Max Wagner
Known for Acting · 193 credits
- Born
- 1901-11-28
- Died
- 1975-11-16
- Place of birth
- Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
- Also known as
- Maxwell 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
Known For
TV Shows (7)
Columbo
1971
as Derelict (uncredited)
Bonanza
1959
as Townsman (uncredited)
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Townsman (uncredited)
The Rifleman
1958
The Twilight Zone
1959
as Roller Coaster Operator
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
as Gambler (uncredited) / Townsman (uncredited)
The Abbott and Costello Show
1952
as First Workman
Movies (186)
It's a Wonderful Life
1946
as Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
Rosemary's Baby
1968
as Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
Terror in the Wax Museum
1973
as Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
True Grit
1969
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Young Frankenstein
1974
as Villager (uncredited)
Hang 'em High
1968
as Prisoner
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963
as Spectator (uncredited)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
1962
as Townsman (uncredited)
The Great Race
1965
as Barfly (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
as Guard (uncredited)
East of Eden
1955
as Workman (uncredited)
Shenandoah
1965
as Church Member
Fallen Angel
1945
as Bartender (uncredited)
The Conqueror
1956
as Mongul Guard (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
1939
as Gangster (uncredited)
Stage Door
1937
as Baggage Man (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
1945
as Mike (uncredited)
4 for Texas
1963
as Blackjack Dealer
Invaders from Mars
1953
as Army Sgt. Rinaldi
Sinbad the Sailor
1947
as Assistant Overseer (uncredited)
The Country Girl
1954
as Expressman (uncredited)
The Spoilers
1942
as Deputy (uncredited)
Gunpoint
1966
Possessed
1947
as Man in Café (uncredited)
Reign of Terror
1949
as Citizen (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
The Spirit of St. Louis
1957
as Reporter (uncredited)
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
1966
as Cashier (uncredited)
Frenchie
1950
as Drunk (uncredited)
Texas
1941
as Fats Delaney
Support Your Local Gunfighter
1971
as Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
Illegal
1955
as Bartender (uncredited)
Border Cafe
1937
as Shakey
Caught
1949
as Projectionist (uncredited)
The Bank Dick
1940
as Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
The Talk of the Town
1942
as Moving Man (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
1940
as Ship Porter (uncredited)
The Racket
1951
as Durko (uncredited)
Pressure Point
1962
I Died a Thousand Times
1955
as Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
Tycoon
1947
Donovan's Brain
1953
as Station Agent (uncredited)
Return of the Gunfighter
1967
as Barfly (uncredited)
Bullets or Ballots
1936
as Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
Moontide
1942
as Fisherman (uncredited)
The Miracle of the Bells
1948
as Baggage Man
Evil Roy Slade
1972
as Townsman (uncredited)
Dr. Socrates
1935
as Gangster
They Drive by Night
1940
as Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
The Secret of Convict Lake
1951
as Jack Purcell (uncredited)
The Red Pony
1949
as Bartender
The Legend of Lylah Clare
1968
as Reporter (uncredited)
Rhythm on the River
1940
as Cherry's Cabbie
Dancing Pirate
1936
as Pirate (uncredited)
The House Across the Bay
1940
as Jim
The Girl from Mexico
1939
as Headwaiter
Paddy O'Day
1936
as Milkman's Helper on Dock
Pier 23
1951
as Bar Patron (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
1944
as Military Police Driver (uncredited)
San Quentin
1937
as Prison Runner
Robbery Under Arms
1957
as Sergeant Goring
Flaming Feather
1952
Black Legion
1937
as Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
The Miracle Rider
1935
as Morley
Millionaire Playboy
1940
as Highway Patrol Officer
Sabotage Squad
1942
as Recruiting Sergeant
Pop Always Pays
1940
as Bill - Policeman in Car 43
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
1939
as Thug
You Only Live Once
1937
as Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
Rockabye
1932
as Reporter (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
1942
as Villa Luigi Headwaiter
Alcatraz Island
1937
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Name the Woman
1934
as Reporter
Sunrise at Campobello
1960
as Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Cafe Society
1939
as Guest
Ice Palace
1960
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Daring Young Man
1935
as Reporter
Born to Be Wild
1938
as Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
Ride on Vaquero
1941
as Partner
Before Dawn
1933
as Policeman in Car (uncredited)
Charlie Chan in Shanghai
1935
as Taxi Driver Henchman
That Brennan Girl
1946
as Moving Man (uncredited)
The Sainted Sisters
1948
as Townsman (uncredited)
Shed No Tears
1948
as Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
Fifth Avenue Girl
1939
as Policeman (uncredited)
Panama Hattie
1942
as Jailer (uncredited)
Charlie Chan in Panama
1940
as Soldier
Submarine Patrol
1938
as Marine Corporal (uncredited)
Suicide Fleet
1931
as Radio Operator (uncredited)
Cocoanut Grove
1938
as Brakeman
The Mad Doctor
1940
as Cab Driver (Uncredited)
Reno
1939
as Police Lt. Joe Wilson
Off the Record
1939
as Visitor (uncredited)
A Night to Remember
1942
as Policeman Temple (uncredited)
Arizona to Broadway
1933
as Pete
Blind Date
1934
as Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
Flaxy Martin
1949
as Charles McMahon
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
1940
as Truck Driver
Hi, Beautiful
1944
as Sailor (uncredited)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
1946
as Bartender (uncredited)
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
1970
as Barfly (uncredited)
The Great Diamond Robbery
1954
as Policeman (uncredited)
The House of a Thousand Candles
1936
as Henchman
The Crime Patrol
1936
as Bennie
The Girl on the Front Page
1936
as Fireman
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
1939
as Sailor at Wrestling Match
The Lost Jungle
1934
as Slade
Numbered Men
1930
as Convict Road Laborer (extra)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941
as Bartender
Wings of the Navy
1939
as Boss Mechanic
Wings Over Honolulu
1937
as Marine
Mexican Spitfire
1940
as Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
Smart Blonde
1937
as Chuck Cannon
The Relay
1927
as Sophomore
Circumstantial Evidence
1945
as Truck Driver
Money to Loan
1939
as Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
The Oil Raider
1934
as Simmons
The First Auto
1927
as Bartender
Half Past Midnight
1948
as Mike
About 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 Walla… With 193 credits spanning from 1926 to 1974, Max Wagner has appeared in 186 films and 7 TV shows.
Fans searching for Max Wagner movies, Max Wagner filmography, or the latest projects starring Max Wagner can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Max Wagner Movies
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946) — as Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) — as Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
- Terror in the Wax Museum (1973) — as Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
- True Grit (1969) — as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- Young Frankenstein (1974) — as Villager (uncredited)
Where to Watch Max Wagner Films
Most Max Wagner movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Max Wagner, check our movies catalogue and browse page.