Max Wagner
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1901-11-28
Day of Death
1975-11-16 (73 years old)
Place of Birth
Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
Max Wagner
Biography
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
Acting
(1974)
Young Frankenstein
as Villager
(1973)
Terror in the Wax Museum
as Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
(1972)
Evil Roy Slade
as Townsman (uncredited)
(1971)
Support Your Local Gunfighter
as Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
(1970)
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
as Barfly (uncredited)
(1969)
True Grit
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
(1968)
Rosemary's Baby
as Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
(1968)
Hang 'em High
as Prisoner
(1968)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
as Reporter (uncredited)
(1967)
Return of the Gunfighter
as Barfly (uncredited)
(1966)
(1966)
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
as Cashier (uncredited)
(1965)
The Great Race
as Barfly (uncredited)
(1965)
Shenandoah
as Church Member
(1963)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Spectator (uncredited)
(1963)
4 for Texas
as Blackjack Dealer
(1962)
To Kill a Mockingbird
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
(1962)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
as Townsman (uncredited)
(1962)
(1960)
Ice Palace
as Party Guest (uncredited)
(1960)
Sunrise at Campobello
as Convention Delegate (uncredited)
(1957)
The Spirit of St. Louis
as Reporter (uncredited)
(1957)
Public Pigeon No. 1
as Police Detective (uncredited)
(1957)
Robbery Under Arms
as Sergeant Goring
(1956)
The Conqueror
as Mongul Guard (uncredited)
(1955)
East of Eden
as Workman (uncredited)
(1955)
Illegal
as Bartender (uncredited)
(1955)
I Died a Thousand Times
as Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
(1954)
The Great Diamond Robbery
as Policeman (uncredited)
(1954)
The Country Girl
as Expressman (uncredited)
(1953)
Invaders from Mars
as Army Sgt. Rinaldi
(1953)
Donovan's Brain
as Station Agent (uncredited)
(1952)
(1951)
The Racket
as Durko (uncredited)
(1951)
Pier 23
as Bar Patron (uncredited)
(1951)
The Secret of Convict Lake
as Jack Purcell (uncredited)
(1950)
Frenchie
as Drunk (uncredited)
(1949)
It Happens Every Spring
as Umpire (uncredited)
(1949)
Flaxy Martin
as Charles McMahon
(1949)
Caught
as Projectionist (uncredited)
(1949)
Reign of Terror
as Citizen (uncredited)
(1949)
The Red Pony
as Bartender
(1948)
The Miracle of the Bells
as Baggage Man
(1948)
Half Past Midnight
as Mike
(1948)
Shed No Tears
as Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
(1948)
The Sainted Sisters
as Townsman (uncredited)
(1947)
(1947)
Possessed
as Man in Café (uncredited)
(1947)
Sinbad the Sailor
as Assistant Overseer (uncredited)
(1946)
It's a Wonderful Life
as Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
(1946)
The Truth About Murder
as Henchman Mike (uncredited)
(1946)
That Brennan Girl
as Moving Man (uncredited)
(1946)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
as Bartender (uncredited)
(1945)
The Lost Weekend
as Mike (uncredited)
(1945)
Radio Stars on Parade
as George
(1945)
Circumstantial Evidence
as Truck Driver
(1945)
Fallen Angel
as Bartender (uncredited)
(1945)
A Medal for Benny
as Jake (uncredited)
(1944)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
as Military Police Driver (uncredited)
(1944)
Boss of Boomtown
as Sergeant George Dunne
(1944)
Hi, Beautiful
as Sailor (uncredited)
(1943)
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
as Rudy the Sailor
(1942)
A Night to Remember
as Policeman Temple (uncredited)
(1942)
Come on Danger
as Tough Guy
(1942)
The Spoilers
as Deputy (uncredited)
(1942)
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
as Villa Luigi Headwaiter
(1942)
The Palm Beach Story
as Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
(1942)
The Talk of the Town
as Moving Man (uncredited)
(1942)
Moontide
as Fisherman (uncredited)
(1942)
Matri-Phony
as Guard (uncredited)
(1942)
The Wife Takes a Flyer
as Sergeant
(1942)
Panama Hattie
as Jailer (uncredited)
(1942)
Obliging Young Lady
as Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited)
(1942)
Sabotage Squad
as Recruiting Sergeant
(1942)
Overland to Deadwood
as Buck
(1941)
Texas
as Fats Delaney
(1941)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
as Bartender
(1941)
Ride on Vaquero
as Partner
(1941)
Cyclone on Horseback
as Jamison
(1940)
The Grapes of Wrath
as Guard (uncredited)
(1940)
The Mad Doctor
as Cab Driver (Uncredited)
(1940)
Men Against the Sky
as Max - Radioman
(1940)
Pop Always Pays
as Bill - Policeman in Car 43
(1940)
Rhythm on the River
as Cherry's Cabbie
(1940)
Wildcat Bus
as Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited)
(1940)
Mexican Spitfire
as Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
(1940)
The House Across the Bay
as Jim
(1940)
The Ghost Breakers
as Ship Porter (uncredited)
(1940)
They Drive by Night
as Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
(1940)
Trail of the Vigilantes
as Joe
(1940)
Buck Benny Rides Again
as Cowboy
(1940)
Charlie Chan in Panama
as Soldier
(1940)
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
as Truck Driver
(1940)
Lucky Partners
as Waiter (uncredited)
(1940)
Hired Wife
as Streetcar Conductor
(1940)
The Bank Dick
as Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
(1940)
Millionaire Playboy
as Highway Patrol Officer
(1940)
You Can't Fool Your Wife
as Burglar
(1939)
Wings of the Navy
as Boss Mechanic
(1939)
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
as Thug
(1939)
Fast and Loose
as Nolan's Henchman (uncredited)
(1939)
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
as Sailor at Wrestling Match
(1939)
Scouts to the Rescue
as Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman
(1939)
The Roaring Twenties
as Gangster (uncredited)
(1939)
The Return of the Cisco Kid
as Brings in Rustler
(1939)
The Day the Bookies Wept
as Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited)
(1939)
Fifth Avenue Girl
as Policeman (uncredited)
(1939)
Off the Record
as Visitor (uncredited)
(1939)
Money to Loan
as Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
(1939)
Our Leading Citizen
as Workman
(1939)
The Girl from Mexico
as Headwaiter
(1939)
Reno
as Police Lt. Joe Wilson
(1939)
I'll Tell the World
as Salesman
(1939)
Cafe Society
as Guest
(1938)
Cocoanut Grove
as Brakeman
(1938)
The Arkansas Traveler
as Hobo
(1938)
Born to Be Wild
as Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
(1938)
Professor Beware
as Chinatown Barker
(1938)
Little Tough Guys in Society
as Guest
(1938)
Penrod and His Twin Brother
as Blackie
(1938)
Maid's Night Out
as Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited)
(1938)
Tarnished Angel
as Tough Casino Decoy
(1938)
Painted Desert
as Henchman Kincaid
(1937)
Wings Over Honolulu
as Marine
(1937)
We Who Are About to Die
as Cell Block E Convict (uncredited)
(1937)
Black Legion
as Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
(1937)
Alcatraz Island
as Party Guest (uncredited)
(1937)
The Great O'Malley
as School Bus Driver (uncredited)
(1937)
Step Lively, Jeeves!
as Joey
(1937)
Stage Door
as Baggage Man (uncredited)
(1937)
Many Unhappy Returns
as Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend
(1937)
Border Cafe
as Shakey
(1937)
San Quentin
as Prison Runner
(1937)
You Only Live Once
as Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
(1937)
(1937)
Smart Blonde
as Chuck Cannon
(1936)
Sons o' Guns
as Soldier
(1936)
Paddy O'Day
as Milkman's Helper on Dock
(1936)
Dancing Pirate
as Pirate (uncredited)
(1936)
Love Begins at Twenty
as Lester - O'Bannion's Driver
(1936)
The House of a Thousand Candles
as Henchman
(1936)
Chatterbox
as Himself (uncredited)
(1936)
The Big Game
as Man Outside Hotel
(1936)
Bullets or Ballots
as Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
(1936)
The Girl on the Front Page
as Fireman
(1936)
The Crime Patrol
as Bennie
(1936)
Night Waitress
as Diner Trying to Date Helen
(1936)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as Pug O'Leary
(1936)
Love on a Bet
as Reporter
(1936)
Walking on Air
as Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
(1936)
The Girl from Mandalay
as Drunken Brawler
(1936)
Two in Revolt
as Davis
(1935)
The Daring Young Man
as Reporter
(1935)
Dr. Socrates
as Gangster
(1935)
Mary Burns, Fugitive
as Sailor
(1935)
3 Kids and a Queen
as Reporter
(1935)
The Fighting Marines
as Gibson
(1935)
The Miracle Rider
as Morley
(1935)
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
as Taxi Driver Henchman
(1934)
The Lost Jungle
as Slade
(1934)
The Lost Jungle
as Slade
(1934)
Hell Bent for Love
as Ernest Dallas
(1934)
Blind Date
as Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
(1934)
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
as Grip
(1934)
The Oil Raider
as Simmons
(1934)
She Had to Choose
as Hold-Up Man
(1934)
Gridiron Flash
as Convict Football Player
(1934)
The Personality Kid
as Max
(1934)
Name the Woman
as Reporter
(1933)
Before Dawn
as Policeman in Car (uncredited)
(1933)
Arizona to Broadway
as Pete
(1932)
Renegades of the West
as Bob
(1932)
Rockabye
as Reporter (uncredited)
(1932)
The World and the Flesh
as Vorobiov
(1932)
Cock of the Air
as Military Policeman
(1931)
Suicide Fleet
as Radio Operator (uncredited)
(1931)
The Good Bad Girl
as Thug
(1930)
Going Wild
as Ferguson - Pilot
(1930)
Numbered Men
as Convict Road Laborer (uncredited)
(1930)
(1927)
The Thrill Seekers
as A Hood
(1927)
The First Auto
as Bartender
(1927)
Flashing Oars
as Student
(1927)
The Relay
as Sophomore
(1926)
Making Good
as Student
Crew
(2024)
The Garden
Art Direction