yours to choose
Luck don't have a thing to do with how you play the game
Maverick didn't come here to lose
Maverick didn't come here to lose

No one recalls the first hand, they all know who won the last
And every man must find his place in time
If all a man can count on is one day pushing up the grass
When I do I lay you odds that grass is mine

My ole pappy always told me your fate is in your hand
Stand pat or draw, it's yours to choose
Luck don't have a thing to do with how you play the game
Maverick didn't come here to lose
Maverick didn't come here to lose

I 'm tired of leaving nothing, No one ever knows you're gone
Someone's always there to take your seat
I wonder how it feels to hear someone say "glad your home"
Or greet the same ole friends on familiar street

My ole pappy always told me your fate is in your hand
Stand pat or draw, it's yours to choose
Luck don't have a thing to do with how you play the game
Maverick didn't come here to lose
Maverick didn't come here to lose