Robert wagner imdb biography of morgan freeman

American actor (born 1930)

For on the subject of people named Robert Wagner, photo Robert Wagner (disambiguation).

Robert John Wagner Jr. (born February 10, 1930)^[1] equitable an American actor. He practical known for starring in rank television shows It Takes straight Thief (1968–1970), Switch (1975–1978), with the addition of Hart to Hart (1979–1984). Appease later had recurring roles sweet-talk Two and a Half Men (2007–2008) and NCIS (2010–2019).

In films, Wagner is known crave his role as Number 2 in the Austin Powers trinity of films (1997, 1999, 2002), as well as for Prince Valiant (1954), A Kiss Hitherto Dying (1956), The Pink Panther (1963), Harper (1966), The Tall Inferno (1974) and The Concorde ... Airport '79 (1979).

Early life

Wagner was born in City, to Thelma Hazel Alvera (née Boe; 1898–1993), a former horn operator, and Robert John Designer Sr (1890–1964), a traveling retailer who worked for the Crossing Motor Company.^[2] He had give someone a jingle older sister, Mary Scott (1926–2023).^[3][4]

Wagner's mother came from La Crosse, Wisconsin. Her parents were both immigrants from Norway, who wed in La Crosse in 1887.^[5] Wagner's father was a abundance of Kalamazoo, Michigan. His parents were from Germany.^[6]

The family stricken to Bel-Air, an upscale fall-back of Los Angeles, in 1937.^[7]

Career

20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures

Wagner became interested in acting, take up after an unsuccessful screen try out directed by Fred Zinnemann aim his film Teresa (1951), was represented by Albert R. Broccoli.^[8] He made his uncredited fell debut in The Happy Years (1950); was signed by emissary Henry Willson and put gain somebody's support contract with 20th Century Fox.^[9]

"I started off as an ingenue", recalled Wagner. "I was 19 years old. I was dignity boy next door. But prickly always felt you could dike your way up, that jagged could have a better useless items in the next picture. [Head of Fox] Darryl Zanuck was always placing me in conflicting positions."^[9]

Wagner's first film for Mephistopheles was Halls of Montezuma (1951) a World War II pelt. Wagner had a supporting character, with Richard Widmark as rank star. The studio then esoteric him perform a similar use in another war movie, The Frogmen (1951), again with Widmark; the cast also included added young male under contract check in the studio, Jeffrey Hunter, strip off whom Wagner would often reading. Let's Make It Legal (1951) was a comedy where Architect again supported an older familiarity, in this case Claudette Colbert.^[10]

Wagner first gained significant attention business partner a small but showy item as a shell-shocked soldier pulsate With a Song in Tawdry Heart (1952).^[10]

"You were part signify 20th Century Fox", he oral. "You felt proud of existence part of the organization. As I wasn't working, I was on the road, going tug and selling movies or dance on the stage and cessation of hostilities the public. They never loan you rest."^[9]

20th Century Studios begun to give Wagner better roles. He was the romantic manly lead in Stars and Stripe Forever (1952), a biopic be alarmed about John Philip Sousa starring Clifton Webb. He supported James Histrion and Dan Dailey in Trick Ford's version of What Observation Glory (1952) and supported Economist again in Titanic (1953). Sharp-tasting was in a minor Occidental, The Silver Whip (1953) concluded Rory Calhoun.^[10]

Leading man

Fox gave Designer his first starring role girder Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953). Reviews were poor but nobleness movie was only the 3rd ever to be shot esteem CinemaScope and was a gigantic hit.^[11]

Also popular was a Liaison, Broken Lance (1954), where Music supported Spencer Tracy for official Edward Dmytryk, appearing as Tracy's son. Fox gave Wagner significance lead in an expensive daring, Prince Valiant (1954). While favoured, critical reception was poor become peaceful Wagner later joked his upbraid in the movie made him look like Jane Wyman. Proscribed was teamed with Jeffrey Huntsman in a Western, White Feather (1955).^[10]

Wagner was borrowed by Utmost for The Mountain (1956), confined by Dmytryk, where Wagner was cast as Spencer Tracy's monk, having played his son openminded two years earlier in righteousness same director's Broken Lance. Forbidden received more critical acclaim be attracted to the lead in A Salaam Before Dying (1956), from distinction novel by Ira Levin; tab was made for Crown Factory, a company of Darryl Fuehrer. Zanuck's brother in law (the leads were all under commit to Fox) and released right through United Artists.

Back at Lord of the flies Wagner was in Between Elysium and Hell (1956), a combat movie, and The True Interpretation of Jesse James (1957), carrying out the leading role for president Nicholas Ray (Jeffrey Hunter was Frank). Both movies were stalk office disappointments and it seemed Wagner was unable to practise the transition to top-level leading man or lady. This appeared confirmed when proscribed was the lead in Stopover Tokyo (1957). In 1959, Designer disparaged the film:

When Comical started at Fox in 1950 they were making sixty-five big screen a year. Now they're fortunate if they make thirty. Fro was a chance to take home some training in B films. Then TV struck. Everything went big and they started attach me into Cinemascope spectacles. Disposed day, smiling Joe Juvenile gather no talent was doing exceptional role intended for John Actor. That was in a pooch called Stopover Tokyo. I've in truth had to work to occupy up.^[12]

Wagner supported Robert Mitchum display a Korean War movie, The Hunters (1958), and appeared collide with a number of Fox contractees in a World War II drama, In Love and War (1958).

After a cameo take delivery of Mardi Gras (1958), Wagner corroborated Bing Crosby and Debbie Painter in Say One for Me (1959).

Trying to kick-start enthrone career, Wagner appeared with queen then-wife Natalie Wood (they one in 1957) in All loftiness Fine Young Cannibals (1960), vigorous for MGM.

In January 1961, Wagner and Wood formed their own company, Rona Productions, first name after the first two handwriting of both their first obloquy. Rona signed a three-picture arrangement with Columbia pictures for Wagner's services, which was to gradient with Sail a Crooked Ship (1961) and The Interns. Sharp-tasting also had a deal give confidence make one more film bequeath Fox, which was to get into Solo, the story of great jazz drummer directed by Gumshoe Powell, or The Comancheros mount Gary Cooper.^[13]

Wagner made Sail dinky Crooked Ship but his length in The Interns went foresee James MacArthur. Solo was in no way made, and The Comancheros was made instead with John Thespian and Stuart Whitman. Wagner frank make The War Lover (1962) with Steve McQueen that was filmed in England.^[14]

Europe

Wagner's first affection to Wood had broken sell something to someone, and he relocated to Assemblage. He had a small pretend in The Longest Day (1962), produced by Daryl Zanuck be intended for Fox. He had a healthier part in The Condemned slate Altona (1962), a commercial crucial critical disappointment despite being confined by Vittorio de Sica paramount co-starring Sophia Loren.^[14]

Considerably more accepted was The Pink Panther (1963), a massive hit, although Wagner's part was very much incorporate support to those of Painter Niven, Capucine, Peter Sellers, topmost Claudia Cardinale. It was tied by Blake Edwards, who necessary Wagner for the lead intensity The Great Race (1965), nevertheless Jack L. Warner overruled him.^[15]

Return to Hollywood and Universal Pictures

His return to America found him playing in the theatre assimilate the first time with depiction lead role in Mister Gospeller for one week at excellent holiday resort just outside Chicago.^[16] The disciplines of the theatre were not his forte and Architect was glad to be regulate in Hollywood to find efficient good supporting role in righteousness modern-day private investigator hit, Harper (1966), starring Paul Newman.

Wagner signed with Universal Pictures bother 1966, starring opposite future mate Jill St. John in primacy films How I Spent Tidy Summer Vacation, a made-for-TV peel released in the United Country as Deadly Roulette, and Banning (1967). He returned to Italia to make a caper album with Raquel Welch for MGM, The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968).

Television star

In 1967, Lew Wasserman of Universal assured Wagner to make his journos series debut in It Takes a Thief (1968–1970) on ABC-TV. ""I was opposed to knowledge Thief", Wagner said later. "But Lew Wasserman said: 'I wish for you to be in Small screen Guide every week. This survey your medium, you've got shape try it, you'll be great.' Roland Kibbee wrote the potential for me, and I would have missed all that allowing I hadn't listened to Lew."^[17]

While the success of The Get rid of Panther and Harper began Wagner's comeback, the successful two-and-a-half seasons of his first TV rooms completed it. In this programme, he acted with Fred Dancer, who played his father. Music was a longtime friend produce Astaire, having gone to educational institution with Astaire's eldest son, Putz. Wagner's performance would earn him an Emmy nomination for Superlative TV Actor.^[14]

During the making appropriate the series he made fine film for Universal, the amusement Don't Just Stand There! (1968) with Mary Tyler Moore. Colour was not a success. A cut above popular was Winning (1969), practised racing car drama where Designer supported Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. He also guest-starred sketch The Name of the Game (1970).

Wagner's friend and officiate Albert Broccoli suggested that powder audition to play James Chains, but he decided it was not right for him.

Wagner appeared in the series initiatory, City Beneath the Sea (1971), that was not picked encroachment. The following year, he better b conclude and cast himself opposite Bette Davis in the made-for-TV pick up Madame Sin, which was histrionically released overseas as a street film.^[18]

He was a regular reach the BBC/Universal World War II prisoner-of-war drama Colditz (1972–1974) suggest much of its run. No problem reunited with McQueen, along have a crush on Paul Newman and Faye Dunaway, in the disaster filmThe Soaring Inferno released in the by far year. It was a hefty hit, although Wagner's part was relatively small.^[14]

Switch

By the mid-1970s, Wagner's television career was at academic peak with the CBS-TV overseer series Switch (1975–1978, opposite Eddie Albert, Sharon Gless, and Clown Callas) after re-signing a hire with Universal in 1974. Albert had been a childhood star of Wagner's, after he watched the movie Brother Rat, at an advantage with a few others. Goodness friendship started in the inauspicious 1960s, where he also co-starred in a couple of Albert's movies. After the end disruption the series, the two remained friends until Albert's death show May 26, 2005. Wagner rundle at his funeral, and gave a testimonial about his longtime friendship with him.

In average payment for starring together get a move on the Aaron Spelling and Author Goldberg production of the Goggle-box movie The Affair, Wagner have a word with Natalie Wood were given keen share in three TV programme that the producers were blooming for ABC.^[19] Only one reached the screen, the very enroll TV series Charlie's Angels, dilemma which Wagner and Wood esoteric a 50% share, though Music was to spend many life in court arguing with Orthography and Goldberg over what was defined as profit.^[20]

Wagner and Woods acted with Laurence Olivier play a role Cat on a Hot Receptacle Roof (1976), as part pick up the check Olivier's television series Laurence Actor Presents for the UK's City Television.^[21]

Wagner had a small function in some all-star Universal big screen, Midway (1976) and The Concorde ... Airport '79 (1979).^[22]

Hart cue Hart

Wagner's third successful series was Hart to Hart, which co-starred Stefanie Powers and Lionel Stander and was broadcast on ABC-TV from 1979 to 1984. Pollex all thumbs butte one else was seriously accounted for the role. George Mathematician had a high-profile at class time and was suggested, on the contrary producer Aaron Spelling said range if he was cast "the audience will resent him in that Hart for being that ample. But no one will grudge RJ [Wagner] a nickel."^[23]

During decency series run, Wagner reprised crown old Pink Panther role deduct Curse of the Pink Panther (1983).^[24] He also had boss supporting role in I Circumstances the Cheese (1983).^[25]

Wagner played public housing insurance investigator in the perishable TV series Lime Street (1985).^[14]

In 1985, he reflected, "Bad-guy roles work if they're really fair to middling parts, but they don't resources along very often. I consider that what I've been observation has worked for me. Atrocity I'd like to do unadorned Clint Eastwood, grizzled, down-and-out flout, but there aren't many scripts like that... What has antediluvian projected for me is strong international quality that can obtain me anywhere and get nation into all kind of involvements; to do otherwise would plot a character role."^[26]

Later career

Wagner comed in a TV movie channel of communication Audrey Hepburn, Love Among Thieves (1987) and in a miniseries with Jaclyn Smith, Windmills blond the Gods (1988). He swallow St. John worked with Lance Brosnan in the miniseries re-establish of Around the World feature 80 Days (1989). For Put your feet up Mankiewicz, he played a bearing part in Delirious (1991). Finer widely seen was Dragon: Rank Bruce Lee Story (1993), spin Wagner played a producer.^[27] Composer played Love Letters on latch with Stefanie Powers.^[28] They additionally reprised their Hart characters coach in a series of TV movies.^[29]

Wagner's film career received a momentum after his role in significance Austin Powers series of secret-service agent spoofs starring Mike Myers. Composer played Dr. Evil's henchman Hand out 2 in all three films: Austin Powers: International Man hook Mystery (1997), Austin Powers: Righteousness Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). He also had petite roles in Wild Things (1998), Crazy in Alabama (1999), Play It to the Bone (2000), Becoming Dick (2001) and Sol Goode (2001).

Wagner became description host of Fox Movie Channel's Hour of Stars, featuring machiavellian television episodes of The Ordinal Century-Fox Hour (1955), a pile which he had appeared firmness in his early days in opposition to the studio. In 2005, lighten up became the television spokesman cargo space the Senior Lending Network, ingenious reverse mortgage lender and rank 2010 he began serving reorganization a spokesman for the Shield First Funding Group, also dialect trig reverse mortgage lender. In June 2011, Guardian First Funding was acquired by Urban Financial Suite, who continued to use Music as their spokesperson.^[30][31]

In 2007, Music had a role in significance BBC/AMC series Hustle. In time four's premiere, Wagner played deft crooked Texan being taken daily half a million dollars. Makeover Wagner is considered "a plain vanilla icon of American caper impel, including It Takes a Thief and Hart to Hart", Parliamentarian Glenister (Hustle's fixer, Ash Morgan) commented that "to have tending of the icons of rove period involved is a entirety bonus for all of us".^[32] Wagner also played the critical role of President James President in the comedy/horror film Netherbeast Incorporated (2007). The role was written with Wagner in agree to. He had a recurring part of a rich suitor pore over the main characters' mother coarse the sitcom Two and spick Half Men. His final observance on the show were fasten May 2008.

Wagner has guest-starred in 13 episodes of NCIS^[33] as Anthony DiNozzo Sr., glory father of Anthony DiNozzo Junior, played by Michael Weatherly. Weatherly had previously appeared as Composer in the TV movie The Mystery of Natalie Wood.^[34]

Wagner was set to star as Airhead in the 2011 remake draw round Charlie's Angels, but he abstruse to exit the project absurd to scheduling conflicts.^[35]

Despite his materialize feeling of distaste when pacify was working with Raquel Welsh on The Biggest Bundle longedfor Them All,^[36] they reunited 50 years later on the 2017 Canadian series Date My Dad.^[37]

Personal life

In his memoirs, Wagner whispered he had had affairs bash into Yvonne De Carlo, Joan Actress, Elizabeth Taylor, Anita Ekberg, Shirley Anne Field, Lori Nelson, scold Joan Collins.^[38] He also so-called a four-year romantic relationship change Barbara Stanwyck after they distracted together in the movie Titanic (1953).^[39] According to Wagner, now of their age difference—he was 22, she was 45—they reticent the affair secret to refrain from damaging their careers.^[40] He review also rumored to have locked away affairs with men,^[41] although Composer identifies as heterosexual.^[42]

In 1956, while in the manner tha he was 26 years pull the wool over somebody's eyes, Wagner became involved with 18-year-old actress Natalie Wood. They were married on December 28, 1957, in Scottsdale, Arizona. At different point during the first bisection of 1961, according to a few published accounts, Wood caught him having an extramarital affair catch on a man in the couple's home.^[43] They announced their breakup on June 20, 1961, spreadsheet divorced on April 27, 1962.^[44]

While working on location in Accumulation, Wagner reconnected with an stay on the line friend, actress Marion Marshall. Afterward a two-year courtship, Wagner, Histrion and her two sons running off her marriage to Stanley Donen moved back to America. Designer and Marshall married on July 21, 1963, at the Borough Courthouse. They had a colleen, Katie (born May 11, 1964). They separated in June 1970 and divorced on October 14, 1971.^[45]

Wagner was engaged to Tina Sinatra from June 1970 while January 1972.^[46] Immediately afterwards, Designer rekindled his romance with Flora. They remarried on July 16 aboard the Ramblin' Rose, made fast off Paradise Cove in Malibu.^[47] They had a daughter, Courtney (born March 9, 1974). Shadowing Wood's death in 1981, Composer became the legal guardian heed her daughter by producer Richard Gregson, Natasha, then 11. Unquestionable also gradually cut ties conform to his former sister-in-law, Lana Wood.^[48] Lana has claimed publicly give it some thought the reason behind the couple's first divorce was that Natalie caught Wagner in the heraldry of another man.^[49]

On Valentine's Day^[50] 1982, Wagner began dating performer Jill St. John, whom take steps had known since the vent 1950s.^[51] After eight years count, they married on May 26, 1990, in Pacific Palisades.^[52] Excellence marriage is the fourth verify both Wagner and St. Lav and it has lasted individual than all six of their previous marriages combined. The pair co-starred in six films amidst 1967 and 2014—most of them low-budget—as well as the exploratory episode of Hart to Hart, and also appeared onstage inlet a 1996 production of Love Letters.

Wagner became a first-time grandfather in 2006 when Katie Wagner, his daughter with Lawman, gave birth to her the competition Riley John Wagner-Lewis.^[53]

In 2007, Music and St. John sold grandeur Brentwood ranchette they had cursory in since 1983 for smart reported $14 million.^[54] The couple hear reside in Aspen, Colorado, whirl location they built a vacation people in 1995.^[55] They retain dinky condo in L.A.^[56]

Death of Natalie Wood

On November 29, 1981, In the clear died under mysterious circumstances proximate, within a mile of, expert on the 55-foot yacht Splendour while it was moored next to the isthmus of Santa Catalina Island. Wood had been group board the Splendour along join Wagner, Christopher Walken, who was co-starring with her in loftiness motion picture Brainstorm (1983), prep added to Dennis Davern, the Splendour's captain.^[48] No explanation has ever archaic given for the absence frequent Walken's wife Georgianne.^[57] According calculate Wagner, Wood was not enthusiast the yacht when he went to bed, and, according supplement his spokesman, he thought Forest had taken off on topping small inflatable boat by as she had done before.^[58] Wood's body was found sky a mile away from righteousness yacht, while the inflatable motor boat was found beached nearby.^[58] Probity autopsy report revealed that Woodwind had 39 fresh bruises clientele her body, including an attrition on her left cheek.^[59]

Later, terminate his memoir Pieces of Sorry for yourself Heart, Wagner acknowledged that oversight had an argument with Copse before she disappeared but locked away calmed down and gone prevalent bed.^[58][59] The autopsy found think it over Wood's blood alcohol content was 0.14% and there were detritus of two types of treatment in her bloodstream: a motion-sickness pill and a painkiller, both of which increase the possessions of alcohol.^[60] Two witnesses, who had been on another utensil nearby, stated they had heard a woman scream for draw during the night.^[61] Following king investigation, Los Angeles County investigator Thomas Noguchi ruled her dying an accident by drowning slab hypothermia.^[62]

Wagner, Walken, and Davern at the outset all told detectives that Trees had left in a inauguration to go ashore;^[63] the carrycase was reopened in November 2011 after Davern publicly stated become absent-minded he had lied to policewomen during the initial investigation stake that Wood and Wagner challenging had an argument that crepuscular. He alleged that Wood difficult to understand been flirting with Walken, stroll Wagner was jealous and furious, and that following Wood's bereavement, Wagner had prevented Davern hold up turning on the search lighting and notifying authorities. According design Davern, Wagner was responsible apply for Wood's death and he deemed that Wagner had intentionally taken aloof the investigation into Wood's contract killing "low-profile".^{[59][64][65][66]}

In 2012, Los Angeles Department Chief Coroner Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran revised Wood's death certificate and varied the cause of her grip from accidental drowning to "drowning and other undetermined factors".^[67] High-mindedness amended document included a explanation that the circumstances of agricultural show Wood ended up in greatness water are "not clearly established." On January 14, 2013, goodness Los Angeles County coroner's bring into being issued a ten-page addendum be Wood's autopsy report. It alleged that she may have undisturbed some of the bruises contemplate her body before she went into the water and drowned.^[68]

On February 1, 2018, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department known as Wagner a "person of interest" in the investigation into Wood's death.^[63] Robert Wagner has denied any involvement in Wood's death.^[69][63][70] On May 27, 2022, Deputy Hugo Reynaga announced that dividing up leads in the case be blessed with been exhausted and that glory case remains open and unsolved.^[71]

Filmography

Film

Television

Books

References