Robert Wagner

Robert Wagner
source
Name	Robert Wagner
Caption	Wagner in 1973
Birth name	Robert John Wagner Jr.
Birth date	10 February 1930
Birth place	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, producer
Years active	1950–present
Spouse	Natalie Wood (1957–1962; 1972–1981), Marion Marshall (1963–1971), Jill St. John (1990–present)
Children	3, including Katie Wagner

Robert Wagner. Robert John Wagner Jr. is an American actor and producer whose career spans over seven decades in film and television. He is best known for his roles in popular television series such as It Takes a Thief, Switch, and Hart to Hart, as well as for his film work in classics like The Pink Panther and The Towering Inferno. A suave and enduring presence in Hollywood, his personal life, including his marriages to actress Natalie Wood, has also been a consistent subject of public fascination.

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, he moved with his family to Los Angeles during his childhood. He attended Santa Monica High School but left to pursue acting, securing a contract with 20th Century Fox after being discovered by a talent scout. His early training was largely on-the-job within the studio system, working alongside established stars and directors at the famed Fox Studios.

Acting career

Wagner's film career began in the early 1950s with supporting roles in productions like The Halls of Montezuma and With a Song in My Heart. He gained leading man status in films such as Beneath the 12-Mile Reef and Prince Valiant. His television breakthrough came starring as the sophisticated cat burglar in It Takes a Thief. He later achieved great success producing and starring in the detective series Switch and the beloved mystery-romance Hart to Hart opposite Stefanie Powers. Notable later film roles include Number Two in the Austin Powers film series and appearances in The Pink Panther remake.

Personal life

Wagner has been married three times. His first marriage, to actress Natalie Wood, began in 1957 and ended in divorce in 1962; they remarried in 1972. Wood's tragic death by drowning in 1981 near Catalina Island aboard their yacht, the Splendour, remains a defining and somber event in his life. His second marriage was to actress Marion Marshall. Since 1990, he has been married to actress Jill St. John. He is the father of three children, including television host Katie Wagner.

Filmography

A selected list of his extensive work includes films like Titanic (1953), A Kiss Before Dying (1956), The War Lover (1962), The Pink Panther (1963), Harper (1966), The Towering Inferno (1974), and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997). His television series include It Takes a Thief (1968–1970), Switch (1975–1978), and Hart to Hart (1979–1984).

Awards and nominations

Wagner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for his contributions to television. He has been nominated for several Golden Globe awards, including for his performance in Hart to Hart. In 1970, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in the television film The City. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2000.

Legacy and influence

Wagner is regarded as a prototype of the charming, debonair leading man who successfully transitioned from the studio era to television stardom. His role in Hart to Hart left a lasting mark on the genre of romantic detective television. His enduring career and association with classic Hollywood have made him a respected elder statesman of the entertainment industry, frequently making appearances at events like the Academy Awards and tributes at the American Film Institute.