Max Wagner
Born
November 28, 1901
Died
November 16, 1975 (73 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
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.
Known For
Young Frankenstein
Villager
1974
Terror in the Wax Museum
Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
1973
Evil Roy Slade
Townsman (uncredited)
1972
Columbo
Derelict (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1971
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
1971
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Barfly (uncredited)
1970
True Grit
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1969
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Reporter (uncredited)
1968
Rosemary's Baby
Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
1968
Hang 'em High
Prisoner
1968
Return of the Gunfighter
Barfly (uncredited)
1967
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Cashier (uncredited)
1966
Gunpoint
1966
The Great Race
Barfly (uncredited)
1965
Shenandoah
Church Member
1965
4 for Texas
Blackjack Dealer
1963
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Spectator (uncredited)
1963
To Kill a Mockingbird
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1962
Pressure Point
1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Townsman (uncredited)
1962
Sunrise at Campobello
Convention Delegate (uncredited)
1960
Ice Palace
Party Guest (uncredited)
1960
The Twilight Zone
Roller Coaster Operator · (1 episode)
1959
The Rifleman
(1 episode)
1958
Public Pigeon No. 1
Police Detective (uncredited)
1957
The Spirit of St. Louis
Reporter (uncredited)
1957
Robbery Under Arms
Sergeant Goring
1957
I Died a Thousand Times
Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
1955
Illegal
Bartender (uncredited)
1955
East of Eden
Workman (uncredited)
1955
The Country Girl
Expressman (uncredited)
1954
The Great Diamond Robbery
Policeman (uncredited)
1954
Donovan's Brain
Station Agent (uncredited)
1953
Invaders from Mars
Army Sgt. Rinaldi
1953
The Abbott and Costello Show
First Workman · (1 episode)
1952
Flaming Feather
1952
The Racket
Durko (uncredited)
1951
The Secret of Convict Lake
Jack Purcell (uncredited)
1951
Pier 23
Bar Patron (uncredited)
1951
Frenchie
Drunk (uncredited)
1950
Reign of Terror
Citizen (uncredited)
1949
It Happens Every Spring
Umpire (uncredited)
1949
The Red Pony
Bartender
1949
Caught
Projectionist (uncredited)
1949
Flaxy Martin
Charles McMahon
1949
Shed No Tears
Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
1948
The Sainted Sisters
Townsman (uncredited)
1948
The Miracle of the Bells
Baggage Man
1948
Half Past Midnight
Mike
1948
Tycoon
1947
Sinbad the Sailor
Assistant Overseer (uncredited)
1947
That Brennan Girl
Moving Man (uncredited)
1946
It's a Wonderful Life
Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
1946
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
Bartender (uncredited)
1946
The Truth About Murder
Henchman Mike (uncredited)
1946
The Lost Weekend
Mike (uncredited)
1945
Fallen Angel
Bartender (uncredited)
1945
Radio Stars on Parade
George
1945
Circumstantial Evidence
Truck Driver
1945
A Medal for Benny
Jake (uncredited)
1945
Hi, Beautiful
Sailor (uncredited)
1944
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Military Police Driver (uncredited)
1944
Boss of Boomtown
Sergeant George Dunne
1944
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
Rudy the Sailor
1943
A Night to Remember
Policeman Temple (uncredited)
1942
Panama Hattie
Jailer (uncredited)
1942
Overland to Deadwood
Buck
1942
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
Villa Luigi Headwaiter
1942
The Palm Beach Story
Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
1942
Sabotage Squad
Recruiting Sergeant
1942
The Talk of the Town
Moving Man (uncredited)
1942
Matri-Phony
Guard (uncredited)
1942
The Spoilers
Deputy (uncredited)
1942
Come on Danger
Tough Guy
1942
Moontide
Fisherman (uncredited)
1942
The Wife Takes a Flyer
Sergeant
1942
Obliging Young Lady
Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited)
1942
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Bartender
1941
Texas
Fats Delaney
1941
Cyclone on Horseback
Jamison
1941
Ride on Vaquero
Partner
1941
The Mad Doctor
Cab Driver (Uncredited)
1940
Trail of the Vigilantes
Joe
1940
The Bank Dick
Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
1940
Hired Wife
Streetcar Conductor
1940
Men Against the Sky
Max - Radioman
1940
Rhythm on the River
Cherry's Cabbie
1940
Wildcat Bus
Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited)
1940
Lucky Partners
Waiter (uncredited)
1940
They Drive by Night
Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
1940
The Ghost Breakers
Ship Porter (uncredited)
1940
Pop Always Pays
Bill - Policeman in Car 43
1940
Buck Benny Rides Again
Cowboy
1940
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Burglar
1940
The Grapes of Wrath
Guard (uncredited)
1940
Millionaire Playboy
Highway Patrol Officer
1940
The House Across the Bay
Jim
1940
Charlie Chan in Panama
Soldier
1940
Mexican Spitfire
Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
1940
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
Truck Driver
1940
Reno
Police Lt. Joe Wilson
1939
The Roaring Twenties
Gangster (uncredited)
1939
Fifth Avenue Girl
Policeman (uncredited)
1939
The Day the Bookies Wept
Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited)
1939
Our Leading Citizen
Workman
1939
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Thug
1939
The Girl from Mexico
Headwaiter
1939
The Return of the Cisco Kid
Brings in Rustler
1939
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Sailor at Wrestling Match
1939
Money to Loan
Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
1939
I'll Tell the World
Salesman
1939
Cafe Society
Guest
1939
Fast and Loose
Nolan's Henchman (uncredited)
1939
Wings of the Navy
Boss Mechanic
1939
Off the Record
Visitor (uncredited)
1939
Scouts to the Rescue
Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman
1939
Little Tough Guys in Society
Guest
1938
Tarnished Angel
Tough Casino Decoy
1938
The Arkansas Traveler
Hobo
1938
Painted Desert
Henchman Kincaid
1938
Professor Beware
Chinatown Barker
1938
Cocoanut Grove
Brakeman
1938
Maid's Night Out
Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited)
1938
Penrod and His Twin Brother
Blackie
1938
Born to Be Wild
Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
1938
Many Unhappy Returns
Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend
1937
Alcatraz Island
Party Guest (uncredited)
1937
Stage Door
Baggage Man (uncredited)
1937
Step Lively, Jeeves!
Joey
1937
Border Cafe
Shakey
1937
San Quentin
Prison Runner
1937
Wings Over Honolulu
Marine
1937
The Great O'Malley
School Bus Driver (uncredited)
1937
Black Legion
Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
1937
You Only Live Once
Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
1937
God's Country and the Woman
Gus
1937
We Who Are About to Die
Cell Block E Convict (uncredited)
1937
Smart Blonde
Chuck Cannon
1937
Night Waitress
Diner Trying to Date Helen
1936
The Big Game
Man Outside Hotel
1936
The Girl on the Front Page
Fireman
1936
Walking on Air
Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
1936
Love Begins at Twenty
Lester - O'Bannion's Driver
1936
Bullets or Ballots
Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
1936
Dancing Pirate
Pirate (uncredited)
1936
Sons o' Guns
Soldier
1936
The Crime Patrol
Bennie
1936
The Girl from Mandalay
Drunken Brawler
1936
Two in Revolt
Davis
1936
The House of a Thousand Candles
Henchman
1936
Love on a Bet
Reporter
1936
Paddy O'Day
Milkman's Helper on Dock
1936
Chatterbox
Himself (uncredited)
1936
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Pug O'Leary
1936
The Fighting Marines
Gibson
1935
Mary Burns, Fugitive
Sailor
1935
3 Kids and a Queen
Reporter
1935
Dr. Socrates
Gangster
1935
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
Taxi Driver Henchman
1935
The Daring Young Man
Reporter
1935
The Miracle Rider
Morley
1935
The Oil Raider
Simmons
1934
Gridiron Flash
Convict Football Player
1934
She Had to Choose
Hold-Up Man
1934
Name the Woman
Reporter
1934
Blind Date
Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
1934
The Lost Jungle
Slade
1934
The Personality Kid
Max
1934
Hell Bent for Love
Ernest Dallas
1934
The Lost Jungle
Slade
1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Grip
1934
Before Dawn
Policeman in Car (uncredited)
1933
Arizona to Broadway
Pete
1933
Renegades of the West
Bob
1932
Rockabye
Reporter (uncredited)
1932
The World and the Flesh
Vorobiov
1932
Cock of the Air
Military Policeman
1932
Suicide Fleet
Radio Operator (uncredited)
1931
The Good Bad Girl
Thug
1931
Going Wild
Ferguson - Pilot
1930
The Last of the Vargas
1930
Numbered Men
Convict Road Laborer (uncredited)
1930
The Thrill Seekers
A Hood
1927
The First Auto
Bartender
1927
Flashing Oars
Student
1927
The Relay
Sophomore
1927
Making Good
Student
1926