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Who Is Robert John Wagner Sr?
Robert John Wagner Sr is the father of Robert John Wagner Jr. Robert Sr’s son Robert Wagner is an American actor who is known for his work on stage, screen, and television. He appeared in the television shows It Takes a Thief (1968–1970), Switch (1975–1978), and Hart to Hart (1979–1984) and landed recurring roles on Two and a Half Men (2007–2008) and NCIS (2010–2019).
Robert John Wagner Sr.: Bio Summary
Name | Robert John Wagner Sr. |
Date of birth | October 10, 1890 |
Place of birth | Kalamazoo Co., MI |
Famous as | father of Robert Wagner |
Died | April 4, 1964 (aged 73) |
Parents | Mathias Wagner and Louise Neumaier |
Sibling | Joseph Anthony Wagner |
Spouse | Hazel Alvera Wagner |
Children | Robert Wagner and Mary Wagner |
Grandchildren | Courtney Brooke Wagner and Katie Wagner |
Robert John Wagner, Sr. arrived into the world on October 10, 1890, in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. His parents were Matthias/Matthew Wagner and Louise Neumaier. His parents were German. He has a brother called Joseph Anthony Wagner. His father was a stevedore in Mannheim, Germany, where Wagner is a very common name. His father was reportedly abusive.
Nothing is publicly known about Robert Sr’s education. He left home when he was very young. He was estranged from his parents. During his adolescence, he did different jobs including selling newspapers on the streets of Kalamazoo, working in railroad stations, and in bars. He became a traveling salesman. He worked for the American automobile manufacturer company called the ‘Ford Motor Company’.
Robert Sr. is said to have also worked as a steel executive. He was a hard-working man. He met and married Rhea Doonan. He and Rhea were reportedly married on January 1, 1910, in a wedding that happened in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI. Their marriage didn’t work out so they divorced. Robert Sr fell in love again when he set his eyes on beautiful Thelma Hazel Alvera (née Boe) also known as Hazel Alvera Wagner.
Robert Sr. met Hazel on a blind date in Chicago. At the time they met, Hazel was a telephone operator while Robert was selling fishing tackle. Robert had previously worked as a “traveling salesman who sold corsets, petticoats, and other women’s undergarments wholesale throughout the Great Lakes region.” He and Thelma became husband and wife officially on October 27, 1923, in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI.
Robert Sr and his wife Thelma welcomed two children into the world. They had a son Robert John Wagner Jr. and a daughter Mary Wagner. Their son was named after his father. He was christened Robert John Wagner Jr., his father was also known as “Bob,” and nobody referred to him as “Junior.” He became known as “RJ”. Robert Sr was a Catholic while his wife was Unitarian. He was a loving father who disciplined his children.
ALSO, READ: Hazel Alvera Wagner: Who Was Robert Wagner’s Mother?
Robert John Wagner Jr once said of his upbringing: “Although my father hated my grandfather because of his abusive behavior, my dad was never able to entirely free himself from his upbringing. If I did something mildly wrong, he’d stand me in a corner. For something worse, he’d lock me in a closet. If I did something deemed beyond the pale, I would be hit.”
“When I was little, I stuck something in an electrical socket and blew out every outlet in the house. My father was in the bathroom shaving, and he came roaring out, grabbed me, put me over his knee, spanked me with a hairbrush, then threw me off his lap for this terrible thing I had done.” Robert John Wagner Jr added that: “All this was the custom of that time;
“there was an attitude that corporal punishment was acceptable, and this was how a lot of the kids who grew up with me in Detroit were raised. I don’t think it’s any accident that a lot of those rich kids ended up wasting their lives or even killing themselves. The parents had their cars, their houses, a nurse, a chauffeur, white tie and tails, and the children were expected to conform to that model without question.”
Robert John Wagner Sr lived a private life away from the spotlight. His son Robert John Wagner Jr commonly known as Robert Wagner is a famous actor and producer. He appeared in the television series Lime Street, the TV movie Love Among Thieves, and the miniseries Windmills of the Gods. He played the role of Number 2 in the Austin Powers trilogy of films (1997, 1999, 2002).
Robert Wagner is known for starring in the television shows It Takes a Thief (1968–1970), Switch (1975–1978), and Hart to Hart (1979–1984). He recurring roles on Two and a Half Men (2007–2008) and NCIS (2010–2019). He played roles in Wild Things (1998), Crazy in Alabama (1999), Play It to the Bone (2000), Becoming Dick (2001) and Sol Goode (2001).
Where Is Robert Wagner’s Father Now?
Robert John Wagner Sr. passed away on April 04, 1964, in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States. He was 73 years of age at the time he died. What killed him is unknown. It is difficult to tell if he died due to his poor health or died a natural death. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA, according to his Findagrave bio.
ALSO, READ: Courtney Brooke Wagner: Meet Robert Wagner’s Daughter
Robert John Wagner Sr’s wife Hazel Alvera Wagner died on November 22, 1993, at age 95, in Claremont, Los Angeles, California, United States. His daughter Mary Wagner died in 2023. In an Instagram post on March 4, 2023, Robert Wagner revealed that his sister Mary had passed away. He wrote: “Today is a very hard day. Early this morning, my sister, Mary, passed away. While she is no longer in pain, she will be terribly missed. Please keep her children and grandchildren in your thoughts.”
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