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.

If you would like to share your thoughts about Bret Maverick or the earlier Maverick series with other fans or just see what others are saying, you're welcome to join in at our Maverick Forum.

Bret Maverick Theme Song Lyrics:

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

Episodes List With Original Air Dates

Bret Maverick - The First And Only Season

The Lazy Ace - Part 1 (12/1/1981)
The Lazy Ace - Part 2 (12/1/1981)
Welcome To Sweetwater (12/8/1981)
Anything For A Friend (12/15/1981)
The Yellow Rose (12/22/1981)
Horse Of Yet Another Color (1/5/1982)
Dateline: Sweetwater (1/12/1982)
The Mayflower Women's Historical Society (2/2/1982)
Hallie (2/9/1982)
The Ballad Of Bret Maverick (2/16/1982)
A Night At The Red Ox (2/23/1982)
The Not So Magnificent Six (3/2/1982)
The Vulture Also Rises (3/16/1982)
The Eight Swords Of Dyrus And Other Illusions Of Grandeur (3/23/1982)
Faith, Hope and Clarity - Part 1 (4/13/1982)
Faith, Hope and Clarity - Part 2 (4/20/1982)
The Rattlesnake Brigade (4/27/1982)
The Hidalgo Thing (5/4/1982)