From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMax 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 Velezs 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 StoryIn 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.
Film 1930
Army Sgt. Rinaldi
Film 1953
Bartender (uncredited)
Film 1946
A Hood
Film 1927
Umpire (uncredited)
Film 1949
Reporter
Film 1934
Ernest Dallas
Film 1934
Taxi Driver Henchman
Film 1935
Sophomore
Film 1927
Student
Film 1927
Student
Film 1926
Joey
Film 1937
Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited)
Film 1938
Jim
Film 1940
Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited)
Film 1948
Gibson
Film 1935
Film 1966
Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited)
Film 1971
Deputy Charlie (uncredited)
Film 1955
Station Agent (uncredited)
Film 1953
Spectator (uncredited)
Film 1963
Barfly (uncredited)
Film 1965
Church Member
Film 1965
Villager
Film 1974
Man in Dream
Film 1968
Prisoner
Film 1968
Charles McMahon
Film 1949
Hobo
Film 1938
Party Guest (uncredited)
Film 1937
Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited)
Film 1938
Gus
Film 1937
Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend
Film 1937
Barfly (uncredited)
Film 1970
Morley
Film 1935
Reporter
Film 1936
Bennie
Film 1936
Bartender (uncredited)
Film 1955
Gangster
Film 1935
Film 1962
Drunk (uncredited)
Film 1950
Sergeant Goring
Film 1957
Convict Road Laborer (uncredited)
Film 1930
George
Film 1945
Military Policeman
Film 1932
Guard (uncredited)
Film 1942
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Film 1969
Pete
Film 1933
Cell Block E Convict (uncredited)
Film 1937
Convict Football Player
Film 1934
Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Film 1936
Evans - Bob's Chauffeur
Film 1934
Max
Film 1934
Brakeman
Film 1938
Ferguson - Pilot
Film 1930
Davis
Film 1936
Tough Casino Decoy
Film 1938
Milkman's Helper on Dock
Film 1936
Shakey
Film 1937
Grip
Film 1934
Boss Mechanic
Film 1939
Nolan's Henchman (uncredited)
Film 1939
Sailor at Wrestling Match
Film 1939
Policeman (uncredited)
Film 1939
Headwaiter
Film 1939
Thug
Film 1939
Bartender
Film 1949
Chinatown Barker
Film 1938
Police Lt. Joe Wilson
Film 1939
Gangster (uncredited)
Film 1939
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Film 1951
Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Film 1939
Highway Patrol Officer
Film 1940
Truck Driver
Film 1940
Guard (uncredited)
Film 1940
Mike (uncredited)
Film 1945
Workman (uncredited)
Film 1955
Diner Trying to Date Helen
Film 1936
Marine
Film 1937
School Bus Driver (uncredited)
Film 1937
Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
Film 1946
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Film 1962
Pug O'Leary
Film 1936
Drunken Brawler
Film 1936
Townsman (uncredited)
Film 1972
Salesman
Film 1939
Reporter
Film 1935
Soldier
Film 1940
Chuck Cannon
Film 1937
Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's
Film 1940
Henchman Mike (uncredited)
Film 1946
Simmons
Film 1934
Townsman (uncredited)
Film 1962
Hanley's Strong-Arm Man
Film 1939
Joe
Film 1940
Cashier (uncredited)
Film 1966
Partner
Film 1941
Cowboy
Film 1940
Buck
Film 1942
Vorobiov
Film 1932
Guest
Film 1938
Moving Man (uncredited)
Film 1946
Bartender (uncredited)
Film 1945
Lester - O'Bannion's Driver
Film 1936
Policeman (uncredited)
Film 1954
Bartender
Film 1927
Sailor
Film 1935
Prison Runner
Film 1937
Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited)
Film 1940
Streetcar Conductor
Film 1940
Sweeney, Driver (uncredited)
Film 1940
Max - Radioman
Film 1940
Reporter (uncredited)
Film 1957
Waiter (uncredited)
Film 1940
Cab Driver (Uncredited)
Film 1940
Cherry's Cabbie
Film 1940
Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited)
Film 1940
Ship Porter (uncredited)
Film 1940
Projectionist (uncredited)
Film 1949
Soldier
Film 1936
Workman
Film 1939
Townsman (uncredited)
Film 1948
Guest
Film 1939
Jamison
Film 1941
Bill - Policeman in Car 43
Film 1940
Sergeant George Dunne
Film 1944
Burglar
Film 1940
Tough Guy
Film 1942
Rudy the Sailor
Film 1943
Deputy (uncredited)
Film 1942
Recruiting Sergeant
Film 1942
Himself (uncredited)
Film 1936
Fats Delaney
Film 1941
Thug
Film 1931
Sergeant
Film 1942
Bob
Film 1932
Reporter (uncredited)
Film 1932
Radio Operator (uncredited)
Film 1931
Bartender
Film 1941
Henchman
Film 1936
Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited)
Film 1942
Baggage Man (uncredited)
Film 1937
Villa Luigi Headwaiter
Film 1942
Visitor (uncredited)
Film 1939
Jailer (uncredited)
Film 1942
Blackie
Film 1938
Man Outside Hotel
Film 1936
Truck Driver
Film 1945
Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman
Film 1939
Military Police Driver (uncredited)
Film 1943
Jack Purcell (uncredited)
Film 1951
Mike
Film 1948
Policeman Temple (uncredited)
Film 1942
Reporter
Film 1935
Citizen (uncredited)
Film 1949
Jake (uncredited)
Film 1945
Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited)
Film 1936
Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited)
Film 1937
Fisherman
Film 1942
Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited)
Film 1937
Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited)
Film 1973
Tom's Best Man (uncredited)
Film 1942
Pirate (uncredited)
Film 1936
Henchman Kincaid
Film 1938
Durko (uncredited)
Film 1951
Film 1952
Slade
Film 1934
Slade
Film 1934
Blackjack Dealer
Film 1963
Policeman in Car (uncredited)
Film 1933
Film 1947
Hold-Up Man
Film 1934
Moving Man (uncredited)
Film 1942
Party Guest (uncredited)
Film 1960
Barfly (uncredited)
Film 1967
Reporter (uncredited)
Film 1968
Roller Coaster Operator
Tv 1959
Tv 1958
Derelict (uncredited)
Tv 1971