Chuck Wagner (born June 20, 1958) is an American actor, director, musical theater historian and teacher. He has had an extensive career in theater, but is perhaps best known for co-starring in the short-lived science fiction TV series Automan (1983–84).
His notable Broadway credits include both Princes and The Wolf in Into the Woods, Inspector Javert in Les Misérables, and The Beast and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. He also originated the title roles in the world premiere of Jekyll & Hyde and reprised the roles on the 2nd US national tour.
Early life Wagner was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and raised in Hartsville, Tennessee. He attended public school in Gallatin. While at Gallatin High School, he performed the leads in "My Fair Lady", "Carousel", and "Inherit the Wind". 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.Hughes Cob, Mark. "Ringmaster Chuck Wagner, former UA theater student, on a mission" Tuscaloosa News, January 23, 2006
Career Television He is known 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.
In 1981, Wagner was a contestant on the television game show Password Plus.
In 1984, he appeared on the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour.
In 2012, he was also a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Wagner has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including The Dukes of Hazzard, Dynasty, and Matlock.
Musical theatre Wagner has performed in several Broadway productions. His first role on Broadway was in The Three Musketeers in 1984 as Athos.The Three Musketeers Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017
Wagner went on to originate the role of Rapunzel's Prince in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods (1987).Into the Woods Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017 The recording of that show, on which Wagner appears, won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. In 1988, he joined the cast of the first US tour of Into the Woods playing the roles of The Wolf and Cinderella's Prince.Into the Woods IBDB, retrieved October 31, 2022 (Roles he understudied in the original Broadway production)Into the Woods Playbill, retrieved October 31, 2022
Wagner has appeared on Broadway (replacement) and in the U.S. national tour (1992) of Les Misérables as Inspector Javert." Les Misérables Broadway" Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017Zink, Jack. " 'Les Miserables' At Broward Center" Sun-Sentinel, June 4, 1992 In 1994, he began a four-year stint as "The Beast", in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, in both the Broadway (replacement) and Toronto productions." Beauty and the Beast Broadway" Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017 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.Simonson, Robert and Lefkowitz, David. " 'Jekyll & Hyde Tour Alters Schedule; to Begin in CT Apr. 13" Playbill, December 22, 1998 In 2001 he toured the U.S. in Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate as the MacArthuresque General Harrison Howell and understudy to Rex Smith's Fred Graham.Jones, Kenneth. "York and Smith Head 'Kiss Me, Kate' Tour, Bowing June 19 in New Haven" Playbill, June 19, 2001 He appeared on Broadway in 2004, in Wildhorn's Dracula, The Musical, standing by for Dracula, Van Helsing and Quincey Morris.Dracula Playbill, retrieved November 5, 2017
Wagner also sang the role of Sir Percival Blakeney, aka The Scarlet Pimpernel, in the original concept recording of The Scarlet Pimpernel (1992).
In 1997, Wagner along with the original Broadway cast of Into the Woods reunited for a tenth anniversary concert at the Broadway Theatre in New York City. Wagner reprised his roles of the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince in the place of Robert Westenberg. (Broadway understudy Jonathan Dokuchitz played Rapunzel’s Prince in Wagner’s place.)"Concert, Tenth Anniversary" SondheimGuide.com
In 1999, he released a self-titled solo CD, on which he sang songs from the various musicals in which he has appeared. He also recorded demo songs for a cancelled Star Wars musical, in which he played Han Solo.
He played The Captain of the S.S. American in Kathleen Marshall's production of the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes in a year long tour that began in October 2012. In November 2013 he starred as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables as Equity Guest Artist at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.Shoun-Smith, Janel. "Beloved musical 'Les Misérables' performed Nov. 6-9" lipscomb.edu, October 30, 2013
In February 2014, he reprised his role as Javert in Les Misérables for the North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh.Hetrick, Adam. "Craig Schulman, Chuck Wagner, Lauren Kennedy Will Star in Les Misérables for North Carolina Theatre" Playbill, November 26, 2013 He was accompanied by his former broadway co-star, Craig Schulman, who reprised his role as Valjean. The show was directed by Dave Clemmons, who played Valjean opposite Wagner during the U.S. National Tour. In May 2014 he played Javert in Les Misérables for Studio Tenn with the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center."Mike Eldred and Chuck Wagner Headline Studio Tenn 'Les Mis' " artsnash.com, March 19, 2014 In June 2014 he appeared as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables at the Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City in a production featuring a 100 voice chorus.
Other work
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 to 2009).Van Gelder, Lawrence. "Enough Sights, Sound and Action for, Well, a Circus" The New York Times, April 3, 2008
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 in Pensacola. He performs concerts and teaches in high schools and colleges.Moon, Troy. "Chuck Wagner brings Broadway hits to Pensacola" USA Today, July 19, 2017 Between theatrical jobs he is a member of the touring concert series, Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway.
Notable theatre roles +ShowRole(s)Year(s)Production1776Colonel Thomas McKean1976Prestonburg, KentuckyThe Lost ColonyJohn Borden1977-1978Manteo, North CarolinaChristopherChristopher1979 University of Southern CaliforniaThe Three MusketeersAthos1984BroadwayCamelotLancelot du Lac1986SacramentoOklahoma!Curly McLainSan DiegoJekyll & HydeDr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward HydeDemo AlbumInto the WoodsRapunzel's Prince1986-1987San Diego (World Premiere)Rapunzel's Prince u/s The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince1987-1988BroadwayThe Wolf / Cinderella's Prince1988-1989US TourRapunzel's Prince1989Broadway (Limited 3-night run)CamelotLancelot du Lac1990HoustonSacramentoJekyll & HydeDr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward HydeHouston (World Premiere)SvengaliSvengali1991Houston (World Premiere)Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham / PetruchioStockbridge, MassachusettsSvengaliSvengaliSarasota, FloridaThe Scarlet PimpernelPercy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel 1992Concept AlbumLes MisérablesInspector Javert1992-19933rd US Tour1993BroadwayBeauty and the Beastu/s Gaston s/b The Beast1994-1995The Beast1995-1996TorontoThe Scarlet PimpernelPercy Blakeney / The Scarlet Pimpernel 1996Demo RecordingBeauty and the BeastThe Beast1997-1998BroadwayInto the WoodsThe Wolf / Cinderella's Prince199710th Anniversary Concert BroadwayJekyll & HydeDr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde1999-20002nd US TourA Little Night MusicCount Carl-Magnus Malcolm2001Beverly, Massachusetts1776Edward RutledgeFort Worth, TexasKiss Me, KateMacArthuresque General Harrison Howell u/s Fred Graham / Petruchio 2001-2002US TourJekyll & HydeDirector2002University of West FloridaMameBeauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside2003Beverly, MassachusettsMan of La ManchaDirectorUniversity of West FloridaA Little Night MusicCount Carl-Magnus Malcolm2004ChicagoDracula: The Musicals/b Count Draculas/b Van Helsings/b Quincey Morris2004-2005BroadwayAnnie Get Your GunFrank Butler2005Okaloosa Walton Community CollegeAnyone Can WhistleJ. Bowden HapgoodPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaHello DollyHorace Vandergelder2010Nashville, TennesseeAnything GoesThe Captain of the SS American u/s Elisha J. Whitney 2012-2013US TourLes MisérablesJean Valjean2013Nashville, TennesseeInspector Javert2014Raleigh, North CarolinaNashville, TennesseeJean ValjeanOklahoma City, OklahomaSeaplane: The MusicalAlexander Graham Bell2015Pensacola, FloridaJulius CaesarJulius Caesar2019Nashville, Tennessee
Discography +TitleRole(s)(If Applicable)YearTypeJekyll and HydeDr. Henry Jekyll Mr. Edward Hyde1986Demo Recordings1987Non-Commercial Concept AlbumInto the WoodsRapunzel's PrinceOriginal Broadway Cast AlbumThe Scarlet PimpernelPercy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel1992Concept AlbumThe Civil WarOne of the "Broadway All-Stars"1996Concept AlbumThe Scarlet PimpernelPercy Blakeney/The Scarlet Pimpernel1996Pre-Broadway Demo RecordingsChuck WagnerN/A1999Solo AlbumStar Wars: The MusicalHan Solo1999Demo Recordings(Unproduced)DraculaVan Helsing2000Demo AlbumDillinger: Public Enemy Number OneMelvin Purvis2000Demo Recordings(Unproduced)
Filmography +Show:Role:Year(s):Film/TV/Other:Password PlusHimself1981TVDukes of HazardJoey Bryan1981TVGeneral HospitalRandall Thompson1981-1982TVSoap WorldHimself1982TVAutomanAutoman1983TVTattletalesHimself1983TVMatchgameHimself1984TVAmerica 3000Korvis1986FilmThe SisterhoodMikal1988FilmAmerican Performances: Into the WoodsRapunzel's Prince1991TVTerminal VirusMikal1995Film(Uncredited Archive Footage)Calling Automan: The Auto FeatureHimself2012DVD ExtraHewlogramOriginal Hewlogram2017Short Film
References
External links Chuck Wagner website