Tuesday, September 6, 2022

The Rockford Files - The Countess - James Garner as Jim Rockford - Tribute to Dick Gautier (Oct 30, 1931 to Jan 13, 2017) - Susan Strasberg (May 22, 1938 - Jan 21, 1999) - Dick Gautier (Oct 30, 1931 to Jan 13, 2017) - Todd Martin (FEB 11, 1927 - IMDB list him as alive today) - Actor Tom Atkins (Nov 13, 1935) - Jean Le Bouvier (Aug 19, 1920 - Apr 06, 1983) - Melvin F. Allen (Nov 23, 1933 - Sep 01, 1992) - Gretchen Corbett (Aug 13, 1945) - Harold J. Stone (Mar 03, 1913 to Nov 18, 2005) - Joe Santos (Jun 09, 1931 to Mar 18, 2016) - James Cromwell (Jan 27, 1940) - Art Lund (Apr 01.1915 to May 31, 1990) - Frederick "Fred" Fitz Apking (Nov 12, 1927 to Aug 25, 2006) - William Bryant (Jan 31, 1924 to Jun 26, 2001)

Below Images: The late Susan Strasberg (May 22, 1938 - Jan 21, 1999) played the very beautiful & sexy Deborah Ryder a.k.a. The Countess 













Below Images: We just lost actor Dick Gautier (Oct 30, 1931 to Jan 13, 2017) played the mobbed up villain Carl Brego.  U.S. Navy Veteran.

 They must of had a no belly button showing rule based on high he is wearing his pants




Below Images: 31626 Sea Level Drive, Malibu CA - This residence has since been torn down and replaced with a much larger home.





Below Images: Actor Todd Martin (FEB 11, 1927 - IMDB list him as alive today) played the motorcycle cop that "busted" Jim Rockford.

Below Images: Actor Tom Atkins (Nov 13, 1935) played the tough Lt Axel Diel 

Below Image: Actress Jean Le Bouvier (Aug 19, 1920 - Apr 06, 1983) played a party goer.

Below Image: Melvin F. Allen (Nov 23, 1933 - Sep 01, 1992) played the smooth operating cab driver.

These unaccredited actors played an old couple on the beach who witness the murder of Carl Brego.


Below Images: Jim Rockford's old flame and attorney Beth Davenport played by the beautiful Gretchen Corbett (Aug 13, 1945) Gretchen Corbett is one of a few surviving original cast members of the Rockford Files.

Above Image:  North Hollywood High School was used as a police station in this episode, located at Magnolia Blvd & Colfax Ave, Los Angeles, California


Below Image: The late great Harold J. Stone (Mar 03, 1913 to Nov 18, 2005) played the Godfather, Mr. Sorrell.

The late actor Joe Santos (Jun 09, 1931 to Mar 18, 2016) played Rockford's good buddy Sgt Dennis Becker.

Below Images: The late great James Garner as Jim Rockford. Look at some of that high tech 1970's gear! James Garner is a Korean War veteran with 2 Purple Hearts along with other awards/medals.





Below Image: Actor James Cromwell (Jan 27, 1940) played Terry the lucky tennis instructor for Susan Strasberg

Below Image: The late Art Lund (Apr 01.1915 to May 31, 1990) played Mike Ryder (Susan Strasberg's Husband) who ends up dying at the end of this episode.





Above Photo: Only the first few Rockford Files episodes has Rockford's trailer actually on Pacific Coast Highway next to the long gone Tonga Lei famous Malibu restaurant nightclub. See the sign above the trailer.



 ABOVE PHOTO: Left - Frederick "Fred" Fitz Apking (Nov 12, 1927 to Aug 25, 2006) Far Right -  William Bryant (Jan 31, 1924 to Jun 26, 2001) played two mob thugs




Above Image: The Jack In The Box and Malibu Inn restaurants on Pacific Coast Highway

19 comments:

Kurt Burgess said...

There was some confusion about Lt. Diehl's first name. He used Thomas when not being Alex. Cannot recall if his office door used 2 different names, either. Just one of those things the team were not too concerned about.

Kurt Burgess said...

BTW, regarding Atkins, who was Dave Lewell? Atkins has been married to Janice since 1986.

I did not grow up in LA but feel like I did watching Rockford. Your blog is interesting. Thank you!

Rockford Files Tv Show said...

FROM IMDB.com

Spouse (2)

Janis Lee Rodgers (15 March 1986 - present) (1 child)

Garn Stephens (? - ?)

Trade Mark (1)

Often plays police officers

Trivia (10)

Graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Member of Gamma Phi Fraternity.

During his childhood, he was a huge fan of science fiction and horror films.
His favorite of all the movies he has worked on is Night of the Creeps (1986).
Has a Golden Retriever named Gus.

Is a frequent player in shows at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, most famously in the one-man show "The Chief", in which he depicts the late founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney.

His son E. Taylor Atkins graduated from Peters Township High School in Pennsylvania.
Has appeared with Adrienne Barbeau in four films: The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), Creepshow (1982) and Two Evil Eyes (1990).

Currently lives in Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. [2004]

His longtime partner David Lewell died in 2004.

Unknown said...

The big "BUS" sign was from the Greyhound bus terminal at 6th and Los Angeles St, downtown L.A. Between 1969 and 1970, I clerked at a SoCal Greyhound depot. I transited through the LA terminal about a dozen times in the '70's and '80's.

This might be an interesting story to some: During a return visit to the US while my family and I lived in Europe, we took the Greyhound cross-country from Florida to CA. The replacement driver couldn't find the LA depot, I navigated him to it. Not good days for Greyhound Lines.

Last time I visited the area in '98, it was a clothing mart. I appears Greyhound moved the depot to a REALLY scary part of town.

TheWhistler77 said...

I don't understand the partner either...

Sunny and me said...

Take two

Unknown said...

Re. the independent car repair garage:

It's slogan on the wall says, "Independent Rorschey Repairs"

Rorschey Repairs surely Wwas Porsche Repairs with the word Porsche made unrecognizable to not do product placement there....

Phil said...

You've put a lot of work into this Rockford blog and have done a great job. Thank you!

SC Vandy said...

Ah, the Malibu Inn/Omelet Parlor in the 1970s & '80s, across PCH from Malibu Pier. Great memories of going there for Sunday brunch. In addition to their namesake egg dish, a second favorite was the strawberry and whip cream covered waffle -- old school, not Belgian.
Guess what? Parking was free with validation!
Now, here's a trivia question for the "Rockford Files" experts: When, if ever, did "Rockford" hold a Xmas or wrap party IN Malibu, and where? Seeing how it was a Universal series (mighty tight with the $) Garner probably had to beg the front office to let them have a traditional party off the lot. Solid answers are welcome; no guessing or theories, please.

Anonymous said...

The scene where Jim drives the green car through the warehouse doors and then is chased by the police, looks like it was shot just South of the train tracks next to the Burbank Airport (Lockheed). Probably on Vanowen or Empire Ave, on the Eastern border of North Hollywood. Maybe Denny Ave North of Vanowen.

Anonymous said...

What is the make and model of the green car?

Robert, Greenville TX said...

Tom Atkins has two wives listed on Wiki. I wouldn't trust IMDB.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Atkins_(actor)

Robert, Greenville TX said...

IMDB for Tom Atkins appears to have been updated...


Spouse Janis Lee Rodgers (15 March 1986 - present) (1 child)
Garn Stephens (1976 - 1985) (divorced)


https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040662/bio

Zabo said...

Stuart Mongolian who played Jimmy's best buddy Angel Martin passed away on December 12, 2022 at the age of 82. Loved that character on The Rockford Files. When his character was on the show you could count on it being a highly entertaining episode. R.I.P. Mr. Stuart Margolin.

Anonymous said...

Season 6, Episode 11, “Just a Coupla Guys.”

31:25 in, when the limo is parked under a freeway overpass, you can see the Burbank Public Works and Borrmann Steels in the background.

Those scenes are filmed in-and-around Front Street and Olive in Burbank

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1784854,-118.3112086,3a,75y,228.69h,87.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPUc9HU2BsmV4_GICtyOD1A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Anonymous said...

S5 E12 - Deadlock in Palma, the hotel Jim is staying in is on Pine Street in Wrightwood
https://www.google.com/maps/place/6059+Pine+St,+Wrightwood,+CA+92397/@34.3605357,-117.6350578,3a,75y,134.45h,81.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sESCgSemMOfLOAT1nGFE5Nw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c315e79d880e49:0x1781c48124c68852!8m2!3d34.3607559!4d-117.634697

Anonymous said...

Dick Gautier Characters were always so perfectly 1970’s lounge lizard. He was a very good actor. I wish I knew more about him. Thanks for all the great info!

Anonymous said...

I am watching it right now, such a well written series, really miss it a lot!! 9:58 EST.

Anonymous said...

75 Pontiac firebird I believe