Wende Wagner
Wende Wagner | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 6, 1941 |
| Died | February 26, 1997(aged 55) |
| Years active | 1960–1973 |
| Spouse(s) | Courtney Brown (1960–?) (divorced) 1 child James Mitchum(1967–1978) (divorced) 1 child |
Wende Wagner,also known asWendy Wagner(December 6, 1941 – February 26, 1997) was an American actress best known for her roles inThe Green HornetandRio Conchos.
Life and career
[edit]Born to a U.S. Navy commander and swimming and diving coach father (John H. Wagner) and a mother (Rudy Arnold Wagner) who was a champion skier, Wagner grew up on Coronado Island in California[1]and lived in nearly all the continental United States with her family's various naval postings.[citation needed]
While living inCoronado, Californiawith her family,Billy Wilder,then filmingSome Like It Hot(1959), saw Wagner swimming and offered her a screen test. Her parents forbade it until she completed her senior year atCoronado High School.Some Like It Hotwas filmed at theHotel del Coronadoas well as on the Coronado beaches. After graduating, she visited Wilder and did a screen test, but turned down a role inThe Apartment(1960).[2]
Wagner travelled the world as a fashion model, then made her television debut in an episode ofWagon Trainin 1959. While living in the Bahamas, she became an underwater stunt double in the seriesSea Hunt[3]andThe Aquanauts.[4]She doubled forJoanne Druin underwater sequences in the 1960 filmSeptember Storm.Wagner appeared onWhat's My Linein December 1960 as a "Stunt skindiver for television films."[citation needed]
She married fellow underwater expert Courtney Brown, whom she had met while working on the shows. After giving birth to their daughter, Tiffany, she divorced Brown and became contracted to20th Century Fox.Her film career included roles inRio Conchos(1964),Out of Sight(1966),Destination Inner Space(1966),A Covenant with Death(1967),Rosemary's Baby(1968) andGuns of the Magnificent Seven(1969). She married and divorced actorJames Mitchum,son ofRobert Mitchum.Wagner was also friends withSharon Tate,and the two shared an apartment for a while.[5]
In 1965, she appeared onPerry Masonas defendant Anona Gilbert in "The Case of the Feather Cloak". Wagner also made guest appearances in other television shows includingFlipper,Lassie,Mannix,andThe Rookies.During 1966–67, she had a regular role as Lenore "Casey" Case, the secretary to Britt Reid, onThe Green Hornet.[6]
Wagner lived inMalibu, Californiabut lost her home and belongings in a fire. She was active with the Malibu Historical Society.[citation needed]
Death
[edit]Wagner died of cancer on February 26, 1997, at the age of 55. Her body was soon cremated and her ashes were scattered at the Pacific Ocean.[7]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Rio Conchos | Sally | |
| 1966 | Destination Inner Space | Sandra Welles | |
| 1966 | Out of Sight | Scuba | |
| 1966–1967 | The Green Hornet | Lenore Case | Main role |
| 1967 | A Covenant with Death | Rafaela Montemayor | |
| 1968 | Rosemary's Baby | Tiger, Rosemary's Girl Friend | |
| 1969 | Guns of the Magnificent Seven | Tina |
References
[edit]- ^Freese, Gene Scott (2014).Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s–1970s: A Biographical Dictionary, 2d ed.McFarland.ISBN9781476614700.Retrieved14 January2017.
- ^Lisanti, Tom (2003).Drive-In Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets.McFarland & Company. p. 319.
- ^Sea Hunt Principal Cast Crew Trivia Lloyd Bridges Zale Parry Argonaut Scuba Guy Diving Bill Jones Tors Ziv United Artists Television TV Series Authorized Official
- ^Lisanti, Tom (2003).Drive-In Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets.McFarland & Company. p. 318.
- ^Profile,geocities (page 3)]. Accessed June 20, 2024.
- ^Terrace, Vincent (2011).Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010.McFarland & Company, Inc.ISBN978-0-7864-6477-7,pg. 417.
- ^"Wende Wagner".coronadonewsca.6 May 2010.RetrievedJune 20,2024.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
