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.
Acted in
Young Frankenstein
1974
as Villager
Terror in the Wax Museum
1973
as Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
Evil Roy Slade
1972
as Townsman (uncredited)
Columbo
1971
as Derelict (uncredited)
Support Your Local Gunfighter
1971
as Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
1970
as Barfly (uncredited)
True Grit
1969
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Rosemary's Baby
1968
as Man in Dream
Hang 'em High
1968
as Prisoner
Return of the Gunfighter
1967
as Barfly (uncredited)
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
1966
as Cashier (uncredited)
Gunpoint
1966
The Great Race
1965
as Barfly (uncredited)
Shenandoah
1965
as Church Member
4 for Texas
1963
as Blackjack Dealer
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963
as Spectator (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Pressure Point
1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
1962
as Townsman (uncredited)
Ice Palace
1960
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Twilight Zone
1959
as Roller Coaster Operator
The Rifleman
1958
The Spirit of St. Louis
1957
as Reporter (uncredited)
Robbery Under Arms
1957
as Sergeant Goring
I Died a Thousand Times
1955
as Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
Illegal
1955
as Bartender (uncredited)
East of Eden
1955
as Workman (uncredited)
The Great Diamond Robbery
1954
as Policeman (uncredited)
Donovan's Brain
1953
as Station Agent (uncredited)
Invaders from Mars
1953
as Army Sgt. Rinaldi
Flaming Feather
1952
The Racket
1951
as Durko (uncredited)
The Secret of Convict Lake
1951
as Jack Purcell (uncredited)
Pier 23
1951
as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Frenchie
1950
as Drunk (uncredited)
Reign of Terror
1949
as Citizen (uncredited)
It Happens Every Spring
1949
as Umpire (uncredited)
The Red Pony
1949
as Bartender
Caught
1949
as Projectionist (uncredited)
Flaxy Martin
1949
as Charles McMahon
Shed No Tears
1948
as Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
The Sainted Sisters
1948
as Townsman (uncredited)
The Miracle of the Bells
1948
as Baggage Man
Half Past Midnight
1948
as Mike
Tycoon
1947
That Brennan Girl
1946
as Moving Man (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
1946
as Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
1946
as Bartender (uncredited)
The Truth About Murder
1946
as Henchman Mike (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
1945
as Mike (uncredited)
Fallen Angel
1945
as Bartender (uncredited)
Radio Stars on Parade
1945
as George
Circumstantial Evidence
1945
as Truck Driver
A Medal for Benny
1945
as Jake (uncredited)
Boss of Boomtown
1944
as Sergeant George Dunne
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
1943
as Military Police Driver (uncredited)
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
1943
as Rudy the Sailor
A Night to Remember
1942
as Policeman Temple (uncredited)
Panama Hattie
1942
as Jailer (uncredited)
Overland to Deadwood
1942
as Buck
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
1942
as Villa Luigi Headwaiter
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
Sabotage Squad
1942
as Recruiting Sergeant
The Talk of the Town
1942
as Moving Man (uncredited)
Matri-Phony
1942
as Guard (uncredited)
The Spoilers
1942
as Deputy (uncredited)
Come on Danger
1942
as Tough Guy
Moontide
1942
as Fisherman
The Wife Takes a Flyer
1942
as Sergeant
Obliging Young Lady
1942
as Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941
as Bartender
Texas
1941
as Fats Delaney
Cyclone on Horseback
1941
as Jamison
Ride on Vaquero
1941
as Partner
The Mad Doctor
1940
as Cab Driver (Uncredited)
Trail of the Vigilantes
1940
as Joe
The Bank Dick
1940
as Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
Hired Wife
1940
as Streetcar Conductor
Men Against the Sky
1940
as Max - Radioman
Rhythm on the River
1940
as Cherry's Cabbie
Wildcat Bus
1940
as Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
1940
as Waiter (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
1940
as Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
1940
as Ship Porter (uncredited)
Pop Always Pays
1940
as Bill - Policeman in Car 43
Buck Benny Rides Again
1940
as Cowboy
You Can't Fool Your Wife
1940
as Burglar
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
as Guard (uncredited)
Millionaire Playboy
1940
as Highway Patrol Officer
The House Across the Bay
1940
as Jim
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940
as Soldier
Mexican Spitfire
1940
as Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
1940
as Truck Driver
Reno
1939
as Police Lt. Joe Wilson
The Roaring Twenties
1939
as Gangster (uncredited)
5th Ave Girl
1939
as Policeman (uncredited)
The Day the Bookies Wept
1939
as Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Our Leading Citizen
1939
as Workman
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
1939
as Thug
The Girl from Mexico
1939
as Headwaiter
The Return of the Cisco Kid
1939
as Brings in Rustler
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
1939
as Sailor at Wrestling Match
Money to Loan
1939
as Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
I'll Tell the World
1939
as Salesman
Cafe Society
1939
as Guest
Fast and Loose
1939
as Nolan's Henchman
Wings of the Navy
1939
as Boss Mechanic
Off the Record
1939
as Visitor (uncredited)
Scouts to the Rescue
1939
as Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman
Little Tough Guys in Society
1938
as Guest
Tarnished Angel
1938
as Tough Casino Decoy
The Arkansas Traveler
1938
as Hobo
Painted Desert
1938
as Henchman Kincaid
Professor Beware
1938
as Chinatown Barker
Cocoanut Grove
1938
as Brakeman
Maid's Night Out
1938
as Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited)
Penrod and His Twin Brother
1938
as Blackie
Born to Be Wild
1938
as Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
Many Unhappy Returns
1937
as Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend
Alcatraz Island
1937
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Stage Door
1937
as Baggage Man (uncredited)
Step Lively, Jeeves!
1937
as Joey
Border Cafe
1937
as Shakey
San Quentin
1937
as Prison Runner
Wings Over Honolulu
1937
as Marine
The Great O'Malley
1937
as School Bus Driver (uncredited)
Black Legion
1937
as Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
1937
as Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
God's Country and the Woman
1937
as Gus
We Who Are About to Die
1937
as Cell Block E Convict (uncredited)
Smart Blonde
1937
as Chuck Cannon
Night Waitress
1936
as Diner Trying to Date Helen
The Big Game
1936
as Man Outside Hotel
The Girl on the Front Page
1936
as Fireman
Walking on Air
1936
as Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Love Begins at Twenty
1936
as Lester - O'Bannion's Driver
Bullets or Ballots
1936
as Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
Dancing Pirate
1936
as Pirate (uncredited)
Sons o' Guns
1936
as Soldier
The Crime Patrol
1936
as Bennie
The Girl from Mandalay
1936
as Drunken Brawler
Two in Revolt
1936
as Davis
The House of a Thousand Candles
1936
as Henchman
Love on a Bet
1936
as Reporter
Paddy O'Day
1936
as Milkman's Helper on Dock
Chatterbox
1936
as Himself (uncredited)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936
as Pug O'Leary
The Fighting Marines
1935
as Gibson
Mary Burns, Fugitive
1935
as Sailor
3 Kids and a Queen
1935
as Reporter
Dr. Socrates
1935
as Gangster
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
1935
as Taxi Driver Henchman
The Daring Young Man
1935
as Reporter
The Miracle Rider
1935
as Morley
The Oil Raider
1934
as Simmons
Gridiron Flash
1934
as Convict Football Player
She Had to Choose
1934
as Hold-Up Man
Name the Woman
1934
as Reporter
Blind Date
1934
as Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
The Lost Jungle
1934
as Slade
The Personality Kid
1934
as Max
Hell Bent for Love
1934
as Ernest Dallas
The Lost Jungle
1934
as Slade
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
as Grip
Before Dawn
1933
as Policeman in Car (uncredited)
Arizona to Broadway
1933
as Pete
Renegades of the West
1932
as Bob
Rockabye
1932
as Reporter (uncredited)
The World and the Flesh
1932
as Vorobiov
Cock of the Air
1932
as Military Policeman
Suicide Fleet
1931
as Radio Operator (uncredited)
The Good Bad Girl
1931
as Thug
Going Wild
1930
as Ferguson - Pilot
The Last of the Vargas
1930
Numbered Men
1930
as Convict Road Laborer (uncredited)
The Thrill Seekers
1927
as A Hood
The First Auto
1927
as Bartender
Flashing Oars
1927
as Student
The Relay
1927
as Sophomore
Making Good
1926
as Student