Jay Garner

Jay Garner was an American actor of musical theater, film and television. Born in Sewanee, Tennessee, he studied at the University of Tennessee, then moved to Atlanta and worked in radio; he took the name Jay on joining Actors Equity, which already listed a James Garner. On stage he was known for character parts, such as the Texas governor in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; he originated Eduord Dindon in La Cage Aux Folles and played Lester Maddox, the Georgia governor, in Red, White and Maddox and Benjamin Franklin in 1776. In 1986 he succeeded George S. Irving as Sir John Tremayne in Me and My Girl, and his last Broadway role was Horace Vandergelder in the 1994 Hello, Dolly! revival. His films included Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) and Pennies from Heaven (1981), and on television he played Admiral Asimov on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Jason Defarge on Three's Company.