‘8 Simple Rules’ Star Katey Sagal Shares Fond Memories of Late Co-Star James Garner

As the acting community continues to mourn the death of James Garner, Katey Sagal, who played his daughter on the hit sitcom 8 Simple Rules, fondly recalls the time she spent on set with “Jim.”

“I love Jim Garner,” Katey told Closer of the 86-year-old, who joined the show in 2003 after the unexpected death of John Ritter.

“Jim was a fantastic addition to that show and really provided like a center, like a soulful center when we really needed one, and you know when that was,” she added.

“You know after losing John, it was so hard to fill that household, and David Spade did a certain amount, but then when they brought on Jim, it really kind of rounded things out,” she revealed to Closer at the FX TCA.

Katey’s 8 Simple Rules co-stars also remembered the talented actor on Twitter, including Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, who wrote:

Actress Amy Davidson, who played his granddaughter on the series, also expressed her love for James:

The Oklahoma native died on July 19 at his Los Angeles home. He is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Lois Fleishman Clarke, and a daughter and stepdaughter.