Lois Clarke was the wife of James Garner, the late American actor and filmmaker. The couple got married on the 17th of August, 1956, and were together until Garner died in 2014. They had one child together, Greta Garner.
Lois Clarke’s Biography Summary
- Full Name: Lois Josephine Fleischman Clarke
- Gender: Female
- Year of Birth: 1923
- Date of Death: 21st of October 2021
- Ethnicity: White
- Nationality: American
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Jewish
- Marital Status: Married
- Lois Clarke’s Husband: James Scott Bumgarner
- Lois Clarke’s Children: Kimberly (daughter), Greta S Garner (daughter)
- Lois Clarke’s Parents: Samuel Hillis Fleischman (father) and Sarah Doltz (mother)
- Siblings: Joyce (sister)
- Lois Clarke’s Height in Inches: 56
- Lois Clarke’s Height in Centimeters: 142
- Lois Clarke’s Weight: 64 kg
- Hair Color: Brown
- Eye Color: Brown
- Famous for: Being the wife of James Garner
How Old Was Lois Clarke?
Lois Clarke was 98 years old when she passed away in 2021. Clarke was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1923 to Samuel Hillis Fleischman and Sarah Doltz.
While we know that she grew up with her sister Joyce, nothing else is known about her family and early life. Every other information, including what her parents do for a living and her educational background, has been kept away from the media. There is also no detail about her career path, dreams, or aspirations.
Lois Clarke and James Garner Met for the First Time at a Presidential Rally in the 50s
Because she has kept every other information about herself away from the media, Lois’ marriage to the popular American actor is almost always the reason her name is mentioned in the news. Their spectacular love story also helped to draw more attention to the couple.
Lois Clarke and James Garner met in the 1950s when the actor was yet to gain prominence in the entertainment industry. According to Garner, he fell in love with his wife at first sight and couldn’t get over her because she was beautiful and nice.
They both met at a rally for a presidential aspirant, Adlai Stevenson, on the 1st of August 1956. Not long after they introduced themselves, Lois started to tell James about Kimberly, her daughter from her first marriage. The girl had polio at the time.
Later that night, James asked Lois out on a date and she went with him. For the next fourteen nights, the couple continued to go out together for dinner. Sometimes, they would make out time to be together twice a day. It did not take them long to realize that they wanted forever with each other.
Lois Clarke Married James Garner in 1956 Despite His Family’s Disapproval
Shortly after their meeting, the duo fixed a date for their wedding. They wedded on the 17th of August, 1956, about two weeks after their first meeting. The ceremony took place in the Beverly Hills courthouse. However, not everyone was in support of their marriage.
The couple’s love had to stand a test from James’ family. Apparently, the love the duo shared was not proof enough that they were a good fit for one another. The Garners disapproved of their union based on their different religious views and backgrounds. James was from a devout Methodist home in Oklahoma while Lois was Jewish and grew up in Los Angeles.
What everyone else saw as a barrier was nothing of such for the couple. Garner and Clarke never considered themselves as religious people despite their religious backgrounds. Hence, they went ahead with their marriage despite the opposition from Garner’s family.
After their wedding, Lois was simply known as James’ wife. Whether she became a full-time housewife or had a career of her own remains a puzzle to the public. The couple lived together for fifty-eight years before James’ death in 2014. Although their marriage was generally a beautiful one, Lois and James had their share of struggle.
How Long was Lois Clarke Married to James Garner?
Lois Clarke and James Garner were married for 58 years. Like any other marriage, James and Lois faced rough times in their union, but they were able to conquer against all odds. Fourteen years after their wedding, in 1970, they had their first separation, which lasted for three months. They got back together but faced another separation a few years later.
The second one happened nine years after the first, at the time Garner was working in ‘The Rockford Files.’ This one lasted for as long as eighteen months before they were able to come back together. Rumour has it that the actor was dating actress Lauren Bacall during that time, but he came out to debunk the news.
He claimed that he was not having such issues with his wife and that as part of his work ethic, he never allowed himself to fall in love with his female colleagues. He went on to say that he was only dealing with pressure from his work on ‘The Rockford Files’.
Who Was Lois Clarke’s Daughter, Greta Garner?
- Name: Greta Garner
- Nickname: Gigi
- Date of Birth: 4th of January 1958
- Age: 67 years old
- Spouse: Steven Hewitt
Two years after their wedding, Lois and James welcomed their first and only child, Greta. Although Greta is the only child the couple had together, Lois had another child named Kimberly from her previous marriage. Garner had no problem adopting the child after their marriage.
Greta Garner, fondly known as Gigi, was born on the 4th of January 1958. The 67 years old lady is a movie producer just like her father. She had attempted acting earlier in life but later gave it up. To sustain her father’s legacy, Gigi continued to run his production house, Cherokee Production after his death.
Aside from production, the celebrity child is a charted recording artist in Europe. She is also a former hostess on ‘Thames Television’, a TV show where she worked from 1983 to 1984. Outside of entertainment, Greta is a jewelry designer, print model, and author. She wrote two books: ‘The Cop Cookbook,’ and ‘Girl Talk.’
Concerning her personal life, Gigi is married to Steven Hewitt, but they do not have any child together despite being married for so long. Previously, the producer had been married to John David Hart, but the marriage lasted for only three years (1990- 1993).
Kimberly Has Gone Under the Radar
Kimberly is the least talked about in the news of all members of the Garner family. There is no information about what she has been doing and what is up to. She seems to enjoy living away from public attention.
Where is Lois Garner Now?
Lois Garner died. After surviving for seven years without her husband, she joined him in 2021. She died on the 21st of October 2021. The exact cause of her death is unknown, but her husband was reported to have died of coronary artery disease in 2014 after a stroke in 2008.
Lois Clarke and her husband lived for many years, and while James left an unforgettable mark in the entertainment industry, Lois did a good job nurturing their family. Together, the couple has left legacies for which they will be remembered. However, it appears a lot of people are yet to catch wind of Lois’ death as many sites still write that she is alive.
FAQs
Who is Lois Clarke?
Lois Clarke was the wife of James Garner, the late American actor. The couple got married in 1956 and were together until Garner died in 2014.
What is Lois Clarke’s Net Worth?
Lois Clarke had an estimated net worth of $20 million. A huge chunk of her wealth came from what she inherited from her husband after his passing.
Is James Garner’s wife Lois still alive?
Lois Clarke is no longer alive. The wife of James Garner passed on in 2021, seven years after he died in 2014.
Does Lois Garner Have any Children?
Lois Garner has two children. Her first child was daughter Kimberly, who she had before she married James, and another daughter named Greta S. Garner, born in 1958.