James Garner, a deceased American actor, was married to Lois Clarke. One of the most adored couples in the world was without a doubt, Lois and James Garner. Their marriage lasted for many years, making it one of the longest in entertainment.
James’ contribution to the entertainment industry continues even though he isn’t with us right now. Lois Clarke gained notoriety for his performances in Maverick and The Rockford Files. Additionally, he was the winner of various honors.
Aside from that, James’ wife Lois has a lot of undiscovered stories. We all want to know how one of the longest couples has endured the test of time, including how many children they have. Let’s find out, then!
According to her wiki bio, what is known about Lois Clarke’s early life?
On July 6, 1923, Lois J. Clarke was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents raised her in the Los Angeles region shortly after her birth. There isn’t much information available about her parents or siblings.
Lois was English and Irish-born, and she came from a Jewish family. She was American-born and of Caucasian heritage. At a regional institution in the Los Angeles region, Clarke completed his higher education.
Lois and James first encountered one another in July of 1956. The two initially ran across each other while visiting a friend’s poolside BBQ, but love didn’t immediately blossom between them.
They reconnected a few days after their initial encounter. This time, they ran into each other while attending a rally in support of Adlai Stevenson’s 1956 Democratic presidential nomination. James decided to take a chance and ask Lois out after noticing that she was single. Naturally, Lois agreed to his request as well.
Since that night, they had been dating for two weeks before deciding to get married.
James and Lois Clarke were wed when and where?
One would believe that the secret to a long-lasting relationship is understanding each other before plunging into the marital scene. Well, these pairs proved everyone incorrect. After going together for a scant two weeks they made the big step and were married.
They exchanged vows on August 17th, 1956, in a private ceremony. The marriage took place in the Beverly Hills courtroom. This was the first marriage for both of them, although they had dated a handful of individuals before.
Lois And James Had Some Challenges Leading Up To Their Marriage
Around the time when the couple started dating, society wasn’t receptive to intercaste weddings. Similarly, both Lois and James had to suffer such difficulty. While he hailed from a methodist background, his girlfriend was Jewish. He was an Oklahoman and she was a Los Angeleno.
Although their religious background was different, Lois and James never really cared for it. In his memoir, The Garner Files, James stated, “Neither of us was ever what you would call religious, so it wasn’t an issue, at least not for Lois and me.”
Despite all the hurdles, the two could care less about anything other than their happiness. He also claimed in his memoir, “None of the skeptics had thought to consider that Lois and I complemented each other. What they viewed as faults, we saw as strengths.”
From his statement, one thing is for sure, the pair was pretty confident when it comes to their love. And we all know how their stance worked out in the end.
James Was Quite Protective Of His Wife
When you fall in love strongly with a person, you somehow get possessive of them, and it’s not necessarily a terrible thing. After all, you don’t want somebody trying to ruin your life.
One day, when Garner was heading to an event with his wife, Lois, a known actor tried flirting with Lois. The actor was one-time Oscar winner Lee Marvin. In his memoir, Garner showed how furious he was.
“One night in a limousine on our way to some function, he made passes on my wife. That’s a little more than I can bear and I almost decked him.”
You can tell by his fury that he was highly protective of his spouse, Lois.
Lois Separated From James A Couple Of Times
Every great item we see has some form of suffering associated with it. Likewise, one of Hollywood’s longest-staying couples once suffered a rough spell. At one point, their relationship wasn’t able to stand tall as we all know and was on the edge of breaking.
Back in the early 1970s, James and Lois decided to go their ways. Nevertheless, they got back together after three months. A longer separation ensued for the couple in the same decades.
In the late 1970s, Garner was busy shooting for The Rockford Files. Although the TV series gained him a tremendous amount of recognition, it did come at a cost. The busy schedule took its toll on his private life and before he knew it, his relationship was failing.
Eventually, their relationship succumbed to the problem and they chose to separate. The lovebirds were separated for nearly 18 months before reconnecting. In his memoir, James revealed how many people asked his wife Lois to divorce him but she wanted to stay strong. Thankfully everything worked out in the end.
Lois Clarke Was A Mother Of Two Daughters
From their beautiful connection, Lois and James became the father of two kids. When James married Lois, he also welcomed her daughter, Kim, from her previous marriage. At the time of their marriage, Kim was already seven years old and recovering from Polio. The pair welcomed their only biological child, a daughter called Greta ‘Gigi‘ Garner, in January 1958.
Both of their daughters shared an impeccable bond with their mom and dad. During his childhood, James was reared by an aggressive stepmother who used to beat him. Having gone through a horrible childhood, he made sure to provide his two girls with the proper childhood they richly deserve.
Lois’ Husband James Passed Away In 2014
After enjoying a joyful wedded life of half a century, James died at the age of 86. The reason behind his death was said to be natural causes. At his deathbed, the attractive actor was accompanied by family members in his Los Angeles mansion.
Even since his passing, Lois has been maintaining low-key. She is yet to make any public appearance.
What Is Lois Clarke Doing Now? Is She Still Alive?
Well, Lois Clarke passed away at the age of 98 in October 2021. Her daughter with her late husband, James Garner, Gigi Garner posted to her Twitter on October 29th announcing her mother’s death. She published a black-and-white photo of her mother and father and wrote “Please excuse my absence however, my mother Lois Garner, born July 6, 1923, has passed” in the caption. However, the specific date of Lois Clarke’s demise is not given.
Lois died approximately seven years after her husband James passed away.
Lois Clarke’s Net Worth At The Time Of Her Death
At the time of his death, Lois’s husband James had a net worth of $20 million. In addition to it, he also had a few properties across the country. It might be argued that following his demise, all of his riches were passed down to his wife, Lois.
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