image of Max Wagner
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Birthday: Nov 28, 1901
Place of Birth: Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico

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.

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