Wende Wagner

Wende Wagner, also known as Wendy Wagner, (December 6, 1941 – February 26, 1997) was an American actress known for her roles in The Green Hornet and Rio Conchos.

Life and career Wagner was born to John H. Wagner, a U.S. Navy commander and swimming and diving coach, and Rudy Arnold Wagner, a champion skier. Wagner grew up on Coronado Island in California.

While living in Coronado, California with her family, Billy Wilder, then filming Some Like It Hot (1959), saw Wagner swimming and offered her a screen test. Her parents forbade it until she completed her senior year at Coronado High School. Some Like It Hot was filmed at the Hotel del Coronado as well as on the Coronado beaches. After graduating, she visited Wilder and did a screen test, but turned down a role in The Apartment (1960).

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 the series Sea Hunt and The Aquanauts.

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 to 20th Century Fox. Her film career included roles in Rio Conchos (1964), Out of Sight (1966), Destination Inner Space (1966), A Covenant with Death (1967), Rosemary's Baby (1968) and Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969). She married and divorced actor James Mitchum, son of Robert Mitchum. Wagner was also friends with Sharon Tate, and the two shared an apartment for a while.

In 1965, she appeared on Perry Mason as defendant Anona Gilbert in "The Case of the Feather Cloak". Wagner also made guest appearances in other television shows including Flipper, Lassie, Mannix, and The Rookies. During 1966–67, she had a regular role as Lenore "Casey" Case, the secretary to Britt Reid, on The Green Hornet.

Death Wagner died of cancer on February 26, 1997 at the age of 55. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Filmography