Rockford50fest! Official Event Site
GRETCHEN CORBETT
Attorney Beth Davenport / Van Zandt
(VIRTUAL)
Gretchen Corbett appeared in 33 episodes of the series and three of the 1990s reunion movies: "If the Frame Fits...", "Friends and Foul Play" (both in 1996) and the final film "If It Bleeds, It Leads" (1999)
TV credits beside Rockford include Kojak, Barnaby Jones, Emergency!, Magnum P.I., and numerous other 1970s and 80s shows.
Ms Corbett's acting career spans six decades beginning in the mid-1960s and she remains very much engaged today. She is currently engaged with a stage production in the Portland (OR) Center Stage and so will join us via live video feed when she is available. Thank you very much, Ma'am!
JON WINOKUR
Keynote Speaker
Co-Author of "The Garner Files" with Jim
Jon Winokur is an accomplished author of such prolific titles as "The Portable Curmudgeon" (1989) and "How to Win at Golf Without Necessarily Playing Well" (2000). He also wrote on many subjects to assist aspiring writers: Writers on Writing (1986), Advice to Writers (1999). He also co-authored "But Enough About Me: A Memoir (Burt Reynolds, 2015)
Prior to Burt's, Jon co-authored a memoir "The Garner Files" in 2011 with Jim Garner. In this capacity, Jon spent many hours of personal interviews and talks with Jim. In this vein Jon will present our Keynote Address.
Welcome and "Thank you" Jon!
HECTOR ELIZONDO
FALCONE!
IN-PERSON
Mr. Elizondo appeared in "Say Goodbye to Jennifer" with Pamela Hensley and "A Good Clean Bust With Sequel Rights" as
Frank "FREEZE TURKEY!" Falcone.
Hector appeared in "Bret Maverick" ("The Hidalgo Thing"). He also worked with Jim Garner again in four episodes of "Chicago Hope".
Hector appeared in eight seasons of "Last Man Standing" along with Tim Allen. He played the lovable "Joseph"-- driver/ personal security director for the Queen of Genovia (Julie Andrews) and Princess Mia (Anne Hathaway) in "Princess Diaries 1 & 2" (2001 and 2004 respectively).
LEN GARNER, JR
Asst Director, "The Rockford Files"
With an acting and directing career spanning more than 40 years, Len Garner was first asst director for episodes of "The Rockford Files" and "Bret Maverick". In 2012, Len won the NAACP Image Award for Best Directing the comedy series, "Rules of Engagement" .
If you've ever dreamed of meeting Mr Garner, YOU STILL CAN!
JERRY LONDON
Director, "The Rockford Files"
Award-winning Director and Producer Jerry London directed no less than seven episodes of Rockford: "Tall Woman in a Red Wagon", "The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers", Just By Accident", "The Reincarnation of Angie", "The Hammer of C-Block", "Bad Deal in the Valley", and "Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones but Waterbury Will Bury You."
Jerry's work on "Chiefs" (1983) was nominated for the coveted Emmy Award. He also turned in "Ellis Island" (1984), "Rome", "The Pacific" among more than forty film and miniseries productions. Welcome Jerry!
JERRY HARDIN
Supporting Actor
Jerry Hardin has had an accomplished career to date, appearing in three TRF episodes: "Coulter City Wildcat", "Mayor's Committee from Deerlick Falls", and Rockford's (albeit unintended) final episode "Deadlock in Parma"
Jerry also appeared in "A Few Good Men", "The Firm", "Days of Thunder" and "First Monday" where he appeared again with Jim Garner.
Thanks for coming Jerry!
JOHN PLESHETTE
"TRF" Supporting Actor
Actor and Screenwriter John Pleshette is best known for his role as Richard Avery on "Knots Landing" (1979-) and "Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald" in 1977 (he's Oswald!). He also appeared in the "Meghan Dougherty" double episode with Kathryn Harrold as none-other-than "Tuteska!".
John has appeared on numerous other popular television series including "L.A. Law", "Law and Order", "Simon and Simon" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" opposite Larry David.
John is also a script writer and director, having directed "Rocky II" in 1979.
MILT KOGAN
"TRF" Supporting Actor: "Aaron Kiel", badguys, etc;
The only character on "TRF" to beat Jim to the punch at his own cigarette flick trick, Milt Kogan appeared in three episodes, the last being the character role of Angel's brother in law "Aaron Kiel" the newspaper owner ("Pizza Dan" episode).
"Desk Officer Kogan" on "Barney Miller" in the 1970s, Milt also appeared in "Wonder Woman", "The A-Team", and numerous other TV shows
GEORGE WYNER
"TRF" Supporting Actor
"Colonel Sandurz" in SPACEBALLS, Asst D.A. Bernstein in "Hill Street Blues", George Wyner appeared in four TRF episodes and the final 1990s movie "If It Bleeds, It Leads". His familiar face has graced the sets of DOZENS of TV shows from 1971 to the present: "Kojak" (1974) to "Station 19" (2024)!
CHESTER GRIMES
Casting Assistant; Supporting Actor
Chester appeared along with Coop and the Gang in "Return of the Black Shadow". He also cameoed in "I Still Love L.A." as the body man who brought Jim's Firebird back to life!
He's also remembered for "PeeWee's Big Adventure" on his bike once again!
(Chester was also very privileged to be Jim Garner's personal driver during his final years.)
ROYDON CLARK FAMILY
We welcome the family of stunt double/driver and good friend of Jim's, Roydon Clark. Roy's family includes sons Dennis & Gary and granddaughters Amber & Ashley.
LEW MESSINGER
Event Principal Organizer
Website Administrator
There's nothing really extraordinary about him except he loves "Rockford"! He's sure you do too that's why you're on this website considering whether to attend "Rockford50". Please do!
He curates the Rockford50Fest! Rockford Files Turns 50! information site on Facebook.
ROB HOWE
"TRF" Production Assistant, Author of “The Rockford Files: Behind the Scenes”, and SUPERFAN!
Rob Howe was a young production assistant for “The Rockford Files”. "I came in as a fan and stayed two years" as he tells its. Rob also is the author of “The Rockford Files: Behind the Scenes” in 2012. Rob curates “The Official James Garner Fan Page” site on Facebook which has “Garnered” more than 143K followers!
PAT McKINNEY
SUPERFAN!
Pat McKinney is the UBERFAN among us: Pat was primarily responsible for the “Rockford Files” fan reunions conducted annually from 2011-2013 at Paradise Cove and his own home. Pat has an extensive memorabilia collection he promises to share with us as well as as many as THREE production Rockbirds. Come see some of them at the Rockford50!
JIM SUVA
SUPERFAN!
Jim Suva’s thing is CARS!CARS!CARS! Jim (The “Other Jimbo”) Suva curates “The Suva Files” and numerous Facebook fan pages with exhaustive wealth of knowledge of cars, episodes and filming locations. He is also proud owner of a Rockford Tribute Car.
