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
El último de los Vargas
Army Sgt. Rinaldi
Invaders from Mars
Bartender (uncredited)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
A Hood
The Thrill Seekers
Umpire (uncredited)
It Happens Every Spring
Reporter
Name the Woman
Taxi Driver Henchman
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
Ernest Dallas
Hell Bent for Love
Student
Making Good
Student
Flashing Oars
Sophomore
The Relay
Joey
Step Lively, Jeeves!
Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
Born to Be Wild
Jim
The House Across the Bay
Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
Shed No Tears
Gibson
The Fighting Marines
Gunpoint
Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
I Died a Thousand Times
Station Agent (uncredited)
Donovan's Brain
Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
Rosemary's Baby
Prisoner
Hang 'em High
Spectator (uncredited)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Charles McMahon
Flaxy Martin
Villager
Young Frankenstein
Barfly (uncredited)
The Great Race
Church Member
Shenandoah
Hobo
The Arkansas Traveler
Party Guest (uncredited)
Alcatraz Island
Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited)
Maid's Night Out
Gus
God's Country and the Woman
Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend
Many Unhappy Returns
Barfly (uncredited)
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Morley
The Miracle Rider
Reporter
Love on a Bet
Bennie
The Crime Patrol
Bartender (uncredited)
Illegal
Gangster
Dr. Socrates
Pressure Point
Drunk (uncredited)
Frenchie
Sergeant Goring
Robbery Under Arms
Convict Road Laborer (uncredited)
Numbered Men
George
Radio Stars on Parade
Military Policeman
Cock of the Air
Guard (uncredited)
Matri-Phony
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
True Grit
Pete
Arizona to Broadway
Cell Block E Convict (uncredited)
We Who Are About to Die
Convict Football Player
Gridiron Flash
Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Walking on Air
Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
Blind Date
Max
The Personality Kid
Brakeman
Cocoanut Grove
Ferguson - Pilot
Going Wild
Davis
Two in Revolt
Tough Casino Decoy
Tarnished Angel
Milkman's Helper on Dock
Paddy O'Day
Shakey
Border Cafe
Grip
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Boss Mechanic
Wings of the Navy
Nolan's Henchman (uncredited)
Fast and Loose
Sailor at Wrestling Match
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Brings in Rustler
The Return of the Cisco Kid
Policeman (uncredited)
Fifth Avenue Girl
Headwaiter
The Girl from Mexico
Thug
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Bartender
The Red Pony
Chinatown Barker
Professor Beware
Police Lt. Joe Wilson
Reno
Gangster (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Pier 23
Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited)
The Day the Bookies Wept
Highway Patrol Officer
Millionaire Playboy
Truck Driver
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
Guard (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
Mike (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
Workman (uncredited)
East of Eden
Diner Trying to Date Helen
Night Waitress
Marine
Wings Over Honolulu
School Bus Driver (uncredited)
The Great O'Malley
Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
Pug O'Leary
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Drunken Brawler
The Girl from Mandalay
Townsman (uncredited)
Evil Roy Slade
Salesman
I'll Tell the World
Reporter
The Daring Young Man
Soldier
Charlie Chan in Panama
Chuck Cannon
Smart Blonde
Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
Mexican Spitfire
Henchman Mike (uncredited)
The Truth About Murder
Simmons
The Oil Raider
Townsman (uncredited)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
Money to Loan
Joe
Trail of the Vigilantes
Cashier (uncredited)
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Partner
Ride on Vaquero
Cowboy
Buck Benny Rides Again
Buck
Overland to Deadwood
Vorobiov
The World and the Flesh
Guest
Little Tough Guys in Society
Moving Man (uncredited)
That Brennan Girl
Bartender (uncredited)
Fallen Angel
Lester - O'Bannion's Driver
Love Begins at Twenty
Policeman (uncredited)
The Great Diamond Robbery
Bartender
The First Auto
Sailor
Mary Burns, Fugitive
Prison Runner
San Quentin
Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
The Bank Dick
Streetcar Conductor
Hired Wife
Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
Max - Radioman
Men Against the Sky
Reporter (uncredited)
The Spirit of St. Louis
Waiter (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Cab Driver (Uncredited)
The Mad Doctor
Cherry's Cabbie
Rhythm on the River
Ship Porter (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited)
Wildcat Bus
Projectionist (uncredited)
Caught
Soldier
Sons o' Guns
Fireman
The Girl on the Front Page
Townsman (uncredited)
The Sainted Sisters
Workman
Our Leading Citizen
Guest
Cafe Society
Jamison
Cyclone on Horseback
Bill - Policeman in Car 43
Pop Always Pays
Sergeant George Dunne
Boss of Boomtown
Burglar
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Tough Guy
Come on Danger
Rudy the Sailor
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
Deputy (uncredited)
The Spoilers
Recruiting Sergeant
Sabotage Squad
Himself (uncredited)
Chatterbox
Fats Delaney
Texas
Thug
The Good Bad Girl
Sergeant
The Wife Takes a Flyer
Bob
Renegades of the West
Reporter (uncredited)
Rockabye
Radio Operator (uncredited)
Suicide Fleet
Bartender
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Henchman
The House of a Thousand Candles
Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited)
Obliging Young Lady
Baggage Man (uncredited)
Stage Door
Villa Luigi Headwaiter
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
Visitor (uncredited)
Off the Record
Jailer (uncredited)
Panama Hattie
Blackie
Penrod and His Twin Brother
Man Outside Hotel
The Big Game
Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman
Scouts to the Rescue
Truck Driver
Circumstantial Evidence
Military Police Driver (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Jack Purcell (uncredited)
The Secret of Convict Lake
Baggage Man
The Miracle of the Bells
Mike
Half Past Midnight
Policeman Temple (uncredited)
A Night to Remember
Reporter
3 Kids and a Queen
Citizen (uncredited)
Reign of Terror
Jake (uncredited)
A Medal for Benny
Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
Bullets or Ballots
Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
Black Legion
Fisherman (uncredited)
Moontide
Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
Terror in the Wax Museum
Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
Henchman Kincaid
Painted Desert
Pirate (uncredited)
Dancing Pirate
Durko (uncredited)
The Racket
Flaming Feather
Slade
The Lost Jungle
Slade
The Lost Jungle
Blackjack Dealer
4 for Texas
Policeman in Car (uncredited)
Before Dawn
Tycoon
Hold-Up Man
She Had to Choose
Moving Man (uncredited)
The Talk of the Town
Party Guest (uncredited)
Ice Palace
Barfly (uncredited)
Return of the Gunfighter
Reporter (uncredited)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Sunrise at Campobello
Police Detective (uncredited)
Public Pigeon No. 1
Assistant Overseer (uncredited)
Sinbad the Sailor
Sailor (uncredited)
Hi, Beautiful
Expressman (uncredited)
The Country Girl
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
183
Gender
Male
Birthday
1901-11-28
Place of Birth
Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
Also Known As
Maxwell Wagner