James Garner Dead at 86: Movie/TV Legend Played 'The Notebook' Older Ryan Gosling, Starred In Hit Shows 'Rockford Files' & 'Maverick' (VIDEO)

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Television and film icon actor James Garner, known for his roles in Maverick, The Rockford Files and to younger generations as the elderly Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, has died at 86.

Police responded to a call at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday at Garners Brentwood home and confirmed Garner's identity with family members. Though there is no immediate word on a specific cause of death, Garner died of natural causes. In 2008, he suffered a stroke just weeks before his 80th birthday.

Born in Norman, Oklahoma in 1928, Garner shot to fame in the late 50s playing the shy, sardonic gambler Bret Maverick in the hourlong western-adventure series, Maverick. Within two months of its ABC premiere, Maverick beat heavy hitters Ed Sullivan and Steve Allen in the Sunday night ratings. Garner received an Emmy nod for Best Actor in 1959, the same year the show won for Best Western Series. Garner left the show in 1960.

Garner starred in several films from 1961 to the mid-70s, but became a household name with The Rockford Files. He played Jim Rockford, a wrongly accused ex-con turned private eye who ran his business out of his beachfront trailer home. The role earned Garner an Emmy Award in 1977.

When the show ended it's run in 1981, Garner never stopped working. He continued to receive Emmy nods for roles in various TV movies and miniseries including Heartsounds, Promise, My Name Is Bill W., Decoration Day, Barbarians at the Gate and Breathing Lessons.

Garner was also known for movie roles in The Great Escape, Victor Victoria, Space Cowboys and The Notebook. He was nominated for an Oscar for the 1985 film Murphy's Romance, which co-starred Sally Field.

Garner is survived by his his wife, TV actress Lois Clarke, who he married in 1957. They have two daughters, Kimberly from her previous marriage, and their daughter Greta.

R.I.P. James Garner, you will be missed.