Rockford as Maverick

Another example of shorthand "couple-speak" for actors we've gotten to know in a particular role:  James Garner, a veteran of TV and movies and many, many roles will forever be Jim Rockford to us. 

Lately, we have been watching old black-and-white TV episodes on DVD of Maverick. In our lingo, "Rockford" is playing Maverick. 

The old Mavericks are in black and white and set in the old west. But, essentially, James Garner plays the same role—a little younger and riding a horse rather than driving a Firebird. He’s still scamming and charming his way through plots with the same style that made him a fixture in our hearts from his Rockford days. 

How many ohter actors can you think of who will forever be a charachter they played sometime. Whenever you see them in something else you flash back to the first memorable character where they stole your heart? More on that next time.