Max Wagner
Acting • Born 1901-11-28 – Died 1975-11-16
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.
Filmography
192 credits
The Last of the Vargas
Movie • 1930
Invaders from Mars
Movie • 1953
Army Sgt. Rinaldi
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
Movie • 1946
Bartender (uncredited)
The Thrill Seekers
Movie • 1927
A Hood
It Happens Every Spring
Movie • 1949
Umpire (uncredited)
Name the Woman
Movie • 1934
Reporter
Hell Bent for Love
Movie • 1934
Ernest Dallas
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
Movie • 1935
Taxi Driver Henchman
Making Good
Movie • 1926
Student
The Relay
Movie • 1927
Sophomore
Flashing Oars
Movie • 1927
Student
Step Lively, Jeeves!
Movie • 1937
Joey
Born to Be Wild
Movie • 1938
Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
The House Across the Bay
Movie • 1940
Jim
Shed No Tears
Movie • 1948
Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
The Fighting Marines
Movie • 1935
Gibson
Gunpoint
Movie • 1966
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Movie • 1971
Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
I Died a Thousand Times
Movie • 1955
Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
Donovan's Brain
Movie • 1953
Station Agent (uncredited)
Flaxy Martin
Movie • 1949
Charles McMahon
Young Frankenstein
Movie • 1974
Villager (uncredited)
Rosemary's Baby
Movie • 1968
Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Movie • 1963
Spectator (uncredited)
The Great Race
Movie • 1965
Barfly (uncredited)
Hang 'em High
Movie • 1968
Prisoner
Shenandoah
Movie • 1965
Church Member
The Arkansas Traveler
Movie • 1938
Hobo
Maid's Night Out
Movie • 1938
Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited)
Alcatraz Island
Movie • 1937
Party Guest (uncredited)
God's Country and the Woman
Movie • 1937
Gus
Many Unhappy Returns
Movie • 1937
Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Movie • 1970
Barfly (uncredited)
The Miracle Rider
Movie • 1935
Morley
Love on a Bet
Movie • 1936
Reporter
The Crime Patrol
Movie • 1936
Bennie
Illegal
Movie • 1955
Bartender (uncredited)
Dr. Socrates
Movie • 1935
Gangster
Pressure Point
Movie • 1962
Frenchie
Movie • 1950
Drunk (uncredited)
Robbery Under Arms
Movie • 1957
Sergeant Goring
Numbered Men
Movie • 1930
Convict Road Laborer (extra)
Radio Stars on Parade
Movie • 1945
George
Cock of the Air
Movie • 1932
Military Policeman
Matri-Phony
Movie • 1942
Guard (uncredited)
True Grit
Movie • 1969
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Arizona to Broadway
Movie • 1933
Pete
We Who Are About to Die
Movie • 1937
Cell Block E Convict (uncredited)
Gridiron Flash
Movie • 1934
Convict Football Player
Walking on Air
Movie • 1936
Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Blind Date
Movie • 1934
Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
The Personality Kid
Movie • 1934
Max
Cocoanut Grove
Movie • 1938
Brakeman
Going Wild
Movie • 1930
Ferguson - Pilot
Two in Revolt
Movie • 1936
Davis
Tarnished Angel
Movie • 1938
Tough Casino Decoy
Paddy O'Day
Movie • 1936
Milkman's Helper on Dock
Border Cafe
Movie • 1937
Shakey
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Movie • 1934
Grip
Wings of the Navy
Movie • 1939
Boss Mechanic
Fast and Loose
Movie • 1939
Nolan's Henchman (uncredited)
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Movie • 1939
Sailor at Wrestling Match
The Return of the Cisco Kid
Movie • 1939
Brings in Rustler
Fifth Avenue Girl
Movie • 1939
Policeman (uncredited)
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Movie • 1939
Thug
The Girl from Mexico
Movie • 1939
Headwaiter
The Red Pony
Movie • 1949
Bartender
Professor Beware
Movie • 1938
Chinatown Barker
Reno
Movie • 1939
Police Lt. Joe Wilson
The Roaring Twenties
Movie • 1939
Gangster (uncredited)
Pier 23
Movie • 1951
Bar Patron (uncredited)
The Day the Bookies Wept
Movie • 1939
Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Millionaire Playboy
Movie • 1940
Highway Patrol Officer
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
Movie • 1940
Truck Driver
The Grapes of Wrath
Movie • 1940
Guard (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
Movie • 1945
Mike (uncredited)
East of Eden
Movie • 1955
Workman (uncredited)
Night Waitress
Movie • 1936
Diner Trying to Date Helen
Wings Over Honolulu
Movie • 1937
Marine
The Great O'Malley
Movie • 1937
School Bus Driver (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
Movie • 1946
Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
Movie • 1962
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Movie • 1936
Pug O'Leary
The Girl from Mandalay
Movie • 1936
Drunken Brawler
Evil Roy Slade
Movie • 1972
Townsman (uncredited)
I'll Tell the World
Movie • 1939
Salesman
The Daring Young Man
Movie • 1935
Reporter
Charlie Chan in Panama
Movie • 1940
Soldier
Smart Blonde
Movie • 1937
Chuck Cannon
Mexican Spitfire
Movie • 1940
Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
The Truth About Murder
Movie • 1946
Henchman Mike (uncredited)
The Oil Raider
Movie • 1934
Simmons
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Movie • 1962
Townsman (uncredited)
Money to Loan
Movie • 1939
Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
Trail of the Vigilantes
Movie • 1940
Joe
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Movie • 1966
Cashier (uncredited)
Ride on Vaquero
Movie • 1941
Partner
Buck Benny Rides Again
Movie • 1940
Cowboy
Overland to Deadwood
Movie • 1942
Buck
The World and the Flesh
Movie • 1932
Vorobiov
Little Tough Guys in Society
Movie • 1938
Guest
That Brennan Girl
Movie • 1946
Moving Man (uncredited)
Fallen Angel
Movie • 1945
Bartender (uncredited)
Love Begins at Twenty
Movie • 1936
Lester - O'Bannion's Driver
The Great Diamond Robbery
Movie • 1954
Policeman (uncredited)
The First Auto
Movie • 1927
Bartender
Mary Burns, Fugitive
Movie • 1935
Sailor
San Quentin
Movie • 1937
Prison Runner
The Bank Dick
Movie • 1940
Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
Hired Wife
Movie • 1940
Streetcar Conductor
They Drive by Night
Movie • 1940
Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
Men Against the Sky
Movie • 1940
Max - Radioman
The Spirit of St. Louis
Movie • 1957
Reporter (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Movie • 1940
Waiter (uncredited)
The Mad Doctor
Movie • 1940
Cab Driver (Uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
Movie • 1940
Ship Porter (uncredited)
Rhythm on the River
Movie • 1940
Cherry's Cabbie
Wildcat Bus
Movie • 1940
Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited)
Caught
Movie • 1949
Projectionist (uncredited)
Sons o' Guns
Movie • 1936
Soldier
The Girl on the Front Page
Movie • 1936
Fireman
The Sainted Sisters
Movie • 1948
Townsman (uncredited)
Our Leading Citizen
Movie • 1939
Workman
Cafe Society
Movie • 1939
Guest
Cyclone on Horseback
Movie • 1941
Jamison
Pop Always Pays
Movie • 1940
Bill - Policeman in Car 43
Boss of Boomtown
Movie • 1944
Sergeant George Dunne
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Movie • 1940
Burglar
Come on Danger
Movie • 1942
Tough Guy
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
Movie • 1943
Rudy the Sailor
The Spoilers
Movie • 1942
Deputy (uncredited)
Sabotage Squad
Movie • 1942
Recruiting Sergeant
Chatterbox
Movie • 1936
Himself (uncredited)
Texas
Movie • 1941
Fats Delaney
The Good Bad Girl
Movie • 1931
Thug
The Wife Takes a Flyer
Movie • 1942
Sergeant
Renegades of the West
Movie • 1932
Bob
Rockabye
Movie • 1932
Reporter (uncredited)
Suicide Fleet
Movie • 1931
Radio Operator (uncredited)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Movie • 1941
Bartender
The House of a Thousand Candles
Movie • 1936
Henchman
Obliging Young Lady
Movie • 1942
Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited)
Stage Door
Movie • 1937
Baggage Man (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
Movie • 1942
Villa Luigi Headwaiter
Off the Record
Movie • 1939
Visitor (uncredited)
Panama Hattie
Movie • 1942
Jailer (uncredited)
Penrod and His Twin Brother
Movie • 1938
Blackie
The Big Game
Movie • 1936
Man Outside Hotel
Circumstantial Evidence
Movie • 1945
Truck Driver
Scouts to the Rescue
Movie • 1939
Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Movie • 1944
Military Police Driver (uncredited)
The Secret of Convict Lake
Movie • 1951
Jack Purcell (uncredited)
The Miracle of the Bells
Movie • 1948
Baggage Man
Half Past Midnight
Movie • 1948
Mike
A Night to Remember
Movie • 1942
Policeman Temple (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
Movie • 1935
Reporter
Reign of Terror
Movie • 1949
Citizen (uncredited)
A Medal for Benny
Movie • 1945
Jake (uncredited)
Bullets or Ballots
Movie • 1936
Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
Black Legion
Movie • 1937
Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
Moontide
Movie • 1942
Fisherman (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
Movie • 1937
Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
Terror in the Wax Museum
Movie • 1973
Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
Movie • 1942
Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
Painted Desert
Movie • 1938
Henchman Kincaid
Dancing Pirate
Movie • 1936
Pirate (uncredited)
The Racket
Movie • 1951
Durko (uncredited)
Flaming Feather
Movie • 1952
The Lost Jungle
Movie • 1934
Slade
The Lost Jungle
Movie • 1934
Slade
4 for Texas
Movie • 1963
Blackjack Dealer
Before Dawn
Movie • 1933
Policeman in Car (uncredited)
Tycoon
Movie • 1947
She Had to Choose
Movie • 1934
Hold-Up Man
The Talk of the Town
Movie • 1942
Moving Man (uncredited)
Ice Palace
Movie • 1960
Party Guest (uncredited)
Return of the Gunfighter
Movie • 1967
Barfly (uncredited)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Movie • 1968
Reporter (uncredited)
Sunrise at Campobello
Movie • 1960
Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Public Pigeon No. 1
Movie • 1957
Police Detective (uncredited)
Sinbad the Sailor
Movie • 1947
Assistant Overseer (uncredited)
Hi, Beautiful
Movie • 1944
Sailor (uncredited)
The Country Girl
Movie • 1954
Expressman (uncredited)
Possessed
Movie • 1947
Man in Café (uncredited)
The Conqueror
Movie • 1956
Mongul Guard (uncredited)
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1959
Roller Coaster Operator
The Rifleman
TV • 1958
Columbo
TV • 1971
Derelict (uncredited)
The Abbott and Costello Show
TV • 1952
First Workman
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
TV • 1955
Gambler (uncredited)
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Townsman (uncredited)
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
TV • 1955
Townsman (uncredited)