Robert Wagner

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Born Robert John Wagner on Feb. 10, 1930 in Detroit, Mich.

One of Robert Wagner’s first brushes with show business came when he worked as a caddy for Clark Gable. The glamour didn't end there. Eventually, he was discovered by talent agent Henry Willson while eating dinner with his parents at a restaurant in Beverly Hills.

Wagner's career began with a series of small roles in military-themed films until he finally landed a contract with 20th Century Fox in 1952. In 1953, his role in "Titanic" earned him a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer in Motion Pictures. He went on to star in classics like "The War Lover," "The Longest Day" and "The Pink Panther." He worked with Clifton Webb, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Faye Dunaway.

As partial payment for his role in "The Affair," Wagner had a 50% stake in the profits from Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg's successful "Charlie's Angels." Wagner went on to spend years in court arguing with Spelling and Goldberg about how the "profits" were defined.

At 27, Wagner married Natalie Wood, who was 19 at the time. Wood and Wagner divorced in 1962, and Wagner soon married Marion Marshall. In 1964, Marshall and Wagner had a daughter, Katie.

Wagner enjoyed a significant career boost in 1968 when he made the move to television, starring in "It Takes a Thief," which earned him an Emmy nomination. By the mid-1970s, Wagner was a household name as he starred in the series "Switch," an action-packed detective satire.

His career success was not mirrored in his marriage, however, and Wagner divorced Marshall in 1971. He had remained in contact with Natalie Wood, and the couple remarried on July 16, 1972. They had one daughter, Courtney, in 1974.

Tragedy struck in 1981, when Wood drowned after falling from the couple's yacht near Catalina Island. Wagner became the guardian of Wood's daughter, Natasha Gregson. In 1990, after an eight-year courtship, Wagner married Wood's childhood friend Jill St. John.

Wagner was introduced to a new audience when he took the role as Dr. Evil's sidekick, Number 2, in the "Austin Powers" trilogy. In an inspired casting move, Rob Lowe played a younger version of Wagner.

— Carina McKenzie for the Los Angeles Times June 29, 2010

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37 thoughts about Robert Wagner

“

No, Robert Wagner does NOT deserve a star on the HWOF. He has refused every opportunity since 1981 to answer legitimate questions about his late wife's mysterious death. The recent book, Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour, includes a polygraphed account of how this man you want to give a star to, lied to the police, covered his tracks, and how the authorities did not properly investigate Natalie Wood's death. There is a current petition at gopetition.com to reopen the case of Natalie Wood, and it is a serious movement the LA County Sheriff's Dept will have to deal with soon. Robert Wagner does not exemplify the type of Hollywood celebrity who deserves a star. Besides that, he can't even act. If you are really going to expand on the man's biography, make sure you include the truth about how he treated his wife Nov. 28, 1981.

” — Helen Carson, March 5, 2010 at 7:46 a.m.

“

I believe Robert Wagner certainly deserves a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame simply because he is a delightful actor and has actively worked his entire adult life. The list is endless now of all the movies, tv shows and guest appearances Mr. Wagner has graced us with on the big and small screen.

For a poster to crudely write that Mr. Wagner beat his late ex-wife, the actress Natalie Wood, half to death and slipped her semi-conscious body into the Pacific Ocean is a very ignorant statement since there is not any evidence to substantiate a murder. The poster has no way of knowing this and should be sued for libel. The police and coroner ruled Wood's death an accidental drowning and the autopsy proved it. That drowning case was closed 29 years ago. Robert Wagner is a very gifted actor and has done so much with his life in 80 years. He is to be commended as he is by millions of fans.

” — Elizabeth Burbanks, April 26, 2010 at 12:58 p.m.

“

No, Robert Wagner should not have a star. What he should have, is a formal investigation - which was not done in 1981, when Natalie Wood (who was
terrified of dark water), somehow managed to slip into the water & never be heard from again. Robert Wagner refused to search for her or alert anyone else that she was missing until HOURS had gone by. He would not allow searchlights to be turned on, he refused to call the Coast Guard for hours, while his wife drifted, alone, in the water. When her body was finally found, he didn't
have the decency or respect to even identify her; he fled the scene and left the grim task to his employee. He doesn't deserve a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - he deserves to have to finally answer the questions he was never asked in 1981!

” — Simone Bell, April 28, 2010 at 11:34 a.m.

“

A Star on the Walk of Fame is not an example of an honor from his peers or from Hollywood, in general. It's backed by fans and paid for by fans and in some cases, by the star himself. It took Wagner a very long time to get his Star. He may have been an example of one that paid for his own star. If I am not mistaken he does not have his foot prints in Mann's Chinese which most of the major stars of that era do have. His film career faltered in the late 50s and never bounced back. He turned to TV and that is where he had his biggest success. Was that his dream? I doubt it. He has never been nominated for an Oscar. He has one Emmy nomination for It Takes a Thief. Even in TV he has not been celebrated by his peers. Wagner was never up there with the big male stars of his day. He was never a major star. In all likelihood he will be remembered as Natalie Wood's husband.

” — Ron, April 28, 2010 at 3:24 p.m.

“

Robert Wagner received his star years ago, but he does not deserve it. He is a terrible actor, and because he lasted a long time in secondary roles does not warrant a star. His hit TV shows were ok, but ok does not warrant a star. And if you read the book about the truth about his late wife's death (Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour, title) you will understand why "Creed" left the comment here. The book doesn't say he beat his wife, of course, but you will have no doubt what happened to Natalie and Wagner's part in it after reading. The Natalie Wood case deserves to be reopened and even Nancy Grace thinks so and has reported on it at her Cold Case website. Wagner was given special treatment while his wife was buried if he could have his wish, forgotten. But she will never be forgotten, and either will he, but famous and infamous are two different labels. He deserves the latter.

” — P. Frederick, April 28, 2010 at 5:11 p.m.

“

Of course Robert Wagner deserves a star. He is one of the most famous faces in Hollywood and has been for at least 60 years! Let's not forget the wonderful and loving way he raised Natalie's daughter Natasha & their daughter Courtney. He's a wonderful father to his daughter Katie from another marriage and has raised all three daughters in such a loving and exceptional way. Natasha loves him as if he were her biological father, why she carries his name. Natalie would want her daughters to love their father as they do. Besides being a perfect father, he is also a perfect husband and a phenomenal actor. Just about everybody loves and admires Robert Wagner and recognizes him as one of the best actors in Hollywood.

” — Marilyn Attebury, April 29, 2010 at 8:54 a.m.

“

Robert Wagner has displayed himself very nicely in the public eye, has chosen his career paths carefully, has spoken out in a way that he should gracefully that is highly respectful. His background is just as darling as can be. His friends and family are behind him; and his morals, beliefs are holding him up til this day. Why not give him even another star? Although- The star he has already is sill shining, I would still vote for another star for Robert Wagner. If anyone judges a person over an argument, lets hope you don't have one with anyone in your lifetime and they die soon after that. Everyone has arguments. Don't you know that? Oh, I forgot, you were there on the boat, you saw EVERYTHING! YOU KNOW EVERYTHING!

” — Laura Wojtowicz, November 29, 2011 at 8:56 p.m.

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