5 Things You Never Knew About 95-Year-Old Robert Wagner, Plus: Where Is He Now?
Robert Wagner has been a Hollywood fixture for over seven decades, captivating audiences with his signature charm. Born on February 10, 1930, Wagner is now 95 years old and still regarded as one of television and film’s most enduring stars. However, he is not without controversy, due to the death of his first wife, Natalie Wood, while they were both on board his motor yacht, the Splendour.
Though mostly retired, Wagner continues to occasionally appear on TV. From 2010 to 2019, he guest-starred in 13 episodes of NCIS as Anthony DiNozzo Sr., the father of Michael Weatherly’s character. In 2017, he reunited with Raquel Welch on the Canadian series Date My Dad, marking their first collaboration in five decades. Beyond acting, Wagner has served as a spokesperson for reverse mortgage lenders, including the Senior Lending Network and Guardian First Funding Group. He is also fairly active on Instagram and has been married to actress and former Bond girl Jill St. John since 1990.
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Best known for his roles in Hart to Hart, It Takes a Thief and Towering Inferno, he has built a career filled with unforgettable performances and behind-the-scenes intrigue. Here are five fascinating facts about the legendary actor that may surprise you:
1 His wives and former costar all took ballet lessons together
Columbia Pictures Television/Everett Collection
Long before they were connected through Wagner, three famous women in his life shared a childhood activity: ballet. His wife, Jill St. John, his former wife, Natalie Wood, and his Hart to Hart costar Stefanie Powers all attended ballet classes together as youngsters. Though their careers took them in different directions, fate ultimately intertwined their lives through their relationships with Wagner.
2 He went temporarily blind while filming The Pink Panther
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In what could have been a career-ending accident, Wagner suffered temporary blindness while filming The Pink Panther (1963). During a bathtub scene, he was submerged in an industrial-strength foaming agent, which caused him to lose his sight for four weeks. The studio considered replacing him, but director Blake Edwards refused to recast the role, allowing Wagner to finish the film once he recovered.
3 His Universal Studios bungalow became a tour stop
Everett Collection
For years, Wagner was such an important star at Universal Studios that his bungalow became a stop on the studio’s official tour. Before him, the same bungalow had belonged to television legend Lucille Ball. Both actors enjoyed long-running television success, making their former workspace a notable piece of Hollywood history.
4 He was involved in a feud between his wife and former sister-in-law
Everett Collection
In 1999, a Vanity Fair photo shoot sparked unexpected tension between Wagner’s wife, St. John, and his former sister-in-law, Lana Wood (pictured above). Both women were invited to a Bond girl reunion, as St. John starred in Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Lana Wood played a role in the same film.
George De Sota/Newsmakers/Getty Images
When photographer Annie Leibovitz suggested they pose together, St. John reportedly refused, causing Wood to cry. Wagner’s publicist later claimed it was he who rejected the photo idea, saying Wagner would prefer his wife not be photographed with his late ex-wife’s sister.
5 He sued Aaron Spelling Productions over Beverly Hills, 90210
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In 2000, Wagner filed a $20 million lawsuit against Aaron Spelling Productions, claiming he was cheated out of profits from Beverly Hills, 90210. Wagner argued that a prior agreement between him, his late wife Natalie Wood and Spelling entitled him to a cut of the show’s profits. The dispute stemmed from an unproduced series called Angels 88, which Spelling traded for the rights to create Beverly Hills, 90210. Wagner maintained that he was owed 7.5% of the profits, but the lawsuit was ultimately unsuccessful.
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September 2019
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