Lois Clarke was best known as the longtime wife of American actor James Garner. The couple married in 1956, only about two weeks after meeting, and stayed married until Garner died in 2014.
Lois had a daughter, Kimberly, from an earlier marriage. James later adopted her. Lois and James also had a daughter together, Greta “Gigi” Garner. Lois mostly stayed outside Hollywood and focused on her family and charity work.
Lois Clarke’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke |
| Also known as | Lois Garner |
| Birth year | 1927 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Not publicly known |
| Education | Not publicly known |
| Known for | Being James Garner’s wife |
| Husband | James Garner |
| Marriage date | August 17, 1956 |
| Children | Kimberly Garner and Greta “Gigi” Garner |
| Main role | Homemaker and charity participant |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
| Death | Reported at age 98 |
Lois Clarke’s Early Life
Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke was reportedly born in 1927 in Los Angeles, California.
Her exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed.
Very little reliable information is available about her childhood. The names of her parents and siblings are not clearly documented.
Details about her school and college education are also not publicly known.
Lois Was Married Before James Garner
James Garner was Lois’s second husband.
She had been married before meeting him, but the identity of her first husband is not clearly documented in the available information.
Lois had one daughter, Kimberly, from her first marriage.
Kimberly was reportedly around seven years old when Lois married James Garner.
Kimberly Was Recovering From Polio
Kimberly was reportedly recovering from polio around the time Lois and James married.
Her treatment was expensive, and the family was not yet wealthy. James was still building his acting career at the time.
After marrying Lois, James adopted Kimberly and raised her as his daughter.
How Did Lois Clarke Meet James Garner?
Lois met James Garner in 1956.
They reportedly met at an event connected with Adlai Stevenson’s presidential campaign.
James quickly became interested in Lois. He later said they went to dinner every night for 14 nights.
The relationship moved quickly, and they decided to marry after knowing each other for only about two weeks.
Lois and James Married in 1956
Lois and James married on August 17, 1956.
Their wedding took place at the Beverly Hills courthouse in California.
James later said their honeymoon cost him about $77, which was a lot of money for him at the time.
They reportedly spent their honeymoon at a hotel near San Diego.
Their Families Had Concerns About the Marriage
Some members of James’s family reportedly questioned the marriage because Lois and James had different backgrounds.
James grew up in Oklahoma, while Lois was from Los Angeles. He was athletic and enjoyed outdoor activities, while she reportedly preferred quieter activities.
They also came from different religious backgrounds. James had a Methodist background, while Lois came from a Jewish background.
James later said he believed their differences worked well together.
Their Early Married Life
After getting married, Lois and James reportedly lived in a small apartment in Sherman Oaks, California.
The apartment was close to the studio where James worked.
James was still trying to establish himself as an actor. He became much more successful after getting the role of Bret Maverick in the television series Maverick in 1957.
Who Was James Garner?
James Garner was an American actor and producer. He was born James Scott Bumgarner in Oklahoma in 1928.
Before becoming an actor, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He received two Purple Hearts for injuries suffered during his military service.
Garner became widely known for playing Bret Maverick in the TV series Maverick from 1957 to 1960.
He later played private investigator Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files.
His other well-known projects included:
- The Great Escape
- Grand Prix
- Victor/Victoria
- Murphy’s Romance
- Support Your Local Gunfighter
- 8 Simple Rules
- Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
- The Notebook
Garner received an Academy Award nomination for Murphy’s Romance. He also received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2004.
His memoir, The Garner Files: A Memoir, was published in 2011.
Lois Was With James Before He Became Famous
Lois married James in 1956, before his breakthrough role in Maverick.
She was with him as his career grew from television into major Hollywood films.
Their marriage covered almost all of James Garner’s best-known years as an actor.
Lois Clarke’s Career
Lois did not have a public acting or entertainment career.
She was mainly known as a homemaker and focused on raising her family.
She was also involved with SHARE, a charity group connected with Hollywood women. The organization raised money and supported charitable causes.
There is no reliable information showing that Lois had another major professional career.
Lois and James Had a Daughter
Lois Clarke and James had one biological daughter together, Greta “Gigi” Garner.
Gigi was born in 1958. One secondary source gives her birthday as January 4, 1958.
Some online sources incorrectly list 1985 as her birth year. This does not fit the family’s established timeline.
Lois therefore had two daughters: Kimberly and Gigi.
Lois and James Had Periods of Separation
Their marriage lasted for decades, but they did spend some time apart.
One report says they separated for around three months in 1970.
They reportedly separated again around 1979. This period lasted longer, and they began living together again around 1981.
Despite these separations, Lois and James did not divorce.
They reconciled and remained married for the rest of James’s life.
Lois and James Were Married for Nearly 58 Years
Lois Clarke and James married on August 17, 1956.
James died on July 19, 2014, only a few weeks before their 58th wedding anniversary.
Their marriage therefore lasted almost 58 years.
James Garner’s Death
James Garner died on July 19, 2014, at age 86.
His death was reported as being from natural causes.
After his death, Lois largely stayed away from public attention.
Lois Clarke’s Public Appearances
Although Lois Clarke did not work as an actress, she sometimes attended public events with James.
The couple attended the 43rd Emmy Awards in August 1991.
They were also photographed at an American Oceans Campaign fundraiser at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in March 1993.
One of Lois’s later public appearances was with James at the Los Angeles premiere of The Notebook in Westwood, California.
James played the older version of Noah Calhoun in the 2004 movie.
What Happened to Lois Clarke After James Garner Died?
Lois Clarke kept a low public profile after James died.
Some older websites claimed she lived with family in New York, but this has not been strongly confirmed.
Reliable information about her later years is limited.
Lois Clarke’s Death
A later report states that Lois Clarke died at age 98.
Her daughter Gigi announced her mother’s death and shared an old photograph of Lois and James.
The cause of death was not given in the supplied report.
There is conflicting information about the exact date. One report says her death came seven years after James died, but that timeline does not match her reported 1927 birth year and age of 98.
For this reason, her exact date of death should not be stated without stronger confirmation.
Lois Clarke’s Net Worth
Lois Clarke’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some websites estimate her wealth at around $20 million, but this figure appears to be based mainly on estimates of James Garner’s wealth.
There is not enough reliable public information about Lois’s own assets, inheritance, property, or investments to confirm a personal net worth.
Was Lois Clarke on Social Media?
No verified public social media accounts belonging to Lois Clarke have been identified.
Her daughter Gigi has shared family information online, including news about her parents.
Lois herself remained mostly outside the public spotlight.
Facts About Lois Clarke
- Her full name was Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke.
- She was also known as Lois Garner.
- She was reportedly born in Los Angeles in 1927.
- Her exact birthday is not publicly confirmed.
- James Garner was her second husband.
- She had a daughter, Kimberly, from her first marriage.
- James Garner later adopted Kimberly.
- Lois met James in 1956.
- They married about two weeks after meeting.
- Their wedding took place on August 17, 1956.
- They married at the Beverly Hills courthouse.
- Their honeymoon reportedly cost about $77.
- Lois and James had a daughter, Greta “Gigi” Garner, in 1958.
- Lois was mainly a homemaker.
- She was involved with the SHARE charity organization.
- Lois and James experienced periods of separation but never divorced.
- They remained married until James died in 2014.
- Their marriage lasted almost 58 years.
- Lois attended several Hollywood events with James.
- Her personal net worth is not reliably known.
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