Lois Clarke: All About James Garner’s Wife

Lois Clarke was the wife of famous actor James Garner. Their love story was very special. They knew each other for only about two weeks before they got married. Still, their marriage lasted for almost 58 years.

James became famous for shows like Maverick and The Rockford Files. Lois lived a much quieter life. She cared about her home and family. She did not try to become a big Hollywood star.

But who was Lois Clarke before she met James? Her life had love, family, children, and some hard times. Let’s learn about her early life and the start of her long marriage to James Garner.

Who Was Lois Clarke?

Lois Clarke was an American woman from Los Angeles, California. Her full name was Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke. After she married James Garner, she was also known as Lois Garner.

Lois was not an actress. She became well known because of her marriage to James. She sometimes went to movie events and award shows with him. Still, she liked to keep her own life private.

This is what makes her story interesting. Lois lived close to Hollywood fame for many years. Yet she did not chase attention. She enjoyed a quiet life and spent much of her time caring for her family.

Lois Clarke’s Age, Birthday, and Early Life

Lois Clarke was born on July 6, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. She was American. Some older websites say she was born in 1927, but her published obituary gives 1923 as her birth year.

Lois came from a Jewish family. Her parents were Samuel Hillis Fleischman and Sarah Doltz. She also had a sister named Joyce. There is not much public information about her school life or education.

Lois lived a very long life. She died on October 21, 2021, at the age of 98. Some old articles say she was 94, but this comes from the wrong 1927 birth year.

Lois Clarke’s First Marriage and Daughter

Before meeting James Garner, Lois Clarke had already been married once. Very little is known about her first husband. Lois kept this part of her life away from the public.

Lois had a daughter named Kimberly from her first marriage. Kimberly was still young when James came into their lives. She also had a serious health problem during her childhood.

Kimberly had polio and was getting better around the time Lois married James. So, James was not only starting a new marriage. He was also joining a family and helping Lois care for her young daughter.

How Did Lois Clarke Meet James Garner?

Lois Clarke met James Garner in 1956. There are different stories about their first meeting. James often said they met around an event for Adlai Stevenson, who was running for president at the time.

Another story says Lois and James first saw each other at a party. They later met again around the political event. We may not know the exact first moment, but James clearly liked Lois very quickly.

They started spending a lot of time together. James later said they went out to dinner every night for 14 nights. Their love story moved very fast. Soon, they were already talking about marriage.

Lois Clarke and James Garner’s Fast Wedding

Lois Clarke and James Garner married on August 17, 1956. They had known each other for only about two weeks. Their wedding took place at a courthouse in Beverly Hills, California.

Some people in James’s family worried about the marriage. James grew up in Oklahoma and came from a Methodist family. Lois was from Los Angeles and came from a Jewish family. Their lives seemed very different.

James did not see these differences as a problem. He felt they helped them work well together. Their honeymoon was also very simple. James later said he spent only about $77 on it.

Lois Clarke and James Garner’s Family Life

Lois and James did not start married life in a huge house. They rented a small apartment in Sherman Oaks, California. At that time, James was still trying to build a strong acting career.

Money was important because Kimberly was recovering from polio. James now had a wife and child to care for. He took this duty seriously and worked hard to give his new family a good life.

James also accepted Kimberly as his own child. He later adopted her. This happened before he became a huge Hollywood star. Lois was with James before his biggest success and before most people knew his name.

Lois Clarke’s Children, Kimberly and Gigi

Lois Clarke had two daughters. Kimberly was born during Lois’s first marriage. After Lois married James Garner, James adopted Kimberly and became her father. Kimberly later chose to live a very private life.

Lois and James also had a daughter together. Her name is Greta “Gigi” Garner. Gigi was born on January 4, 1958, in Los Angeles. She grew up while her father was becoming a famous Hollywood actor.

Gigi later worked in creative fields and supported animal rescue work. She also helped honor her father after his death. For Lois Clarke, family remained an important part of life, even as James became a major star.

Lois Clarke’s Life as James Garner’s Wife

James Garner became famous soon after he married Lois Clarke. His TV show Maverick made him a big star. Later, The Rockford Files made him even more famous.

James was often busy with TV shows and movies. Lois sometimes went with him to Hollywood events. Still, she did not want to become a star. She was happy to stay out of the spotlight.

Lois Clarke enjoyed a quiet family life. She cared about her home and children. Even when James became very famous, Lois kept much of her own life away from the public.

Lois Clarke and James Garner’s Marriage Problems

Lois and James had a long marriage, but it was not always easy. In 1970, they lived apart for about three months. After some time, they came back together.

They separated again in 1979. James was very busy and tired because of his work. His TV career took a lot of his time and energy. This was a hard period for the couple.

Lois and James got back together around 1981. They never divorced. They stayed married until James died. Their story shows that even strong couples can face hard times.

Lois Clarke’s Career, Charity Work, and Interests

There is little public information about Lois Clarke having a regular career. She became well known because she was James Garner’s wife. Still, she had her own interests and activities.

Lois was linked to SHARE, a charity group connected with Hollywood women. The group raised money to help people in need. It gave Lois a chance to help others in a useful way.

Lois also loved art. She enjoyed learning about art and collecting it. She liked roses, gardening, good coffee, and quiet time at home. These simple things tell us more about who she was.

Lois Clarke’s Net Worth and Lifestyle

Some websites say Lois Clarke had a net worth of around $20 million. However, there is no clear public record that proves this amount was her own personal wealth.

The $20 million number is often linked to James Garner. James earned money from his long career in movies and TV. His success allowed the family to enjoy a comfortable life.

So, Lois Clarke’s exact net worth is not known. It is better to say that her personal wealth was private. She shared a comfortable life with James, but an exact amount cannot be confirmed.

Lois Clarke’s Life After James Garner’s Death

James Garner died on July 19, 2014. He was 86 years old. His death came only a few weeks before the couple would have reached their 58th wedding anniversary.

This was a huge change for Lois. She had known James before he became famous. She had been beside him through his career, family life, health problems, and many years of marriage.

After James died, Lois stayed private. She did not give many interviews or look for public attention. She continued to live the quiet life she had enjoyed for many years.

Lois Clarke’s Family After James Died

Lois still had her family around her. Her older daughter, Kimberly, continued to keep her life private. Her younger daughter, Gigi, became more active in keeping James Garner’s memory alive.

Gigi also became involved in helping animals. James loved animals, especially dogs. Gigi later started the James Garner Animal Rescue Fund to honor her father and help animals that needed care.

This was a kind way to remember James. It also showed how much family meant to the Garners. Lois and James had built a family that stayed important long after James left Hollywood.

Final Thoughts

Lois Clarke died on October 21, 2021. She was 98 years old. Her daughter Gigi shared the news of her death. The family kept many details about her final days private.

Lois lived for more than seven years after James died. She stayed away from public attention during those years. This was normal for Lois because she had always liked a quiet and private life.

People close to Lois also remembered her love of art and flowers. She enjoyed her garden and simple things at home. These details show a softer and more personal side of her life.

(FAQs)

How old was Lois Clarke and when was her birthday?

Lois Clarke was born on July 6, 1923. She died on October 21, 2021. She was 98 years old when she died.

What was Lois Clarke’s net worth?

Lois Clarke’s exact net worth is not known. Some websites say about $20 million, but this amount is not confirmed. Much of the family wealth came from James Garner’s acting career.

Where is Lois Clarke today and where did she live?

Lois Clarke is not alive today. She died in 2021. In her later years, she lived a quiet and private life in Brentwood, California.

What was Lois Clarke’s ethnicity?

Lois Clarke came from a Jewish family background. Some websites describe her as White, but her exact ethnicity was not clearly shared by Lois herself.

What was Lois Clarke’s nationality?

Lois Clarke was American. She was born in Los Angeles, California, USA, and spent most of her life in the United States.

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