Lois Clarke is best known as the wife of James Garner, the loved American actor from Maverick, The Rockford Files, and The Notebook. But her story is not only about being married to a star. She had her own life before fame touched her family. She was a mother before she met James. She also lived through many years of change in Hollywood while choosing a private family life. Many older online posts say Lois was still alive in 2021, but verified obituary records show she died on October 21, 2021, at age 98.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lois Josephine Fleischman Garner |
| Also known as | Lois Clarke, Lois Garner |
| Birth date | July 6, 1923 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Death date | October 21, 2021 |
| Age at death | 98 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Samuel Hillis Fleischman and Sarah Doltz |
| Spouse | James Garner |
| Marriage year | 1956 |
| Children | Kimberly and Greta “Gigi” Garner |
| Known for | Marriage to James Garner and family life |
| Public interest | Her long marriage, children, and private life |
Who Was Lois Clarke?
Lois Clarke was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1923. Her birth name was Lois Josephine Fleischman. Some online sources use the name Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke because Clarke came from her earlier marriage. After she married James Garner, she became known as Lois Garner. Her early years were not widely covered by the media. This is because she was not a performer, public speaker, or Hollywood celebrity before marriage. Public records and her obituary give more useful facts than many gossip-style pages. Her obituary says she was raised in Los Angeles and was the daughter of Samuel Hillis Fleischman and Sarah Doltz.
Her Life Before James Garner
Before Lois Clarke met James Garner, she had already lived through marriage and motherhood. Her first marriage is not often discussed in public stories. However, her obituary names Keith Clarke as the father connected to her daughter Kimberly from an early marriage. This detail matters because many older short bios only say her first husband was unknown. Kimberly was part of Lois’s life before James entered the picture. When James married Lois, he did not only gain a wife. He also became a father figure to Kimberly, and he later adopted her.
How Lois Clarke Met James Garner
Lois Clarke met James Garner in 1956 at a political rally for Adlai Stevenson. Their meeting became one of the most repeated parts of James Garner’s personal story. According to People, James later wrote in his memoir that he fell in love with Lois on August 1, 1956. He said Stevenson lost the election, but he won because he met Lois. The two saw each other every day for two weeks. Then they married at a Beverly Hills courthouse on August 17, 1956.
A Fast Marriage That Lasted
Their marriage started fast, but it lasted for decades. Some people around them doubted the match at first. They came from different backgrounds, and they had known each other for only a short time. Still, the marriage became one of Hollywood’s long-lasting love stories. James Garner and Lois Clarke stayed married until his death on July 19, 2014. Biography.com notes that the couple married in 1956 and that their family included Kimberly, whom Garner adopted, and their daughter Greta, known as Gigi.
Lois Clarke as a Mother
Motherhood was a major part of Lois Clarke’s life. She had Kimberly before marrying James Garner. Later, Lois and James welcomed their daughter Greta “Gigi” Garner in 1958. People reported that Kimberly had suffered from polio as a child and had been in the hospital before Lois met James. Lois had also lost work because she spent so much time caring for Kimberly. This gives readers a deeper view of Lois. She was not just a celebrity wife. She was a mother facing real pressure and trying to protect her child.
James Garner and Family Life
James Garner became famous for playing Bret Maverick in Maverick and Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files. Yet at home, he was a husband and father. The Associated Press obituary for Garner says he married Lois Clarke in 1956, adopted her daughter Kimberly, and had another daughter, Gretta Scott, with Lois. The report also says the Garners built a large ranch home north of Santa Barbara in the late 1990s. That detail shows that family, space, and peace mattered to them after many years in show business.
Life With a Famous Actor
Being married to James Garner meant Lois Clarke was close to Hollywood, but she did not chase the spotlight. She appeared with him at some public events, but she did not build a public career from his fame. Many fans saw James as warm, funny, and honest on screen. Lois knew the person behind that image. Their marriage was not always perfect, and reports over the years have mentioned periods of strain. But the couple stayed together. Their long bond is one reason people still search for Lois Clarke in 2026.
Her Career and Personal Interests
There is no strong public record showing that Lois Clarke had a major entertainment career. Some short online bios call her an actress, but this claim is not well supported by major sources. What is better supported is her role as a wife, mother, and homemaker. Her obituary also gives a more personal detail. It says Lois was a serious art history collector. One of her favorite pieces was a hunting tapestry called “The Hunts Maxmillion.” This detail helps readers see a fuller person, not only a name beside James Garner.
Correcting Common Online Claims
Many websites list Lois Clarke’s birth year as 1927 and say she was 94 in 2021. Newer and stronger obituary information gives July 6, 1923, as her birth date and October 21, 2021, as her death date. That means she was 98 when she died. Some sites also list height, weight, and body measurements, but these details are not confirmed by trusted public records. For a good biography, it is better to avoid weak claims. Readers deserve facts that can be checked.
James Garner’s Death and Lois’s Later Years
James Garner died on July 19, 2014, at age 86. His death ended a marriage that had lasted nearly 58 years. After his death, Lois Clarke stayed out of public view. This was not surprising because she had spent most of her life away from heavy media attention. Her own death came seven years later, on October 21, 2021. Her obituary said there would be a private memorial at her home in Brentwood, California.
Why People Still Search for Lois Clarke
People still search for Lois Clarke because her story is tied to love, family, and old Hollywood. James Garner was not only a screen star. He was also seen as a steady family man. That makes fans curious about the woman who shared his life for so long. Lois also interests readers because much of her life was private. When a person is close to fame but does not live for fame, people often want to know more. Her story gives a softer view of Hollywood, one built around home, children, and loyalty.
Lois Clarke’s Legacy
Lois Clarke’s legacy lives through her daughters and through the memory of her marriage to James Garner. Kimberly and Gigi were important parts of Garner’s life. People reported that both daughters contributed memories to The Garner Files, James Garner’s memoir. Gigi later founded the James Garner Animal Rescue Fund in 2019 to honor her father and help dogs. This shows how family memory can continue through good work, even after famous parents are gone.
Final Thoughts
Lois Clarke lived a long life that touched Hollywood without being ruled by it. She was born in Los Angeles, became a mother, married James Garner after a very short romance, and stayed married to him until his death. She raised a family, kept much of her life private, and enjoyed personal interests such as art history. The most important facts now show that Lois Clarke was born on July 6, 1923, and died on October 21, 2021, at age 98. Her story remains meaningful because it shows love, family, and strength behind a famous name.
FAQs
Who was Lois Clarke?
Lois Clarke was the wife of American actor James Garner. She was also the mother of Kimberly and Greta “Gigi” Garner. She became well known because of her long marriage to James, but she lived most of her life away from heavy public attention.
When was Lois Clarke born?
Lois Clarke was born on July 6, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. Some older online pages list 1927, but her Los Angeles Times obituary gives 1923 as her birth year.
Is Lois Clarke still alive?
No. Lois Clarke died on October 21, 2021. She was 98 years old. Many older articles saying she is still alive are outdated.
When did Lois Clarke marry James Garner?
Lois Clarke married James Garner on August 17, 1956. They met at an Adlai Stevenson political rally and married about two weeks later.
Did Lois Clarke have children?
Yes. Lois had a daughter named Kimberly from an earlier marriage. James Garner later adopted Kimberly. Lois and James also had a daughter named Greta, who is often called Gigi.
What was Lois Clarke known for?
Lois Clarke was known for being James Garner’s wife and for their long marriage. She was also known as a mother and a private family figure. Her obituary also described her as an art history collector.
How long were Lois Clarke and James Garner married?
Lois Clarke and James Garner were married from 1956 until James Garner’s death in 2014. Their marriage lasted nearly 58 years, making it one of the longer marriages connected to classic Hollywood.
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