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.
The Last of the Vargas
Invaders from Mars
(Army Sgt. Rinaldi)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
(Bartender (uncredited))
The Thrill Seekers
(A Hood)
It Happens Every Spring
(Umpire (uncredited))
Name the Woman
(Reporter)
Hell Bent for Love
(Ernest Dallas)
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
(Taxi Driver Henchman)
The Relay
(Sophomore)
Flashing Oars
(Student)
Making Good
(Student)
Step Lively, Jeeves!
(Joey)
Born to Be Wild
(Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited))
The House Across the Bay
(Jim)
Shed No Tears
(Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited))
The Fighting Marines
(Gibson)
Gunpoint
Support Your Local Gunfighter
(Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited))
I Died a Thousand Times
(Deputy Charlie (uncredited))
Donovan's Brain
(Station Agent (uncredited))
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
(Spectator (uncredited))
The Great Race
(Barfly (uncredited))
Shenandoah
(Church Member)
Young Frankenstein
(Villager)
Rosemary's Baby
(Man in Dream)
Hang 'em High
(Prisoner)
Flaxy Martin
(Charles McMahon)
The Arkansas Traveler
(Hobo)
Alcatraz Island
(Party Guest (uncredited))
Maid's Night Out
(Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited))
God's Country and the Woman
(Gus)
Many Unhappy Returns
(Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend)
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
(Barfly (uncredited))
The Miracle Rider
(Morley)
Love on a Bet
(Reporter)
The Crime Patrol
(Bennie)
Illegal
(Bartender (uncredited))
Dr. Socrates
(Gangster)
Pressure Point
Frenchie
(Drunk (uncredited))
Robbery Under Arms
(Sergeant Goring)
Numbered Men
(Convict Road Laborer (uncredited))
Radio Stars on Parade
(George)
Cock of the Air
(Military Policeman)
Matri-Phony
(Guard (uncredited))
True Grit
(Courtroom Spectator (uncredited))
Arizona to Broadway
(Pete)
We Who Are About to Die
(Cell Block E Convict (uncredited))
Gridiron Flash
(Convict Football Player)
Walking on Air
(Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited))
Blind Date
(Evans - Bob's Chauffeur)
The Personality Kid
(Max)
Cocoanut Grove
(Brakeman)
Going Wild
(Ferguson - Pilot)
Two in Revolt
(Davis)
Tarnished Angel
(Tough Casino Decoy)
Paddy O'Day
(Milkman's Helper on Dock)
Border Cafe
(Shakey)
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
(Grip)
Wings of the Navy
(Boss Mechanic)
Fast and Loose
(Nolan's Henchman)
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
(Sailor at Wrestling Match)
The Return of the Cisco Kid
(Brings in Rustler)
5th Ave Girl
(Policeman (uncredited))
The Girl from Mexico
(Headwaiter)
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
(Thug)
The Red Pony
(Bartender)
Professor Beware
(Chinatown Barker)
Reno
(Police Lt. Joe Wilson)
The Roaring Twenties
(Gangster (uncredited))
Pier 23
(Bar Patron (uncredited))
The Day the Bookies Wept
(Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited))
Millionaire Playboy
(Highway Patrol Officer)
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
(Truck Driver)
The Grapes of Wrath
(Guard (uncredited))
The Lost Weekend
(Mike (uncredited))
East of Eden
(Workman (uncredited))
Night Waitress
(Diner Trying to Date Helen)
Wings Over Honolulu
(Marine)
The Great O'Malley
(School Bus Driver (uncredited))
It's a Wonderful Life
(Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited))
To Kill a Mockingbird
(Courtroom Spectator (uncredited))
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
(Pug O'Leary)
The Girl from Mandalay
(Drunken Brawler)
Evil Roy Slade
(Townsman (uncredited))
I'll Tell the World
(Salesman)
The Daring Young Man
(Reporter)
Charlie Chan in Panama
(Soldier)
Smart Blonde
(Chuck Cannon)
Mexican Spitfire
(Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's)
The Truth About Murder
(Henchman Mike (uncredited))
The Oil Raider
(Simmons)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
(Townsman (uncredited))
Money to Loan
(Hanley's Strong-Arm Man)
Trail of the Vigilantes
(Joe)
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
(Cashier (uncredited))
Ride on Vaquero
(Partner)
Buck Benny Rides Again
(Cowboy)
Overland to Deadwood
(Buck)
The World and the Flesh
(Vorobiov)
Little Tough Guys in Society
(Guest)
That Brennan Girl
(Moving Man (uncredited))
Fallen Angel
(Bartender (uncredited))
Love Begins at Twenty
(Lester - O'Bannion's Driver)
The Great Diamond Robbery
(Policeman (uncredited))
The First Auto
(Bartender)
Mary Burns, Fugitive
(Sailor)
San Quentin
(Prison Runner)
The Bank Dick
(Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited))
Hired Wife
(Streetcar Conductor)
They Drive by Night
(Sweeney, Driver (uncredited))
Men Against the Sky
(Max - Radioman)
The Spirit of St. Louis
(Reporter (uncredited))
Lucky Partners
(Waiter (uncredited))
The Mad Doctor
(Cab Driver (Uncredited))
Rhythm on the River
(Cherry's Cabbie)
Wildcat Bus
(Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited))
The Ghost Breakers
(Ship Porter (uncredited))
Caught
(Projectionist (uncredited))
Sons o' Guns
(Soldier)
The Girl on the Front Page
(Fireman)
Our Leading Citizen
(Workman)
The Sainted Sisters
(Townsman (uncredited))
Cafe Society
(Guest)
Cyclone on Horseback
(Jamison)
Pop Always Pays
(Bill - Policeman in Car 43)
Boss of Boomtown
(Sergeant George Dunne)
You Can't Fool Your Wife
(Burglar)
Come on Danger
(Tough Guy)
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
(Rudy the Sailor)
The Spoilers
(Deputy (uncredited))
Sabotage Squad
(Recruiting Sergeant)
Chatterbox
(Himself (uncredited))
Texas
(Fats Delaney)
The Good Bad Girl
(Thug)
The Wife Takes a Flyer
(Sergeant)
Renegades of the West
(Bob)
Rockabye
(Reporter (uncredited))
Suicide Fleet
(Radio Operator (uncredited))
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
(Bartender)
The House of a Thousand Candles
(Henchman)
Obliging Young Lady
(Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited))
Stage Door
(Baggage Man (uncredited))
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
(Villa Luigi Headwaiter)
Off the Record
(Visitor (uncredited))
Panama Hattie
(Jailer (uncredited))
Penrod and His Twin Brother
(Blackie)
The Big Game
(Man Outside Hotel)
Circumstantial Evidence
(Truck Driver)
Scouts to the Rescue
(Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
(Military Police Driver (uncredited))
The Secret of Convict Lake
(Jack Purcell (uncredited))
The Miracle of the Bells
(Baggage Man)
Half Past Midnight
(Mike)
A Night to Remember
(Policeman Temple (uncredited))
3 Kids and a Queen
(Reporter)
Reign of Terror
(Citizen (uncredited))
A Medal for Benny
(Jake (uncredited))
Bullets or Ballots
(Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited))
Black Legion
(Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited))
Moontide
(Fisherman)
You Only Live Once
(Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited))
Terror in the Wax Museum
(Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited))
The Palm Beach Story
(Tom's Best Man (uncredited))
Dancing Pirate
(Pirate (uncredited))
Painted Desert
(Henchman Kincaid)
The Racket
(Durko (uncredited))
Flaming Feather
The Lost Jungle
(Slade)
The Lost Jungle
(Slade)
4 for Texas
(Blackjack Dealer)
Before Dawn
(Policeman in Car (uncredited))
Tycoon
She Had to Choose
(Hold-Up Man)
The Talk of the Town
(Moving Man (uncredited))
Ice Palace
(Party Guest (uncredited))
Return of the Gunfighter
(Barfly (uncredited))
The Twilight Zone
(Roller Coaster Operator)
The Rifleman
Columbo
(Derelict (uncredited))
