Max Wagner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Max Wagner (November 28, 1901 – November 16, 1975) was a Mexican-born American film actor who specialized in playing small parts such as thugs, gangsters, sailors, henchmen, bodyguards, cab drivers and moving men, appearing more than 400 films in his career, most without receiving screen credit. Newspaper gossip columnists noted his rise from playing "Gangster #4", with no lines, and not carrying a gun, to "Gangster #2", with both lines and a gun.
Wagner was one of five children, all boys, of William Wallace Wagner, a railroad conductor, and Edith Wagner, a writer who provided dispatches for the Christian Science Monitor during the Mexican Revolution. When he was 10 years old, his father was killed by rebels and the family moved to Salinas, California, where he met John Steinbeck, who became a lifelong friend. Steinback based the character of the boy in his novel The Red Pony on Wagner.
Under the name "Max Baron", Wagner acted in many Spanish-language versions of English-language films, which studios made as a matter of course in the early days of sound films, He also served as a Spanish language coach for other actors, and appeared in many of the "Mexican Spitfire" films starring Lupe Vélez, where he also served to monitor Velez's Spanish ad-libs for profanity.
Other series that Wagner appeared in include the Charlie Chan films, and Tom Mix serials, as well as others made by Mascot Pictures Corporation. In the 1940s, Wagner was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in six films written and directed by Sturges, beginning with The Palm Beach Story
In 1940 during the filming of "The Mad Doctor", Wagner was credited for driving 50,000 miles as an on-screen taxi driver on the studio back lots of Hollywood. Since his appearance as a cab driver in Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935), producers often cast him as a wise-cracking or henchman taxi driver. "I was cast as a taxi driver about five years ago", Wagner told a reporter. "And I was typed."
In 1952, Wagner began to appear on television, in episodes of such shows as The Cisco Kid, Zane Grey Theater and Perry Mason, playing much the same kind of parts he played in the movies.
He was a regular cast member on the western television series Gunsmoke, making nearly 80 appearances between 1959 and 1973. He also appeared in many episodes of The Rifleman, Bonanza, Cimarron Strip, The Wild Wild West and Maverick, including a guest-starring role in the 1959 Rifleman episode "Blood Brother." He also had roles in the original Star Trek and The Twilight Zone series. He appeared in more than 200 television episodes between 1952 and 1974.
Notable film roles for Wagner include a supporting role in the cult science fiction classic Invaders from Mars (1953), an actor playing a gangster in the film-within-a-film segment of Bullets or Ballots (1936), and the bull farm attendant in the Laurel and Hardy comedy The Bullfighters (1945).
Late in his career, he appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He also occasionally composed music, such as the Mexican folk ballad "Pedro, Rudarte y Simon" in the Western film The Last Trail (1933).
Wagner died of a heart attack in Hollywood in 1975.
Fotos
Películas (193)
The Garden
2024 · Art Direction
Young Frankenstein
1974 · Villager (uncredited)
Terror in the Wax Museum
1973 · Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
Evil Roy Slade
1972 · Townsman (uncredited)
Support Your Local Gunfighter
1971 · Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
1970 · Barfly (uncredited)
The Cheyenne Social Club
1970 · Barfly (uncredited)
True Grit
1969 · Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
1968 · Reporter (uncredited)
Rosemary's Baby
1968 · Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
Hang 'em High
1968 · Prisoner
Return of the Gunfighter
1967 · Barfly (uncredited)
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
1966 · Cashier (uncredited)
Gunpoint
1966
The Great Race
1965 · Barfly (uncredited)
Shenandoah
1965 · Church Member
4 for Texas
1963 · Blackjack Dealer
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963 · Spectator (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962 · Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Pressure Point
1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
1962 · Townsman (uncredited)
Sunrise at Campobello
1960 · Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Ice Palace
1960 · Party Guest (uncredited)
Public Pigeon No. 1
1957 · Police Detective (uncredited)
The Spirit of St. Louis
1957 · Reporter (uncredited)
Robbery Under Arms
1957 · Sergeant Goring
The Conqueror
1956 · Mongul Guard (uncredited)
I Died a Thousand Times
1955 · Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
Illegal
1955 · Bartender (uncredited)
Tennessee's Partner
1955 · Townsman (uncredited)
East of Eden
1955 · Workman (uncredited)
The Country Girl
1954 · Expressman (uncredited)
The Great Diamond Robbery
1954 · Policeman (uncredited)
Donovan's Brain
1953 · Station Agent (uncredited)
Invaders from Mars
1953 · Sergeant Rinaldi
Flaming Feather
1952
The Racket
1951 · Durko (uncredited)
The Secret of Convict Lake
1951 · Jack Purcell (uncredited)
Pier 23
1951 · Bar Patron (uncredited)
Frenchie
1950 · Drunk (uncredited)
Reign of Terror
1949 · Citizen (uncredited)
It Happens Every Spring
1949 · Umpire (uncredited)
The Red Pony
1949 · Bartender
Caught
1949 · Projectionist (uncredited)
Flaxy Martin
1949 · Charles McMahon
Shed No Tears
1948 · Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
The Sainted Sisters
1948 · Townsman (uncredited)
The Miracle of the Bells
1948 · Baggage Man
Half Past Midnight
1948 · Mike
Tycoon
1947
Possessed
1947 · Man in Café (uncredited)
Sinbad the Sailor
1947 · Assistant Overseer (uncredited)
That Brennan Girl
1946 · Moving Man (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
1946 · Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
1946 · Bartender (uncredited)
The Truth About Murder
1946 · Henchman Mike (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
1945 · Mike (uncredited)
Fallen Angel
1945 · Bartender (uncredited)
Radio Stars on Parade
1945 · George
Circumstantial Evidence
1945 · Truck Driver
A Medal for Benny
1945 · Jake (uncredited)
Hi, Beautiful
1944 · Sailor (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
1944 · Military Police Driver (uncredited)
Boss of Boomtown
1944 · Sergeant George Dunne
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
1943 · Rudy the Sailor
A Night to Remember
1942 · Policeman Temple (uncredited)
Panama Hattie
1942 · Jailer (uncredited)
Overland to Deadwood
1942 · Buck
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
1942 · Villa Luigi Headwaiter
The Palm Beach Story
1942 · Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
Sabotage Squad
1942 · Recruiting Sergeant
The Talk of the Town
1942 · Moving Man (uncredited)
Matri-Phony
1942 · Guard (uncredited)
The Spoilers
1942 · Deputy (uncredited)
Come on Danger
1942 · Tough Guy
Moontide
1942 · Fisherman (uncredited)
The Wife Takes a Flyer
1942 · Sergeant
Obliging Young Lady
1942 · Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941 · Bartender
Texas
1941 · Fats Delaney
Cyclone on Horseback
1941 · Jamison
Ride on Vaquero
1941 · Partner
The Mad Doctor
1940 · Cab Driver (Uncredited)
Trail of the Vigilantes
1940 · Joe
The Bank Dick
1940 · Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
Hired Wife
1940 · Streetcar Conductor
Men Against the Sky
1940 · Max - Radioman
Rhythm on the River
1940 · Cherry's Cabbie
Wildcat Bus
1940 · Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
1940 · Waiter (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
1940 · Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
1940 · Ship Porter (uncredited)
Pop Always Pays
1940 · Bill - Policeman in Car 43
Buck Benny Rides Again
1940 · Cowboy
You Can't Fool Your Wife
1940 · Burglar
The Grapes of Wrath
1940 · Guard (uncredited)
Millionaire Playboy
1940 · Highway Patrol Officer
The House Across the Bay
1940 · Jim
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940 · Soldier
Mexican Spitfire
1940 · Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
1940 · Truck Driver
Reno
1939 · Police Lt. Joe Wilson
The Roaring Twenties
1939 · Gangster (uncredited)
Fifth Avenue Girl
1939 · Policeman (uncredited)
The Day the Bookies Wept
1939 · Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Our Leading Citizen
1939 · Workman
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
1939 · Thug
The Girl from Mexico
1939 · Headwaiter
The Return of the Cisco Kid
1939 · Brings in Rustler
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
1939 · Sailor at Wrestling Match
Money to Loan
1939 · Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
I'll Tell the World
1939 · Salesman
Cafe Society
1939 · Guest
Fast and Loose
1939 · Nolan's Henchman (uncredited)
Wings of the Navy
1939 · Boss Mechanic
Off the Record
1939 · Visitor (uncredited)
Scouts to the Rescue
1939 · Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman
Submarine Patrol
1938 · Marine Corporal (uncredited)
Little Tough Guys in Society
1938 · Guest
Tarnished Angel
1938 · Tough Casino Decoy
The Arkansas Traveler
1938 · Hobo
Painted Desert
1938 · Henchman Kincaid
Professor Beware
1938 · Chinatown Barker
Cocoanut Grove
1938 · Brakeman
Maid's Night Out
1938 · Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited)
Penrod and His Twin Brother
1938 · Blackie
Born to Be Wild
1938 · Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
Many Unhappy Returns
1937 · Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend
Alcatraz Island
1937 · Party Guest (uncredited)
Stage Door
1937 · Baggage Man (uncredited)
Step Lively, Jeeves!
1937 · Joey
Border Cafe
1937 · Shakey
San Quentin
1937 · Prison Runner
Wings Over Honolulu
1937 · Marine
The Great O'Malley
1937 · School Bus Driver (uncredited)
Black Legion
1937 · Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
1937 · Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
God's Country and the Woman
1937 · Gus
We Who Are About to Die
1937 · Cell Block E Convict (uncredited)
Smart Blonde
1937 · Chuck Cannon
Night Waitress
1936 · Diner Trying to Date Helen
The Big Game
1936 · Man Outside Hotel
The Girl on the Front Page
1936 · Fireman
Walking on Air
1936 · Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Love Begins at Twenty
1936 · Lester - O'Bannion's Driver
Bullets or Ballots
1936 · Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
Dancing Pirate
1936 · Pirate (uncredited)
Sons o' Guns
1936 · Soldier
The Crime Patrol
1936 · Bennie
The Girl from Mandalay
1936 · Drunken Brawler
Two in Revolt
1936 · Davis
The House of a Thousand Candles
1936 · Henchman
Love on a Bet
1936 · Reporter
Paddy O'Day
1936 · Milkman's Helper on Dock
Chatterbox
1936 · Himself (uncredited)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936 · Pug O'Leary
The Fighting Marines
1935 · Gibson
Mary Burns, Fugitive
1935 · Sailor
3 Kids and a Queen
1935 · Reporter
Dr. Socrates
1935 · Gangster
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
1935 · Taxi Driver Henchman
The Daring Young Man
1935 · Reporter
The Miracle Rider
1935 · Morley
A Notorious Gentleman
1935 · Taxicab Driver
The Oil Raider
1934 · Simmons
Gridiron Flash
1934 · Convict Football Player
She Had to Choose
1934 · Hold-Up Man
Name the Woman
1934 · Reporter
Blind Date
1934 · Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
The Lost Jungle
1934 · Slade
The Personality Kid
1934 · Max
Hell Bent for Love
1934 · Ernest Dallas
The Lost Jungle
1934 · Slade
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934 · Grip
Before Dawn
1933 · Policeman in Car (uncredited)
Arizona to Broadway
1933 · Pete
Renegades of the West
1932 · Bob
Rockabye
1932 · Reporter (uncredited)
The World and the Flesh
1932 · Vorobiov
Cock of the Air
1932 · Military Policeman
Suicide Fleet
1931 · Radio Operator (uncredited)
El pasado acusa
1931
The Good Bad Girl
1931 · Thug
Going Wild
1930 · Ferguson - Pilot
El Valiente
1930 · Sargento de Policia
The Last of the Vargas
1930
Numbered Men
1930 · Convict Road Laborer (extra)
The Thrill Seekers
1927 · A Hood
The First Auto
1927 · Bartender
Flashing Oars
1927 · Student
The Relay
1927 · Sophomore
Making Good
1926 · Student
Cuerpo y alma
Series (8)
Colombo
1971 · Derelict (uncredited)
The Andy Griffith Show
1960 · Townsman (uncredited)
The Twilight Zone
1959 · Roller Coaster Operator
Bonanza
1959 · Townsman (uncredited), Miner (uncredited)
The Rifleman
1958
Gunsmoke
1955 · Townsman (uncredited)
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955 · Gambler (uncredited), Townsman (uncredited)
The Abbott and Costello Show
1952 · First Workman