Gene Seymour : But it took an actor of Garner 's innate charm , unassuming earnestness and modulated intensity to drive them home and let them resonate nearly 15 years into the new millennium . Seymour won a devoted following playing the coolly principled coward . He was noted for CNN and `` Maverick , '' in which he played reluctant do-gooder . Seymour : His movies uneven , but `` Maverick was a perfect fit . Gene Seymour : Garner 's persona was not Gene Seymour bait , but audiences loved him .
Gene Seymour : Seymour won a devoted following playing the coolly principled coward . He was noted for CNN and `` Maverick , '' in which he played reluctant do-gooder . Seymour : His movies uneven , but `` Maverick was a perfect fit . Gene Seymour : Garner 's persona was not Gene Seymour bait , but audiences loved him .