Robert Wagner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Wagner was born in Detroit to Thelma Hazel Alvera (née Boe; 1898–1993), a former telephone operator, and Robert John Wagner Sr. (1890–1964), a traveling salesman who worked for the Ford Motor Company. He had one older sister, Mary Scott (1926–2023). The family moved to Bel-Air, an upscale area of Los Angeles, in 1937. After an unsuccessful screen test directed by Fred Zinnemann for his film *Teresa* (1951), Wagner was represented by Albert R. Broccoli. He made his uncredited film debut in *The Happy Years* (1950), was signed by agent Henry Willson and put under contract with 20th Century Fox. 'I started off as an ingénue,' he said. 'I was 19 years old. I was the boy next door.' His first film for Fox was *Halls of Montezuma* (1951), a World War II film with Richard Widmark as the star. Wagner first gained significant attention with a small, showy part as a shell-shocked soldier in *With a Song in My Heart* (1952). Fox gave him his first starring role in *Beneath the 12-Mile Reef* (1953), which was only the third film ever shot in CinemaScope and was a big hit. He later starred in *Prince Valiant* (1954) and received more critical acclaim for the lead in *A Kiss Before Dying* (1956).

Reader's Guide

Wagner's career spanned from the 1950s into the 2010s, transitioning from film to television stardom. In 1967, Lew Wasserman of Universal convinced Wagner to make his television series debut in *It Takes a Thief* (1968–1970) on ABC-TV. 'I was opposed to doing Thief,' Wagner said later. 'But Lew Wasserman said: "I want you to be in TV Guide every week."' The successful two-and-a-half seasons of his first TV series completed his comeback, and his performance earned him an Emmy nomination for Best TV Actor. He later starred in *Switch* (1975–1978, opposite Eddie Albert, Sharon Gless, and Charlie Callas) after re-signing a contract with Universal in 1974. In film, he is remembered for his role as Number 2 in the *Austin Powers* trilogy (1997, 1999, 2002) and for appearances in *The Pink Panther* (1963), a massive hit, and *The Towering Inferno* (1974), a massive hit reuniting him with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. Wagner's first wife, actress Natalie Wood, died under mysterious circumstances in 1981. In 2018, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department named Wagner a 'person of interest' in the investigation into Wood's death. Wagner has denied any involvement.

Did You Know?

• Wagner's first film for 20th Century Fox was *Halls of Montezuma* (1951), a World War II film starring Richard Widmark.
• His first starring role was in *Beneath the 12-Mile Reef* (1953), only the third film ever shot in CinemaScope.
• Wagner's performance in *It Takes a Thief* earned him an Emmy nomination for Best TV Actor.
• He was a regular in the BBC/Universal WWII prisoner-of-war drama *Colditz* (1972–1974) for much of its run.
• Wagner's friend and agent Albert Broccoli suggested he audition to play James Bond, but Wagner decided it was not right for him.