Lindsay Jean Wagner(born June 22, 1949)[1]is an American actress. Wagner is best known for her leading role in the Americanscience fictiontelevision seriesThe Bionic Woman(1976–1978), in which she portrayed characterJaime Sommers.She first played the role on the seriesThe Six Million Dollar Man.The character became apop culture iconof the 1970s. For this role, Wagner won anEmmy Awardfor Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Role in 1977 – the first for an actor or actress in a science fiction series. Wagner began acting professionally in 1971 and has maintained a lengthy acting career in a variety of film and television productions to the present day.
Lindsay Wagner | |
|---|---|
 Wagner in 2019 | |
| Born | June 22, 1949 |
| Education | David Douglas High School |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouses | Allan Rider
(m.1971;div.1973)Lawrence Mortorff
(m.1990;div.1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Hollywood Walk of Fame Primetime Emmy Awards |
Early life
editWagner was born inLos Angeles, California.[2]Following her parents' divorce,[3]her mother remarried, and the family moved toPortland, Oregonwhere Wagner graduated from Portland'sDavid Douglas High School.[4]
After graduation, Wagner spent a couple of months in France before enrolling at theUniversity of Oregonfor one year. Wagner then transferred toMt. Hood Community College,Gresham, for six months before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles.[5]She was diagnosed withdyslexia.[6]
Career
editWagner worked as a model in Los Angeles and gained some television experience by appearing as a hostess inPlayboy After Dark,and she was also a contestant on the game showThe Dating Gamein 1969 (one of her potential suitors, whom she did not choose, was TV actorRoger Ewing). In 1971, she signed a contract withUniversal Studiosand worked as acontract playerin Universal productions. Her primetime network television debut was in the seriesAdam-12( "Million Dollar Buff" ), and she went on to appear in a dozen other Universal shows, includingOwen Marshall: Counselor at Law(co-starringLee Majors),The F.B.I.,Sarge,andNight Gallery(1971, as the nurse in the episode: "The Diary" ).[7]
Between 1971 and 1975, she appeared in five episodes of Universal'sMarcus Welby, M.D.and two episodes ofThe Rockford Files.In 1973, Wagner branched into film roles when Universal cast her inTwo People,which was her first feature film and her first lead role. She also co-starred in the20th Century FoxfilmThe Paper Chasethe same year, playing the daughter of the stern law professor, Kingsfield.[8]
In 1975, arranged under her extended contract with Universal Studios, Wagner played the role of Jaime Sommers, a formertennisprofessional who was the childhood sweetheart of "Six Million Dollar Man" Colonel Steve Austin (played byLee Majors). According toKenneth Johnson,interviewed for a featurette included in the 2010 North American DVD release ofThe Bionic Womanseason one, Wagner was cast in the role based upon her appeal and spontaneity after he saw her appearance in the pilot and a follow-up episode ofThe Rockford Files.In the second-season, two-part episode, her character is critically injured in askydivingaccident and equipped withbionicimplants similar to Austin's, but her body rejects them, ultimately leading to her death.[9]
This was intended to be Wagner's last role under her Universal contract, but public response to the character was so overwhelming that the "death" wasretconnedinto a cover story for a near-death secret recovery, and Wagner appeared in a two-part episode which returned her character, followed by a spin-off series,The Bionic Woman,which debuted in January 1976.[9]The same year, she co-starred in a Canadian film,Second WindoppositeJames Naughton.[10]She made several crossover appearances inThe Six Million Dollar Manduring the series' run. The role earned Wagner anEmmy Awardfor "Best Actress in a Dramatic Role" in 1977.[11]
Following the cancellation ofThe Bionic Womanin 1978, Wagner continued to act, predominantly in television miniseries and television films. These included the highly rated 1980 miniseriesScruples,as well as three made-for-TVBionicreunion movies with Lee Majors between 1987 and 1994. Also in the 1980s, Wagner co-starred asSylvester Stallone's ex-wife in his 1981 movieNighthawks[12]and starred in two more weekly television series,Jessie(1984) andA Peaceable Kingdom(1989),[13]though both were cancelled with neither completing their first season.[14]In 1983, she also appeared in an episode of Lee Majors' seriesThe Fall Guy.
Wagner continued to act into the 1990s and 2000s, though in less prominent roles, such as a small part in the action movieRicochet(1991). Her most recent projects have included the 2005 television filmThicker than WaterwithMelissa Gilbert,Buckaroo: The Movie(2005), andFour Extraordinary Women(2006). In 2010, Wagner began a recurring role as Dr. Vanessa Calder in theSyFy channel'shit dramaWarehouse 13[15]and played the character again in its Syfy sister showAlphasin 2011.[16]In the fall semester of 2013, Wagner began teaching atSan Bernardino Valley Collegein southern California (Acting and Directing for Television and Film, Motion Picture Production) as an adjunct faculty member.[17]In 2015, Wagner appeared in theNCISseason 13, episode 10: "Blood Brothers" in the role of Barbara Bishop, the mother ofNCISProbationary Agent Eleanor Bishop (Emily Wickersham).
She appeared inGrey's Anatomyas Alex Karev's mother, Helen Karev, over the course of two seasons, first appearing in 2018 during Season 14 for a single episode and reappearing in 2019 for a number of episodes during Season 15.
In June 2018, it was announced that Wagner would co-star inDeath Stranding,a video game being developed bySony Interactive EntertainmentandKojima Productions.Wagner lent her likeness to the characters Bridget and Amelie Strand and voiced the former, withEmily O'Brienvoicing the latter and a younger version of the former.Death Strandingwas Wagner's first role in a video game, and her first experience with the industry's motion capture and voice acting technology.[18]
In 2021, Wagner starred in the holiday romance filmChristmas at the RanchwithAmanda Righetti,Laur Allen,Archie KaoandDia Framptonplaying the character Meemaw.[19]
Other work
edit
In 1987, Wagner wrote a series of books with Robert M. Klein about usingacupressureto achieve results akin to a surgicalfacelift.In 1994, she co-authored the vegetarian cookbook,High Road to Health.[20]
Wagner appeared in commercials as a spokesperson for Southern California's regionalFord Motor Companydealerships from 1987 through 2000.[21]She was also a spokesperson in infomercials forSelect Comfort's "Sleep Number" bed from 2003 to 2009.[22]
In recent years,[when?]Wagner has given seminars and workshops for her self-help therapy, "Quiet the Mind and Open the Heart," which promotes spirituality and meditation.[23]
In 2010, she participated in interviews and featurettes included in the long-delayed North American DVD releases ofThe Bionic Womanand the 2011 release ofThe Six Million Dollar Man.[24][25]
In 2016, Wagner publicly advocated as a treatment for her chronicurticaria(i.e., hives)Miracle Mineral Solution(MMS), a substance which the USFood and Drug Administration(FDA) declared was a toxic industrial bleach used inwastewater treatmentandhydraulic fracturing.[26]
Honors
editWagner earned anEmmy Awardin 1977 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Role for her role inThe Bionic Womantelevision series.[11]
On December 13, 1984, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce presented Wagner with a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame,category 'Film', located at the north side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard.[27]
In 2012, a Golden Palm Star on thePalm Springs, California,Walk of Starswas dedicated to Wagner.[28]
On October 18, 2019, theSan Diego International Film Festivalpresented the actress with the Humanitarian Award.[29]Previous winnersinclude,Geena Davis,Mariel HemingwayandJoaquin Phoenix.
Personal life
editDuring the first year ofThe Bionic Woman,Wagner was the driver in a car accident with her then boyfriend, actorMichael Brandon,in the passenger seat. Brandon almost lost an eye and Wagner received a severe cut on her upper lip which left a small but permanent scar. The event halted production on the show for weeks.[30]
Prior to her first marriage, Wagner lived with Captain Daniel M. Yoder (USAF) until he went toVietnam.She has been married and divorced four times. From 1971 to 1973, she was married to music publisher Allan Rider. From 1976 to 1979, she was married to Michael Brandon. In 1981, she marriedstuntmanHenry Kingi,whom she met on the set ofThe Bionic Woman.Wagner had two sons with Kingi, Dorian (b. 1982) and Alex (b. 1986). The couple divorced in 1984.[31]Wagner married TV producer Lawrence Mortorff in 1990 and they divorced three years later.[citation needed]
Wagner was scheduled to be a passenger onAmerican Airlines Flight 191from Chicago to Los Angeles on May 25, 1979, but suddenly felt very ill while waiting for the plane. She skipped the flight, which crashed only minutes after takeoff, killing all 271 people on board and 2 people on the ground – the deadliest aviation accident[a]to have occurred in the United States.[32]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Two People | Deirdre McCluskey | |
| 1973 | The Paper Chase | Susan Fields | |
| 1976 | Second Wind | Linda | |
| 1979 | The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel | Meg Laurel | |
| 1979 | The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan | Jenny Logan | |
| 1981 | Nighthawks | Irene DaSilva | |
| 1981 | High Risk | Olivia | |
| 1985 | Martin's Day | Dr. Mennen | |
| 1986 | Young Again | Laura Gordon | |
| 1991 | Ricochet | District Attorney Priscilla Brimleigh | |
| 1998 | Frog and Wombat | Sydney Parker | |
| 2003 | A Light in the Forest | Penelope Audrey | |
| 2005 | Buckaroo: The Movie | Ms. Ainsley | |
| 2006 | The Surfer King | Connie Zirpollo | |
| 2008 | Billy: The Early Years | Morrow Graham | |
| 2012 | Who Killed Soul Glow? | Unknown | |
| 2018 | Samson | Zealphonis | |
| 2019 | Christmas on the Range | Lillian McCree | |
| 2021 | Christmas at the Ranch | MeeMaw | [33] |
| 2022 | When Jack Came Back | Nancy | [34] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Adam-12 | Jenny Carson | Episode: "Million Dollar Buff" |
| 1971 | The Man and the City | Margie Holland | Episode: "Disaster on Turner Street" |
| 1971 | The Bold Ones: The Lawyers | Stella Bowers | Episode: "In Defense of Ellen McKay" |
| 1971 | Sarge | Laurie Meyers | Episode: "The Combatants" |
| 1971 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Diana Oliver | Episode: "Until Proven Innocent" |
| 1971–1972 | Night Gallery | Girl/Nurse | 2 Episodes |
| 1971–1975 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Susan Davis/Denise Malory/Emily Matocsis/Nurse Gledhill | 5 episodes |
| 1972 | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | Edie Lang | Episode: "Operation: XW-1" |
| 1972 | The F.B.I. | Laurie Peale | Episode: "Dark Journey" |
| 1974–1975 | The Rockford Files | Sara Butler | 2 Episodes |
| 1975–1976 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Jaime Sommers | 9 episodes |
| 1976 | Whodunnit? | Panellist | Episode: "Future Imperfect" |
| 1976–1978 | The Bionic Woman | Jaime Sommers | 3 x Seasons: 58 episodes |
| 1978 | Windows, Doors & Keyholes | Unnamed | Television film |
| 1979 | The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel | Meg Laurel | Television film |
| 1979 | The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan | Jennie Logan | Television film |
| 1980 | Scruples | Billy Ikehorn | Television miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1981 | Callie & Son | Callie Bordeaux | Television film |
| 1982 | Memories Never Die | Joanne Tilford | Television film |
| 1983 | I Want to Live! | Barbara Graham | Television film |
| 1983 | The Fall Guy | Mary Connors | Episode: "Devil's Island" |
| 1983 | Princess Daisy | Francesca Valenski | Television film |
| 1983 | Two Kinds of Love | Susan Farley | Television film |
| 1984 | Passions | Nina Simon | Television film |
| 1984 | Jessie | Dr. Jessie Hayden & Executive producer | Television film 2 hour pilot and 12 episodes in a series |
| 1985 | The Other Lover | Claire Fielding | Television film |
| 1985 | This Child Is Mine | Bonnie Wilkerson | Television film |
| 1986 | A Child's Cry | Joanne Van Buren | Television film |
| 1986 | Kate & Allie | Julia | Episode: "Late Bloomer" |
| 1986 | Convicted | Martha Forbes | Television film |
| 1987 | Stranger in My Bed | Beverly Slater | Television film |
| 1987 | The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman | Jaime Sommers | Television film |
| 1987 | Student Exchange | Principal | Television film |
| 1988 | Evil in Clear River | Kate McKinnon | Television film |
| 1988 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Susan Forrester | Episode: "Prism" |
| 1988 | The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story | Uli Derickson | Television film |
| 1988 | Nightmare at Bittercreek | Nita Daniels | Television film |
| 1988 | Scandals | Host | Television film |
| 1988 | Police Story: Burnout | Detective Sidney Shannon | Television film |
| 1989 | From the Dead of the Night | Joanna | Television film |
| 1989 | Voice of the Heart | Katharine Tempest | Television miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 1989 | Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman | Jaime Sommers | Television film |
| 1989 | A Peaceable Kingdom | Rebecca Cafferty | 12 episodes |
| 1990 | Shattered Dreams | Charlotte Fedders & Co-Producer | Television film |
| 1990 | Babies | Yvonne | Television film |
| 1991 | Fire in the Dark | Janet | Television film |
| 1991 | To Be the Best | Paula O'Neill | Television miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1992 | She Woke Up | Claudia Parr | Television film |
| 1992 | Treacherous Crossing | Lindsey Thompson Gates | Television film |
| 1992 | Against All Odds | Host | Television film |
| 1992 | A Message from Holly | Holly | Television film |
| 1993 | Nurses on the Line: The Crash of Flight 7 | Elizabeth Hahn | Television film |
| 1994 | Men Who Hate Women & The Women Who Love Them | Host | Television film |
| 1994 | Once in a Lifetime | Daphne Fields | Television film |
| 1994 | Bionic Ever After? | Jaime Sommers | Television film |
| 1995 | Fighting for My Daughter | Kate Kerner | Television film |
| 1996 | Sins of Silence | Molly McKinley | Television film |
| 1996 | A Mother's Instinct | Raeanne Gilbaine | Television film |
| 1997 | Contagious | Dr. Hannah Cole | Television film |
| 1997 | Their Second Chance | Barbara | Television film |
| 1998 | Voyage of Terror | Dr. Stephanie Tauber | Television film |
| 2002 | The Division | Agatha B. | Episode: "Farewell My Lovelies" |
| 2005 | Thicker than Water | Jess Jarrett | Television film |
| 2006 | Four Extraordinary Women | Anne | Television film |
| 2006 | The Surfer King | Connie Zirpollo | Television film |
| 2008 | Billy: The Early Years | Morrow Graham | Television film |
| 2008 | Tranquility | Executive producer | Short |
| 2010–2014 | Warehouse 13 | Dr. Vanessa Calder | 6 episodes |
| 2011 | Alphas | Dr. Vanessa Calder | Episode: "Never Let Me Go" |
| 2012 | Scruples | Narrator | Television film |
| 2013 | The Thanksgiving House | Abigail Mather | Television film |
| 2013 | Wi Na Go | Mary Beth (Voice/Narrator) | Short |
| 2015 | NCIS | Barbara Bishop | Episode: "Blood Brothers" |
| 2016 | Love Finds You in Valentine | June Sterling | Television film |
| 2016 | A Change of Heart | Helen | Television film |
| 2017 | Eat, Play, Love | Rita | Television film |
| 2018 | Mingle All the Way | Veronica Hoffman | Television film |
| 2018 | Fuller House | Millie | Episode: "Angels' Night Out" |
| 2018–2019 | Grey's Anatomy | Helen Karev | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Blood & Treasure | Dani Kowalski | Episode: "The Ravens of Shangri-La" |
| 2023 | Generation Gap | Herself | Episode: "The Six Million Dollar Woman" |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Death Stranding[35] | Bridget (voice and likeness), Amelie (likeness only) | Amelie and the young Bridget digitally de-aged and voiced byEmily O'Brien |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | The Bionic Woman | Nominated |
| 1977 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Won | |
| 1978 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Nominated | |
| 1974 | Photoplay AwardGold Medal | New Female Star | Nominated | |
| 1977 | Favorite Female Sex Symbol | Nominated | ||
| 1978 | Nominated | |||
| 1984 | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Star on the Walk of Fame -Motion Picture | Won | |
| 1989 | CableACE Award | Actress in a Dramatic Series | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Nominated |
| 2003 | TV Land Award | Superest Super Hero | The Bionic Woman | Nominated |
| 2006 | Greatest Gear or Admirable Apparatus | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Won | |||
| 2019 | San Diego International Film Festival | Humanitarian Award | Won |
Books
edit- 1987:Lindsay Wagner's New Beauty: The Acupressure Faceliftby Lindsay Wagner and Robert M. Klein (ISBN0-13-536806-5)
- 1988:30-Day Natural Face Lift Programby Lindsay Wagner and Robert M. Klein (ISBN0-86188-779-4)
- 1994:High Road to Health: A Vegetarian Cookbookby Lindsay Wagner and Ariane Spade (ISBN0-671-87277-X)
Explanatory notes
edit- ^The fatalities of theSeptember 11 attacksareterrorism,not accidents.
References
edit- ^Film Actors Guide.University of Michigan. 1991. p. 406.ISBN9780943728384.
- ^Scott, Vernon (December 10, 1975). "Bionic Woman Zeroes In on Series".Los Angeles Times.p. G30.ProQuest157811604.
Lindsay, born in Los Angeles 26 years ago, is a poised, confident young woman who did some teaching in a private school while working as an actress.
- ^Beck, Marilyn (March 11, 1976). "Bionic Woman Lindsay Wagner's attitudes spawned by hard childhood". p. 26.ProQuest1937151105.
Her parents divorced while she was still young, and it's only as an adult that she has finally established a meaningful relationship with her father.
- ^Williams, Elisa (February 1, 2010)."Bionic Woman' star to speak in Vancouver on domestic violence".The Columbian.Archivedfrom the original on February 5, 2010.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Herz, Peggy (1976).Tv Talk 2: Exploring Tv Territory.Scholastic; First edition.
- ^"Lindsay Wagner defeats dyslexia".USAToday.com.May 1, 2002. Archived fromthe originalon May 30, 2012.RetrievedAugust 31,2018.
"When Carolyn Brenner, founder of Tikvah, described dyslexia to me," says Wagner, "I realized that's what I have. I looked back at my life and saw it had informed everything. I was intelligent but couldn't get through a book.
- ^Skelton, Scott; Benson, Jim (1999).Rod Serling's Night Gallery: An After-hours Tour.Syracuse University Press.p. 186.ISBN0-8156-0535-8.
- ^Reid, Michael D. (April 17, 2015)."There's much more to Lindsay Wagner than Bionic Woman role".Times Colonist.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^abPena, Xochitl (August 22, 2017)."Lindsay Wagner talks 'Bionic Woman' and still working with 'Six Million Dollar Man'".The Desert Sun.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Jackson, Marni (April 5, 1976)."Scrimpin' down the road".Maclean's.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^abPilato, Herbie J (December 19, 2016)."A 40th Anniversary Tribute to The Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman Part 1: The Bionic Woman".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Maslin, Janet(April 10, 1981)."'NIGHTHAWKS' WITH SYLVESTER STALLONE ".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Weinstein, Steve (September 13, 1989)."The New TV Season: CBS' Animal Park: Network Spends Millions of Dollars on a Zoo for Lindsay Wagner's 'Peaceable Kingdom'".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Mills, Bart (April 15, 1990)."RELATIONSHIPS GO TO 'HEART' OF WAGNER MINI".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^"Lindsay Wagner Guest Stars on Syfy's WAREHOUSE 13 Tonight, 8/27".BroadwayWorld.August 27, 2012.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Sellers, John (August 2, 2011).""Alphas" beams up Brent Spiner ".Reuters.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Steinberg, Jim (September 10, 2013)."Lindsay Wagner, 'The Bionic Woman,' teaching at San Bernardino Valley College".The San Bernardino Sun.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Panda (June 11, 2018),E3 2018 Death Stranding Interview with Kojima & Lindsay Wagner,retrievedJune 13,2018
- ^Lawrence, Jacquie (December 2, 2021)."Christmas At The Ranch: A lesbian holiday romance".Diva Magazine.RetrievedApril 24,2024.
- ^Bionic Beauty
- ^GELLENE, DENISE (November 19, 1998)."Bionic Woman Wired for Success With Region's Ford Sales".RetrievedJuly 28,2017– via LA Times.
- ^Mooallem, Jon (November 18, 2007)."The Sleep-Industrial Complex".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Bianco, Megan (February 25, 2016)."Honoring a bionic career".The Durango Herald.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Vinciguerra, Thomas(December 10, 2010)."On DVD, Better... Stronger... Faster".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
- ^Smith, Jennifer (October 21, 2010)."THE BIONIC WOMAN: SEASON ONE DVD Review".Collider.
- ^Rand, Jory (October 29, 2016)."'Bionic Woman' actress says substance known as MMS worked for her ".
- ^"Lindsay Wagner - Hollywood Star Walk - Los Angeles Times".projects.latimes.com.RetrievedJuly 28,2017.
- ^Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicatedArchivedOctober 13, 2012, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Night Of The Stars Tribute".San Diego International Film Festival.April 19, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 18,2019.
- ^Pilato, Herbie J. (2015).The Bionic Book Reconstructed.BearManor Media.
- ^"While Lindsay Wagner Romps with Son Dorian, Her Third Marriage Heads for a Fall – Vol. 21 No. 4".January 30, 1984. Archived fromthe originalon May 18, 2016.RetrievedJuly 28,2017.
- ^"10 Premonitions of Doom from History That Actually Came True".March 16, 2018.
- ^Bentley, Rick (November 29, 2021)."Lindsay Wagner driven by need to tell stories in 'Christmas on the Ranch' and life".KGET-TV.RetrievedMarch 18,2023.
- ^Ng, Alan (October 18, 2022)."When Jack Came Back – Film Review".Film Threat.RetrievedFebruary 16,2024.
- ^Frank, Allegra (June 12, 2018)."Death Stranding trailer debuts gameplay, new characters".Polygon.RetrievedNovember 13,2024.
External links
edit
