Hollywood veteran Robert Wagner has acted and produced for almost 60 years. It Takes a Thief, Switch, and Hart to Hart are his best-known roles. He and his wife, actress Jill St. John, are worth $20 million as of 2023. The article will discuss his life, work, and riches.
Early Life and Background of Robert Wagner
Date and Place of Birth
Robert Wagner was born on February 10, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan.
Family Background
The son of a telephone operator, Hazel Alvera (née Boe), and a Ford Motor Company salesperson, Robert John Wagner Sr. Mary is the name of his sister. He comes from both the Germans and the Norwegians.
Education and Early Career
He attended four different military schools in Southern California and graduated from Saint Monica Catholic High School in 1949. He developed an interest in acting soon after completing school. He failed his first screen test before being discovered by Henry Wilson, who facilitated his contract with 20th Century Fox.
Robert Wagner’s Career
Overview of Acting Career
Wagner debuted in The Happy Years (1950) as an uncredited actor. His 1952 appearance as a shell-shocked soldier in With a Song in My Heart garnered acclaim. Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953), Prince Valiant (1954), A Kiss Before Dying (1956), and The True Story of Jesse James (1957) were among his 1950s films. He performed in Paramount pictures including The Mountain (1956) starring Spencer Tracy. He appeared in The War Lover (1962), The Pink Panther (1963), Harper (1966), and The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968) in Europe in the 1960s. He debuted on Broadway in 1961’s The Pleasure of His Company. He returned to America and appeared in It Takes a Thief (1968-1970), earning an Emmy nomination. Switch (1975-1978) was his next TV role alongside Eddie Albert. He and Stefanie Powers starred in Hart to Hart (1979-1984), a successful TV series that won him four Golden Globe nominations. He appeared in Pearl (1978), To Catch a King (1984), and Windmills of the Gods (1988) TV movies and miniseries. He had 1990s recurring parts in Seinfeld, Melrose Place, and The Simpsons. He played Number Two in the Austin Powers series. In the 2000s and 2010s, he appeared in The Towering Inferno (2004), Two and a Half Men (2007-2015), NCIS (2010-2023), and Holidate. His animated feature voice credits include Everyone’s Hero (2006) and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012).
Notable Achievements
Wagner has won multiple acting accolades. His star is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He received two People’s Choice Awards: Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program (1977) and Favorite Male TV Performer (1980). He earned the San Diego Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award (2004) and Cinequest Film Festival Maverick Spirit Award (2015).
Other Ventures
Wagner has also been involved in other ventures besides acting. He has authored three books: Pieces of My Heart: A Life (2008), You Must Remember This: Life and Style in Hollywood’s Golden Age (2014), and I Loved Her in the Movies: Memories of Hollywood’s Legendary Actresses (2016).
Robert Wagner’s Net Worth in 2023
Estimated Net Worth
Wagner’s 2023 net worth is predicted at $20 million. Wagner and actress Jill St. John’s combined net worth.
Sources of Income and Earnings
Wagner has amassed his fortune mainly through his acting career. He has been in the film industry for over six decades and has appeared in more than 100 films and TV shows. He has also earned money from his books, endorsements, and other ventures.
Factors Contributing to His Net Worth
Wagner’s net worth has been influenced by several factors, such as his longevity, versatility, popularity, and talent as an actor. He has also been able to maintain a steady income from his TV roles and guest appearances. He has also invested wisely in real estate and other assets.
Personal Life and Controversies
Relationships and Marriages
Wagner has been married four times and has had several relationships in the past. His first wife was actress Natalie Wood, whom he married in 1957 and divorced in 1962. He married his second wife, actress Marion Marshall, in 1963 and divorced in 1971. They had a daughter, Katie Wagner. He was briefly engaged to singer Tina Sinatra in the early 1970s. He remarried Wood in 1972 and had a daughter, Courtney Wagner. Wood died in a mysterious drowning accident in 1981. He married his current wife, actress Jill St. John, in 1990. He is also the stepfather of Wood’s daughter from her previous marriage, Natasha Gregson Wagner.
Controversies and Scandals
Wagner has been involved in some controversies and scandals throughout his life. The most notable one is the death of his first wife, Natalie Wood, who drowned near their yacht off Catalina Island in 1981. The circumstances of her death have been a subject of speculation and investigation for decades. Wagner was initially cleared of any wrongdoing, but the case was reopened in 2011 after new evidence emerged. In 2018, Wagner was named a person of interest by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, but he has denied any involvement or foul play. He has also faced lawsuits from his former agents and managers over unpaid commissions and fees.
Robert Wagner is a veteran actor who has had a long and successful career in Hollywood. He has also faced some challenges and controversies in his personal life. He is still active as an actor and enjoys a comfortable lifestyle with his wife. He is one of the most respected and admired actors of his generation.
