Robert Wagner
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Biography
The epitome of the handsome and debonair Hollywood star, actor Robert Wagner – known to friends as "R.J." – played romantic heroes and upstanding young men in a string of mostly unmemorable 1950s and 1960s-era features, before finding lasting fame as one of television's smoothest leading men. Wagner brought old-school class to the ABC action drama "It Takes a Thief" (ABC, 1968-1970) and, more importantly, showed a knack for light comedy with his roles in "Switch" (CBS, 1975-1980) and "Hart to Hart" (ABC, 1979-1984). He also made headlines in his personal life; most notably for being one-half of one of Hollywood's most beloved couples after marrying the beautiful Natalie Wood not once, but twice. It was her mysterious death by drowning in November 1981 which sealed their legend and caused an outpouring of love and support for the actor. This goodwill carried over year after year as the veteran actor aged gracefully, settled into a happy marriage with actress Jill St. John, and was always welcomed warmly with numerous appearances on both the big and small screens; most memorably as Mike Meyer's Number Two in the "Austin Powers" film franchise.
Born Robert John Wagner Jr. on Feb. 10, 1930 in Detroit, MI, Wagner's father was a steel industry executive, leaving the family to relocate to Los Angeles when he was in grade school. He was expected to follow in his father's footsteps, but after a turn in drag (as Priscilla Alden) in a high school production of "The Courtship of Miles Standish," Wagner began to think about acting as his profession. A job at the Bel-Air Country Club, where he caddied to such stars as Clark Gable, gave him further inspiration, so he announced to his father than he intended to become an actor. Robert Wagner Sr. gave his son an ultimatum: he would have one year to find success in Hollywood or quit and get into the steel business. Fortunately for Wagner Jr., his first job came shortly after his father's declaration with a bit part in "The Happy Years" (1950). More small roles followed, but his appearance as a hospitalized paratrooper in "With a Song in My Heart" (1952), about American singer Jane Froman (Susan Hayward), led to a contract with 20th Century Fox.
Supporting roles in notable films like John Ford's "What Price Glory" (1952) and the John Phillip Sousa biopic "Stars and Stripes Forever" (1953), for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination, eventually led to starring roles – though pictures like "Beneath the 12-Mile Reef" (1953) and "Prince Valiant" (1954) asked little more of him than to look handsome. It took the intervention of actor Spencer Tracy to pull him out of the teen idol doldrums. The much respected Tracy took the young man under his wing and asked that he be cast as his son Joseph, who is tormented by his brothers for being half Native-American, in the dramatic Western "Broken Lance" (1954). The opportunity led to other substantial parts for Wagner, including "A Kiss Before Dying" (1956), which had him playing against type as a psychotic killer, and "Between Heaven and Hell," for which he played a wealthy playboy who undergoes an emotional transformation during World War II.
Wagner underwent a transformation of his own in 1956 when he became involved with another up-and-coming talent, former child actress ("Miracle on 34th Street" (1947)), Natalie Wood. The attractive pair was splashed across numerous magazine covers, and their marriage in 1957 earned them even further press. But their personal lives and careers floundered. Despite having proven his talents, Wagner's status as a leading man faltered in the late '50s and early '60s, and after Wood's contract was suspended for refusing to appear in a film in Europe, the couple experienced significant financial difficulties. The pressures caused a strain on their marriage, and Wagner and Wood eventually divorced in 1962. They would later admit that they were simply too young to get married. Extremely distraught, Wagner fled to Europe, where he appeared as a soldier in the war epic, "The Longest Day" (1962). While there, he met and became involved with a fellow actor, Marion Marshall. The new couple was married in 1963, and a daughter, Katie, followed in 1964.
Wagner's film career slowed considerably during the 1960s. He enjoyed a few notable projects, including "The Pink Panther" (1963) – he was blinded for a month after an accident on the set involving industrial cleaning agents – and two films with Paul Newman – "Harper" (1966) and the racing drama "Winning" (1969) – but for the most part, he was tapped for his good looks and resonant voice in forgettable movies like "Don't Just Stand There!" (1968) and "The Biggest Bundle of Them All" (1969). In 1968, he took the supposed step down by signing on to his first television series with "It Takes a Thief." As a suave burglar turned spy, Wagner's looks and charm were a considerable asset. Although the show lasted just two seasons, it gave his star a considerable boost, earning him his second Golden Globe nomination and first Emmy nod.
From 1970, Wagner worked constantly and almost exclusively on television, guesting on series like "The Streets of San Francisco" (ABC, 1972-77) and the acclaimed World War II drama, "Colditz" (BBC, 1972-74). He also reunited romantically with Wood after a chance encounter in 1971. Though Wood was married and with a daughter at the time (future actress Natasha Gregson Wagner), the couple reignited their relationship, and, to the delight of true romance fans everywhere, remarried in 1972. Their only biological child together, daughter Courtney, was born in 1974. Finally happy together, Wagner and Wood appeared in several highly regarded television projects, most notably a production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1976) with Laurence Olivier as Big Daddy. Wagner also made several theatrical features during this period, including the star-packed "The Towering Inferno" (1974) and "Midway" (1976). In addition to all his responsibilities, he found time to dabble in TV production, offering up to producer Aaron Spelling an idea he and Wood had conjured up; an idea which blossomed into the iconic jiggle show of them all: "Charlie's AngelEs" (ABC, 1976-1981).
In 1975, Wagner starred in his second series, "Switch," a drama co-starring his lifelong friend Eddie Albert, whom he had met on the set of "The Longest Day." The pair played detectives who specialized in elaborate cons to trap criminals. A relatively popular series, it lasted two seasons before ending its network run in 1978. The following year, Wagner signed on to play millionaire Jonathan Hart, who dabbled in detective work with his wife Jennifer (Stephanie Powers), in "Hart to Hart." Created by novelist Sidney Sheldon and produced by Aaron Spelling, the series was glossy, campy fun and a huge hit. Wagner earned numerous Golden Globe and Emmy nods for his tongue-in-cheek work.
On Nov. 29, 1981, Wagner endured a terrible tragedy when Wood drowned while the couple was sailing off the coast of Catalina Island. After much investigation, it was deemed an accidental death, with an intoxicated Wood supposedly falling into the water after attempting to leave their yacht, Splendor, and enter the boat's rubber dinghy. Weighted down with a thick down coat and legally inebriated, she had struggled to get into the dinghy, but was unable. Her body was found the next day, floating face down near the island; the dinghy washed up on shore not far away. Almost immediately, allegations of infidelity between Wood and their passenger, her "Brainstorm" (1983) co-star Christopher Walken, as well as allegations made in a tell-all biography by Wood's sister Lana Wood, led to Wagner disappearing from public view for several years. He was too devastated by his loss, as well as disgusted by the rampant speculation in the press regarding so-called sordid details of Wood's tragic death. When "Hart to Hart" ended its network run in 1983, Wagner was only too content to concentrate solely on raising his three daughters.
But Wagner's popularity did not allow him to stay away for too long. By 1985, he was appearing regularly in episodic series and TV movies, including the short-lived drama series, "Lime Street" (CBS, 1985), which was touched by tragedy when, only a few episodes in, Wagner's onscreen daughter, Samantha Smith, died in a plane crash, hastening the series' demise. He hosted "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) in 1989, and appeared in a string of popular "Hart to Hart" reunion TV movies between 1993-96. Wagner also took time from his newly busy schedule in 1990 to marry actress and long-time girlfriend, Jill St. John, with whom he appeared in many stage productions for charity. Still undeniably handsome as he reached his sixth decade, Wagner settled comfortably into the role of "old Hollywood pro," contributing numerous supporting turns in big budget films like "Wild Things" (1997), "Crazy in Alabama" (1999) and "Play It To The Bone" (1999). He even parodied his own smooth-as-silk image, starring as the diabolical but dense Number Two, henchman to Dr. Evil in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" (1997), "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999), and briefly in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" (2002). In the latter film, Wagner shared the role with Rob Lowe, who played a younger version of Number Two and who offered a note-perfect imitation of Wagner's plummy voice and gentlemanly demeanor.
Wagner remained exceptionally busy for the next few years, appearing on countless television shows and providing his unique perspective on Hollywood for many show business documentaries. He also served as the host for the "Hour of Stars" (Fox Movie Channel, 2002- ), which showcased episodes from the TV anthology series "The 20th Century Fox Hour" (CBS, 1955-57), on which Wagner had once appeared. Long considered one of the most pleasant and friendly men in the entertainment business, Wagner showed an aggressive side in 2000, when he sued Aaron Spelling Productions for breach of contract over his participation in a failed revival of "Charlie's Angels" called "Angels 88." He filed suit again in 2003 for profits from the "Angels" theatrical features, but a California appeals court ruled against him in 2007. Back onscreen and staying contemporary for the kiddies, Wagner made memorable guest appearances on hit shows like "Las Vegas" (NBC, 2002-08), "Hope & Faith" (ABC, 2003-06) and "Boston Legal" (ABC, 2004-08). In 2011, the 81-year-old actor was brought back into the spotlight when the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reopened Natalie Wood's drowning case, based on new information brought forward by various sources, including the Splendour captain, Dennis Davern, who alleged Wagner was in some way responsible for his wife's death. Investigators insisted Wagner was not a suspect. The actor released a statement that said, in part, that he and the Wagner family would cooperate with any new investigation, but hoped that certain people were not just cashing in on the 30th anniversary of Wood's death.
Filmography
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Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
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Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1950
Made his film debut in "The Happy Years"
1968
Played Alexander Mundy on the ABC spy series "It Takes a Thief"
1972
First producer credit, as executive producer of the TV-movie "Madame Sin" (ABC), also starred opposite Bette Davis
1975
Played Pete Ryan (a former thief) opposite Eddie Albert (as a retired cop) on the CBS detective drama "Switch"
1976
Co-starred with wife Natalie Wood in televised adaptation of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (NBC)
1979
Played Jonathan Hart opposite Stefanie Powers on the ABC detective series "Hart to Hart"
1985
Executive produced (along with Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason) and starred on the short-lived adventure series "Lime Street" (ABC)
1991
First feature film in eight years, "Delirious"
1993
Reunited with Powers for the NBC TV-movie "Hart to Hart Returns"
1994
Appeared in the historical miniseries "Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III" (ABC)
1997
Played villainous right-hand man Number Two in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery"
1999
Returned as Number Two in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"
2002
Reprised role of Number Two in "Austin Powers in Goldmember"
2002
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2006
Guest starred on the two-hour season finale of ABC's "Boston Legal"
2007
Co-starred in "Man in the Chair"
2007
Landed a recurring guest role on "Two and a Half Men" (CBS)
2009
Acted in the family drama "The Wild Stallion"
2010
Guest starred on "NCIS" (CBS)
2014
Appeared in the lowbrow comedy "The Hungover Games"
2017
Had an uncredited role in "What Happened to Monday"
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