Chuck Wagner
Encyclopedia
Chuck Wagner is an American
actor
, Director, Musical Theatre Historian, and Teacher.
, and raised in Hartsville, Tennessee. He attended public school in Gallatin, TN. While at Gallatin High School, he performed the leads in "My Fair Lady", "Carousel", and "Inherit the Wind" under GHS' drama teacher Juliet Doyle Guthrie. As a BFA student, he attended the University of Alabama
in Tuscaloosa under Edmond Williams and the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles under John Houseman
. His collegiate summers were spent in Manteo, North Carolina where he played John Borden in The Lost Colony, America's longest running outdoor drama. He is best known internationally for his role in the short-lived science fiction
1983 TV series Automan
as the title character. He also starred on the soap opera
General Hospital
as Randall Thompson in 1981 and 1982. Chuck has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including The Dukes of Hazzard
, Dynasty
, Matlock
, As the World Turns
, and The Late Show with David Letterman. In 1981, Mr. Wagner was a contestant on the television game show "Password Plus
".
productions. His first role on Broadway was in The Three Musketeers
with Brent Spiner
. He went on to originate the role of Rapunzel's Prince in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim
's Into the Woods
(1987). The recording of that show, on which Wagner appears, won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album
. Wagner has also appeared on Broadway and in the U.S. national tour of Les Misérables
as Inspector Javert. In 1994, he began a four-year stint as "The Beast", in Disney's Beauty and the Beast
, in both the Broadway and Toronto Productions. Wagner originated the title roles in Frank Wildhorn
's Jekyll & Hyde
in 1990 and Svengali
in 1991 at The Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. He reprised his dual roles in Jekyll & Hyde
in the post Broadway national tour in 1999. He then toured the U.S. in the Cole Porter classic Kiss Me Kate
as the MacArthuresque General Harrison Howell and understudy to Rex Smith
's Fred Graham. He most recently appeared on Broadway in 2004, in Wildhorn's Dracula, The Musical
, standing by for Dracula, Van Helsing, and Quincey Morris.
Wagner also sang the role of Sir Percival Blakeney, aka The Scarlet Pimpernel, in the original concept recording of The Scarlet Pimpernel
(1992). In 1999, he released a self-titled solo CD, on which he sang songs from the various musicals in which he has appeared. He has appeared in commercials for Zyban, and toured as the Ringmaster in both the 136th edition of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus of Dreams (2006 through 2007), and the 138th edition Over The Top (2008 through 2009).
An avid Musical Theatre Historian, Wagner served as Visiting Artist in Residence at the University of West Florida
in Pensacola. He performs concerts and teaches Masterclass in High Schools and Colleges throughout the United States.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, Director, Musical Theatre Historian, and Teacher.
Education and early career
Wagner was born in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, and raised in Hartsville, Tennessee. He attended public school in Gallatin, TN. While at Gallatin High School, he performed the leads in "My Fair Lady", "Carousel", and "Inherit the Wind" under GHS' drama teacher Juliet Doyle Guthrie. As a BFA student, he attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in Tuscaloosa under Edmond Williams and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles under John Houseman
John Houseman
John Houseman was a Romanian-born British-American actor and film producer who became known for his highly publicized collaboration with director Orson Welles from their days in the Federal Theatre Project through to the production of Citizen Kane...
. His collegiate summers were spent in Manteo, North Carolina where he played John Borden in The Lost Colony, America's longest running outdoor drama. He is best known internationally for his role in the short-lived science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
1983 TV series Automan
Automan
Automan is an American science fiction superhero television series produced by Glen A. Larson. It aired for only 12 episodes on ABC between 1983 and 1984.-Synopsis:...
as the title character. He also starred on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
as Randall Thompson in 1981 and 1982. Chuck has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
, Dynasty
Dynasty (TV series)
Dynasty is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989. It was created by Richard & Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, and revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado...
, Matlock
Matlock (TV series)
Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar...
, As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
, and The Late Show with David Letterman. In 1981, Mr. Wagner was a contestant on the television game show "Password Plus
Password Plus and Super Password
Password Plus and Super Password are American game shows that are revivals of the game show Password. Both Password Plus and Super Password had the same format other than some subtle changes....
".
Musical theatre
Chuck Wagner is enjoying a long and notable career in musical theater with starring roles in several BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions. His first role on Broadway was in The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers (musical)
The Three Musketeers is a musical with a book by William Anthony McGuire, lyrics by Clifford Grey and P. G. Wodehouse, and music by Rudolf Friml. It is based on the classic 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas, père....
with Brent Spiner
Brent Spiner
Brent Jay Spiner is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and four subsequent films. His portrayal of Data in Star Trek: First Contact and of Dr...
. He went on to originate the role of Rapunzel's Prince in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
's Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
(1987). The recording of that show, on which Wagner appears, won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album
Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album
The Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album has been awarded since 1959. The award was given only to the album producer, and to the composer and lyricist who wrote at least 51% of the music which had not been recorded previously....
. Wagner has also appeared on Broadway and in the U.S. national tour of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
as Inspector Javert. In 1994, he began a four-year stint as "The Beast", in Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
, in both the Broadway and Toronto Productions. Wagner originated the title roles in Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn is an American composer known for both his musicals and popular songs. He is most known for his musical Jekyll & Hyde, which ran four years on Broadway, and for writing the #1 International Hit song "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" for Whitney Houston.-Early years:Wildhorn was born in...
's Jekyll & Hyde
Jekyll & Hyde (musical)
Jekyll & Hyde is a musical based on the novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The original stage conception was by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn. The music is by Wildhorn and the lyrics and book are by Leslie Bricusse.The musical ran on Broadway for 1,543...
in 1990 and Svengali
Svengali (musical)
Svengali is a musical with a book and lyrics by Gregory Boyd and music by Frank Wildhorn. It is based on the 1894 novel Trilby by George du Maurier....
in 1991 at The Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. He reprised his dual roles in Jekyll & Hyde
Jekyll & Hyde (musical)
Jekyll & Hyde is a musical based on the novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The original stage conception was by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn. The music is by Wildhorn and the lyrics and book are by Leslie Bricusse.The musical ran on Broadway for 1,543...
in the post Broadway national tour in 1999. He then toured the U.S. in the Cole Porter classic Kiss Me Kate
Kiss Me Kate
Kiss Me Kate was a British sitcom that ran from 1998 until 2000. It followed the everyday life of a woman counsellor, Kate , who must not only manage her clients' problems, but must also help her neighbours and unsuccessful business partner, Douglas, played by Chris Langham. Amanda Holden played...
as the MacArthuresque General Harrison Howell and understudy to Rex Smith
Rex Smith
Rex Smith is an American actor and singer. Smith debuted in the Broadway play Grease in 1978. He is noted for his role as Jesse Mach in the 1985 television series Street Hawk, as well as being a singer and stage actor. During the late 1970s, Smith was popular as a teen idol...
's Fred Graham. He most recently appeared on Broadway in 2004, in Wildhorn's Dracula, The Musical
Dracula, The Musical
Dracula, the Musical is a musical based on the original Victorian novel by Bram Stoker. The score is by Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics and book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton....
, standing by for Dracula, Van Helsing, and Quincey Morris.
Wagner also sang the role of Sir Percival Blakeney, aka The Scarlet Pimpernel, in the original concept recording of The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel (musical)
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a musical with music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics and book by Nan Knighton, based on the novel of the same name by Baroness Orczy. The show is set in England and France during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution...
(1992). In 1999, he released a self-titled solo CD, on which he sang songs from the various musicals in which he has appeared. He has appeared in commercials for Zyban, and toured as the Ringmaster in both the 136th edition of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus of Dreams (2006 through 2007), and the 138th edition Over The Top (2008 through 2009).
Recent work
In 2010, while at home in Pensacola Beach, Florida, he joined the response to the BP oil spill helping to coordinate a large scale mechanical beach operation while safeguarding the local sea turtles.An avid Musical Theatre Historian, Wagner served as Visiting Artist in Residence at the University of West Florida
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida, also known as West Florida and UWF, is a mid-sized public university located in Pensacola, Florida, United States. UWF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. The University of West Florida is a Research University, which specializes in...
in Pensacola. He performs concerts and teaches Masterclass in High Schools and Colleges throughout the United States.
Filmography
- Into the WoodsInto the WoodsInto the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
(1991) (TV) - The SisterhoodThe SisterhoodFor movie, See The Sisterhood The Sisterhood was a side project by Sisters of Mercy singer Andrew Eldritch that recorded songs, which he had intended for a second Sisters album, with guest musicians.- Background :...
(1988) - General HospitalGeneral HospitalGeneral Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
(1981–82) - America 3000America 3000America 3000 is a 1986 post-apocalyptic science-fiction film which takes place 900 years in the future in Colorado. Mankind has been reduced to Stone Age conditions and is under the rule of Amazon-like women warriors. The film was directed by David Engelbach, and stars Chuck Wagner, Laurene Landon,...
(1986) - AutomanAutomanAutoman is an American science fiction superhero television series produced by Glen A. Larson. It aired for only 12 episodes on ABC between 1983 and 1984.-Synopsis:...
(1983)