The Real Reason ‘The Rockford Files’ Was Abruptly Cancelled

Fans of The Rockford Files probably wondered, “Is that all there is?” when James Garner’s private-eye drama ended abruptly in 1980, midway through Season 6. The NBC show, which celebrates another anniversary on September 13, ended with a sixth season only half the length of the others — cut short due to an ugly, protracted legal battle between Garner and Universal Studios. It wasn’t until the 1990s, after the lawsuit was resolved, that a series of CBS TV movies continued Jim Rockford’s story.

Here’s what happened in the last episode of the original series, and why it all came to a screeching halt.