James Garner Finally Reveals the Truth About His Feud With Steve McQueen

For decades, Hollywood has whispered about the legendary tension between two of its most iconic stars — James Garner and Steve McQueen.

Both men were titans of the silver screen, symbols of effortless cool and masculine charisma in an era that defined the American tough-guy archetype.

Yet behind the cameras, the relationship between these two screen legends was anything but smooth.

Now, years after both men’s prime, James Garner finally opened up about the truth — a story of rivalry, respect, and regret that reveals the complex humanity behind their public personas.

It all began in the early 1960s, when both actors were rising to stardom.

Garner had already achieved fame through his role as Bret Maverick in the hit TV series Maverick, while McQueen was making his mark as Josh Randall in Wanted: Dead or Alive.

They were both young, talented, and hungry — and Hollywood, as Garner would later admit, wasn’t big enough for the two of them.

In his memoir, Garner recalled their first encounters: “Steve and I were never close friends,” he wrote bluntly.

“We worked in the same town, at the same time, and we were both after the same kind of roles.

That kind of competition can make things… complicated.”

The tension between the two grew more apparent during the production of The Great Escape in 1963, where they shared the screen alongside other stars like Richard Attenborough and Charles Bronson.

On set, McQueen’s meticulous nature and need for control often clashed with Garner’s laid-back, good-humored professionalism.

Garner revealed in the interview that McQueen’s attitude stemmed from insecurity as much as ambition.

“Steve wanted to be the best — not just good, but better than everyone else,” Garner said.

“He was competitive to the point of paranoia.

If you had a good scene, he’d find a way to make his better.”

According to Garner, McQueen’s constant need to outshine others created tension on set.

“He’d watch everyone’s takes.

He’d count your lines, your camera time,” Garner recalled with a sigh.

“I didn’t take it personally, but it could wear on people. ”

Still, despite the rivalry, Garner admitted that he couldn’t help but admire McQueen’s dedication and raw talent.

“He wasn’t classically trained, but the camera loved him.

He had that something — the thing you can’t teach.

When the lens found Steve, you couldn’t look away.”

But the cracks in their relationship deepened after The Great Escape.

Garner went on to star in The Americanization of Emily and Grand Prix, while McQueen became an international icon with hits like Bullitt and The Thomas Crown Affair.

Behind the success, however, lay resentment and mistrust.

Garner admitted that McQueen once accused him of trying to sabotage his image during their time together in Hollywood.

“He thought I was too clean-cut, too straight,” Garner explained.

“He didn’t trust people easily, especially actors.

He thought everyone was out to get ahead at his expense.”

Over the years, rumors swirled about on-set fights, stolen roles, and bitter jealousy.

Yet in his later years, Garner revealed that much of the animosity was blown out of proportion.

“We were two very different men,” he said.

“I liked golf and family dinners.

Steve liked motorcycles and danger.

He lived fast — maybe too fast.”

When McQueen was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1979, Garner said he was “deeply shaken.

” The illness, caused by exposure to asbestos, quickly took McQueen’s life at just 50 years old.

Garner recalled hearing the news while filming and feeling an unexpected rush of sadness.

“It hit me harder than I thought it would,” he said.

“We never really made peace, and that’s something I’ll always regret. ”

In the interview, Garner reflected on their complicated dynamic with honesty and humility.

“If I could tell Steve one thing now, I’d say — I respected you, even when I didn’t say it.

You were the real deal.”

He paused before adding, “People like to think of us as enemies, but the truth is, we were two sides of the same coin.

We both came from nothing.

We both fought our way up.

We both wanted to matter.”

Garner’s candor offered fans a rare glimpse into the real Hollywood — one built not on glamour and perfection, but on human frailty and unspoken emotion.

“I think Steve carried a lot of pain,” Garner said softly.

“He didn’t show it, but it was there.

I wish I’d known how to reach him back then.”

As the interview concluded, Garner reflected on the passing of time and the lessons learned from a life spent in the public eye.

“You get older and realize that competition doesn’t matter,” he said.

“Friendship does.

I just wish we’d had more time to figure that out.”

Today, as fans revisit classic films like The Great Escape, the tension between Garner and McQueen adds a layer of poignancy to their shared legacy.

What once seemed like rivalry now feels like the story of two men who were more alike than either ever admitted.

Garner’s final words summed it up best: “Steve McQueen was a rebel, sure.

But he was also a man trying to find peace in a world that kept chasing him.

In the end, I think we both were.”