By Celebrity Profiler Andy Williamson
In a career that spans nearly 40 years, wherein she inspired millions of girls, and stole the hearts of millions of boys, Lindsay Wagner wears her status as a cultural icon with the same grace, class, and good humor that she always has. She might not be a Bionic Woman in real life, but her accomplishments are superhuman nonetheless.
In a career that spans nearly 40 years, wherein she inspired millions of girls, and stole the hearts of millions of boys, Lindsay Wagner wears her status as a cultural icon with the same grace, class, and good humor that she always has. She might not be a Bionic Woman in real life, but her accomplishments are superhuman nonetheless.
Lindsay Jean Wagner was born on June 22nd, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, to William Wagner and Marilyn Thrasher. After her parents divorced when she was seven, Lindsay and her mother moved to Eagle Rock, a suburb near Pasadena. When Lindsay was twelve, a family friend, James Best (who would later star on The Dukes of Hazzard), invited her to join his acting class -- Lindsay accepted and immediately fell in love with the “freedom of emotion” the performing arts afforded her. She also studied dance. The first play Mr. Best cast her in was This Property Condemned. Soon after, young Lindsay was offered the lead role in a television series -- but when Mr. Best convinced her to wait until she was older and a little more experienced, Lindsay turned it down. Instead, she pursued a modelling career, and was quite successful -- often working with her aunt, actress Linda Gray. During this time, Lindsay attended North Hollywood High School, and struggled to overcome dyslexia.
When her mother remarried a few years later, the family moved again, this time to Portland, Oregon, and Lindsay quickly returned to performing. She acted in a number of plays while attending David Douglas High School. She would do likewise at the University of Oregon and Mt. Hood Community College. However, when her dyslexia made her studies too difficult, Lindsay quit after one year. In 1968, after a brief stint singing in a rock and roll group, Lindsay returned to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. After finding more work as a model for the Nina Blanchard Agency, Lindsay got some much needed exposure on television commercials, and brief appearances as a hostess on the syndicated talk/variety show Playboy After Dark.
In 1971, after contacting a friend at Universal Studios, Lindsay was noticed by a casting agent who quickly signed her as a contract player. Though she was only making $162 a week (not even minimum wage by today’s standards, considerably more back then), Lindsay was cast on such shows as Adam-12, Owen Marshall: Counsellor at Law, Night Gallery, and The Rockford Files. In 1973, Lindsay was cast in two feature films: The Paper Chase and Two People. Between 1971 and 1975, Lindsay also appeared numerous times on Marcus Welby, M.D., playing four different characters.
Though by 1975 Lindsay’s popularity was obviously growing, Universal made the decision to drop her as a contract player. Lindsay had no problem with this -- she was quite ready to move on. Her final contractual appearance in a Universal production was one Lindsay almost didn’t take. But since her half-sister Randi was turning fourteen, and since the girl’s favourite show was The Six Million Dollar Man, Lindsay, as a birthday present, agreed to guest star on the show. In the two-part episode, entitled The Bionic Woman, Lindsay portrayed Jamie Sommers, a former tennis pro who was also Steve Austin’s (Lee Majors) childhood sweetheart. After Jamie is critically injured in a skydiving accident, Steve convinces his superiors to equip her with bionic limbs similar to his own, both legs and a right arm ... she also receives a bionic ear. Alas, Jamie’s body eventually rejects the bionics and, at the end of part two, she dies. And yet ...
As the character of Jamie Sommers was incredibly popular with fans, Universal received gobs of mail begging them to bring her back. Since Lindsay's contract was done, they knew they were in trouble. They thought about recasting, but ABC wanted Lindsay. Lindsay’s agent decided to ask for ten times the amount she had received for her appearance on The Six Million Dollar Man -- Lindsay didn’t think they would go for it, but they did. The Return of the Bionic Woman episodes were an even bigger success, and Universal quickly greenlit a spinoff series called, of course, The Bionic Woman. As a result, Lindsay received another substantial raise. As for the pesky problem of bringing Jamie back from the dead, it was explained on The Six Million Dollar Man that Jamie had been put into (what else?) cryogenic freeze, until a cure could be found for her body’s bionic rejection. Wonder of wonders, a cure was found, and Jamie was revived. Becoming an OSI agent like her old boyfriend, whom Jamie can’t remember due to a nasty case of amnesia (oh, you gotta love those 1970s television plots), Jamie moved to Ojai, California and became a teacher ... albeit one who obviously needed frequent substitutes when the government would call her away to save the world.
The Bionic Woman ran for three seasons, and eventually earned Lindsay an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama (The Bionic Woman, Deadly Ringer, 1977). When the series was cancelled in 1978, Lindsay continued to act in feature films, made-for-TV movies, and television miniseries, including The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan (1979 - a cult classic), Scruples (1980), Nighthawks (1981 - co-starring Sylvester Stallone), and Callie and Son (1981 - with Michelle Pfeiffer). Over the next few years, Lindsay became a staple of cable dramas -- starring in far too many to list here (IMDb has a complete listing). Among those were three Bionic Reunion movies in 1987, 1989, and 1994, which, while popular, grew increasingly cheesy and more dependent on newer and younger models -- like 1989’s Bionic Showdown, featuring a very young Sandra Bullock.
The Bionic Woman ran for three seasons, and eventually earned Lindsay an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama (The Bionic Woman, Deadly Ringer, 1977). When the series was cancelled in 1978, Lindsay continued to act in feature films, made-for-TV movies, and television miniseries, including The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan (1979 - a cult classic), Scruples (1980), Nighthawks (1981 - co-starring Sylvester Stallone), and Callie and Son (1981 - with Michelle Pfeiffer). Over the next few years, Lindsay became a staple of cable dramas -- starring in far too many to list here (IMDb has a complete listing). Among those were three Bionic Reunion movies in 1987, 1989, and 1994, which, while popular, grew increasingly cheesy and more dependent on newer and younger models -- like 1989’s Bionic Showdown, featuring a very young Sandra Bullock.
Always a champion of holistic medicine, Lindsay co-authored a series of books in the late 80s, regarding the use of acupressure as an alternative to surgical facelifts. Much more information about that can be found at her Official Website. Lindsay has also been the spokesperson for both the Ford Motor Company and Sleep Number beds. Though she has never stopped acting, Lindsay is currently offering seminars and workshops which promote spiritual healing through meditation: Quiet the Mind & Open the Heart. Also, according to her website: From 2003-2006 Lindsay co-facilitated a support group for convicted batterers and their families. In 2004 she co-founded “Peacemakers Community,” a non-profit organization that offers families and individuals more constructive and peaceful ways of relating to each other and oneself in order to help end the cycle of family violence. Her work utilized a range of psychological techniques and Spiritual encouragement.
While she has been lucky in her career aspirations, not so much in love. Lindsay has been married four times: to music publisher Allan Rider (1971 - 1973), actor Michael Brandon (1976 - 1979), stuntman Henry Kingi (1981 - 1984, two sons, Dorian, born 1982, and Alex, born 1986), and TV producer Lawrence Mortorff (1990 - 1993). (EXAMINER'S NOTE: I do not have information about Lindsay's current marital status or where she resides -- anyone with reliable info regarding such is encouraged to contact me and I will adjust this profile accordingly.)
Whatever the future holds for the still lovely actress, three things are certain: she has already made an indelible imprint on our popular culture, continues to positively affect this world with her passion for spiritual healing, and is loved by millions upon millions around the globe.
While she has been lucky in her career aspirations, not so much in love. Lindsay has been married four times: to music publisher Allan Rider (1971 - 1973), actor Michael Brandon (1976 - 1979), stuntman Henry Kingi (1981 - 1984, two sons, Dorian, born 1982, and Alex, born 1986), and TV producer Lawrence Mortorff (1990 - 1993). (EXAMINER'S NOTE: I do not have information about Lindsay's current marital status or where she resides -- anyone with reliable info regarding such is encouraged to contact me and I will adjust this profile accordingly.)
Whatever the future holds for the still lovely actress, three things are certain: she has already made an indelible imprint on our popular culture, continues to positively affect this world with her passion for spiritual healing, and is loved by millions upon millions around the globe.
Lindsay Wagner Factoids:
Lindsay was scheduled to be a passenger on American Airlines Flight 191 from Chicago to Los Angeles on May 25, 1979 -- however, as she had a bad feeling about flying on that plane, Lindsay skipped the flight. It crashed minutes after take-off, killing everyone on board.
The scar on Lindsay’s right upper lip is from an auto accident she suffered in 1977.
Was born on the same day as Meryl Streep.
Is a long-practicing vegan who wrote The High Road to Health: A Vegetarian Cookbook.
Lindsay was scheduled to be a passenger on American Airlines Flight 191 from Chicago to Los Angeles on May 25, 1979 -- however, as she had a bad feeling about flying on that plane, Lindsay skipped the flight. It crashed minutes after take-off, killing everyone on board.
The scar on Lindsay’s right upper lip is from an auto accident she suffered in 1977.
Was born on the same day as Meryl Streep.
Is a long-practicing vegan who wrote The High Road to Health: A Vegetarian Cookbook.
Lindsay Wagner Quotes:
“A lot of people say they want to get out of pain, and I'm sure that's true, but they aren't willing to make healing a high priority. They aren't willing to look inside to see the source of their pain in order to deal with it.”
“And I can't tell you how many women from a certain age group -- they would be in their 30s now, 20s and 30s -- tell me about how I was their role model when they were young girls.”
“Finally I had a place where I could express my pain and I felt safe because I didn't have to put my name on it. I think acting kept me alive back then.”
“I also realized I didn't have to understand everything in order to ask for help from the source of all life, the source of love.”
“I think it's safe to say that each of us has at least one issue we are passionate about and struggle with, issues that robs us of our peace, our joy and our ability to experience love.”
“I've experienced several different healing methodologies over the years -- counseling, self-help seminars, and I've read a lot -- but none of them will work unless you really want to heal.”
“It's about sharing. You just give what you have to give wherever you go, and you let God handle the rest.”
“My sister at the time was 13 and so I did the show as a birthday present. The start date of the show was her birthday. Talk about karma.”
“No matter who rejects you, don't lose touch with your higher self, with the higher powers, with anything that you can find which is of the light, that will give you strength in those times when you feel so lonely.”
“Once you go inside and weed through the muck, you will find the real beauty, the truth about yourself.”
“Every aspect of our lives will benefit from a shift in perspective that ‘Quiets the Mind and Opens the Heart.’ “
“A lot of people say they want to get out of pain, and I'm sure that's true, but they aren't willing to make healing a high priority. They aren't willing to look inside to see the source of their pain in order to deal with it.”
“And I can't tell you how many women from a certain age group -- they would be in their 30s now, 20s and 30s -- tell me about how I was their role model when they were young girls.”
“Finally I had a place where I could express my pain and I felt safe because I didn't have to put my name on it. I think acting kept me alive back then.”
“I also realized I didn't have to understand everything in order to ask for help from the source of all life, the source of love.”
“I think it's safe to say that each of us has at least one issue we are passionate about and struggle with, issues that robs us of our peace, our joy and our ability to experience love.”
“I've experienced several different healing methodologies over the years -- counseling, self-help seminars, and I've read a lot -- but none of them will work unless you really want to heal.”
“It's about sharing. You just give what you have to give wherever you go, and you let God handle the rest.”
“My sister at the time was 13 and so I did the show as a birthday present. The start date of the show was her birthday. Talk about karma.”
“No matter who rejects you, don't lose touch with your higher self, with the higher powers, with anything that you can find which is of the light, that will give you strength in those times when you feel so lonely.”
“Once you go inside and weed through the muck, you will find the real beauty, the truth about yourself.”
“Every aspect of our lives will benefit from a shift in perspective that ‘Quiets the Mind and Opens the Heart.’ “
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