Wende Wagner
Encyclopedia
Wende Wagner, also known as Wendy Wagner (December 6, 1941 February 26, 1997) was an actress famed for her roles in The Green Hornet
and Rio Conchos.
While staying in Florida, Billy Wilder
then filming Some Like It Hot
saw Wagner swimming and offered her a screen test
. Her parents forbade it until she finished high school. After graduating she visited Wilder, did a screen test, but turned down a role in The Apartment
.
Wagner travelled the world as a fashion model then made her television debut in an episode of Wagon Train
in 1959. While living in the Bahamas she became an underwater stunt double in Sea Hunt
and The Aquanauts television series. She also doubled for Joanne Dru
in underwater sequences in the 1960 film September Storm. Wagner appeared on What's My Line in December 1960 as a "Stunt skindiver for television films". She married fellow underwater expert Courtney Brown who she had met while working on the shows.
In addition to her scuba diving and swimming she was also a surfer.
After having a daughter named Tiffany, she later divorced Brown and became contracted to 20th Century Fox
leading her to roles in Rio Conchos, The Green Hornet and Rosemary's Baby
. She married and divorced actor James Mitchum
. Wagner was also friends with Sharon Tate
with the two sharing a flat for a while.
Despite such major credits Wagner also appeared in many lesser films such as playing an assassin named "Scuba" in Out of Sight
and a photographer in Destination Inner Space both in 1966. Wagner also appeared in several other television shows such as Perry Mason
and Flipper
.
Wagner lived in Malibu but lost her home and belongings in a fire. She was active with the Malibu Historical Society.
Wagner died of cancer in 1997.
The Green Hornet (TV series)
The Green Hornet is a television show on the ABC US television network. It aired for the 1966–1967 TV season, and starred Van Williams as the Green Hornet/Britt Reid and Bruce Lee as Kato.- Episodes:...
and Rio Conchos.
Biography
Born to a career U.S. Navy officer and swimming and diving coach father (John H. Wagner) and a mother (Rudy Arnold Wagner) who was a champion skier, Wagner lived in nearly all the Continental United States with her family's various naval postings.While staying in Florida, Billy Wilder
Billy Wilder
Billy Wilder was an Austro-Hungarian born American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, artist, and journalist, whose career spanned more than 50 years and 60 films. He is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Hollywood's golden age...
then filming Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot is an American comedy film, made in 1958 and released in 1959, which was directed by Billy Wilder and starred Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and George Raft. The supporting cast includes Joe E. Brown, Pat O'Brien and Nehemiah Persoff. The film is a remake by Wilder and I....
saw Wagner swimming and offered her a screen test
Screen test
A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film and/or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a camera to see if they are suitable...
. Her parents forbade it until she finished high school. After graduating she visited Wilder, did a screen test, but turned down a role in The Apartment
The Apartment
The Apartment is a 1960 American comedy-drama film produced and directed by Billy Wilder, and starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray. It was Wilder's follow-up to the enormously popular Some Like It Hot and, like its predecessor, was a commercial and critical hit, grossing $25...
.
Wagner travelled the world as a fashion model then made her television debut in an episode of Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Wagon Train is an American Western series that ran on NBC from 1957–62 and then on ABC from 1962–65...
in 1959. While living in the Bahamas she became an underwater stunt double in Sea Hunt
Sea Hunt
Sea Hunt was an American adventure television series that was aired in syndication by Ziv Television Programs from 1958 to 1961 and was popular in syndication for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced...
and The Aquanauts television series. She also doubled for Joanne Dru
Joanne Dru
Joanne Dru was an American film and television actress, known for such films as Red River and All the King's Men.-Career:...
in underwater sequences in the 1960 film September Storm. Wagner appeared on What's My Line in December 1960 as a "Stunt skindiver for television films". She married fellow underwater expert Courtney Brown who she had met while working on the shows.
In addition to her scuba diving and swimming she was also a surfer.
After having a daughter named Tiffany, she later divorced Brown and became contracted to 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
leading her to roles in Rio Conchos, The Green Hornet and Rosemary's Baby
Rosemary's Baby
Rosemary's Baby is a 1967 best-selling horror novel by Ira Levin, his second published book. Major elements of the story were inspired by the publicity surrounding the Church of Satan of Anton LaVey which had been founded in 1966.-Plot summary:...
. She married and divorced actor James Mitchum
James Mitchum
James Mitchum is the oldest son of actor Robert Mitchum and bears a striking resemblance to his famous father. He inherited his father's sleepy eyes and taciturn good looks. The comparison both helped and hurt his career. He had a child with actress Wende Wagner to whom he was formerly married. Ms...
. Wagner was also friends with Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate
Sharon Marie Tate was an American actress. During the 1960s she played small television roles before appearing in several films. After receiving positive reviews for her comedic performances, she was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for...
with the two sharing a flat for a while.
Despite such major credits Wagner also appeared in many lesser films such as playing an assassin named "Scuba" in Out of Sight
Out of Sight (1966 film)
Out of Sight is a 1966 beach party film with elements of the spy spoof. It is the third and last of a series of films geared at teenagers by director Lennie Weinrib and producer Bart Patton for Universal Pictures...
and a photographer in Destination Inner Space both in 1966. Wagner also appeared in several other television shows such as Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
and Flipper
Flipper (1964 TV series)
Flipper, from Ivan Tors Films in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television, is an American television program first broadcast on NBC from September 19, 1964, until April 15, 1967. Flipper, a bottlenose dolphin, is the companion animal of Porter Ricks, Chief Warden at fictional Coral Key Park...
.
Wagner lived in Malibu but lost her home and belongings in a fire. She was active with the Malibu Historical Society.
Wagner died of cancer in 1997.