Dermot Mulroney to Play ‘Rockford’ in Updated Television Series

Actor Dermot Mulroney has inked a deal to star as Jim Rockford in a modernized version of the popular NBC crime drama The Rockford Files.

In the original Stephen J. Cannell-created series that aired from September 1974 to January 1980, James Garner played the title role.

According to an article on HollywoodReporter.com, “The new Jim Rockford is described as ‘slightly crumpled, wry humored, cynical, world weary, compassionate when it's called for and easily irritated by morons.’ His troubled past includes doing some time as a convict and as a cop.’”

Aside from Mulroney’s three-episode stint on NBC’s Friends, the Rockford project is his only other foray into the television series industry.

Mulroney has starred on the silver screen with many notable Hollywood actors and actresses in such films as the 1993 action thriller Point of No Return opposite Bridget Fonda and Gabriel Byrne, in the 1994 family comedy Angels in the Outfield, opposite Danny Glover, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in the 1995 thriller Copycat, opposite Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter and Harry Connick Jr., in the 1997 romantic comedy My Best Friend’s Wedding, opposite Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Rupert Everett, in the 2002 dramedy About Schmidt, opposite Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis and Howard Hesseman, in the 2005 romantic comedy The Wedding Date, opposite Debra Messing and Amy Adams, in another 2005 romantic comedy Must Love Dogs, opposite Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer and Stockard Channing, in the 2007 thriller Zodiac opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards and Robert Downey Jr. and in the Coen brothers-written and directed 2008 crime dramedy Burn After Reading opposite George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and David Rasche.

The HollywoodReporter.com article concludes by stating that, “NBC's Rockford Files was penned by House creator David Shore, who is executive producing with Steve Carell.’”