One of the women who co-starred with King Kong in his iconic scene atop the Empire State Building has passed away at age of 103.Pauline Wagner is the actress who stood in for the legendary Fay Wray during key reshoots for the 1933 classic. Wagner died last month outside Los Angeles. Her manager confirmed the death to the Hollywood Reporter today. 'Kong' producers needed to reshoot the climactic finale, but Fay was already in England working...
- 6/19/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
King Kong actress Pauline Wagner has died at the age of 103.
The star served as Fay Wray's body double in the original 1933 film, and featured in the climactic scene on top of the Empire State Building.
Her friend and manager Steve Vilarino confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that she passed away on May 2 in Montrose, California.
Wagner worked as a contract player at Rko Radio Pictures, when she was approached by producers and asked if she would help reshoot the crucial scene, as Wray was then working on another film in England.
She admitted in an interview that she was unaware of her part in the film until she watched King Kong ten years after its release.
The actress went on to have a variety of small and often uncredited roles in movies in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Wagner is survived by her two sons, Mike and Bruce,...
The star served as Fay Wray's body double in the original 1933 film, and featured in the climactic scene on top of the Empire State Building.
Her friend and manager Steve Vilarino confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that she passed away on May 2 in Montrose, California.
Wagner worked as a contract player at Rko Radio Pictures, when she was approached by producers and asked if she would help reshoot the crucial scene, as Wray was then working on another film in England.
She admitted in an interview that she was unaware of her part in the film until she watched King Kong ten years after its release.
The actress went on to have a variety of small and often uncredited roles in movies in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Wagner is survived by her two sons, Mike and Bruce,...
- 6/19/2014
- Digital Spy
Actress Pauline Wagner, who as Fay Wray’s double can be seen writhing on the ledge of the Empire State Building in the climax of the 1933 film King Kong, has died. She was 103. Wagner died May 2 in Montrose, Calif., her manager and friend, Steve Vilarino, told The Hollywood Reporter. Wagner was a contract player at Rko Radio Pictures and wandering around the lot when she was approached by a group of men, she recalled in a 2011 interview with Filmfax magazine. They were working on King Kong and needed to reshoot the finale, in which the big ape
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- 6/19/2014
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Author Slide to discuss the history of Hollywood extras at historical Lasky-DeMille Barn Film historian Anthony Slide, author of dozens of books on Hollywood history, will be discussing his most recent work, Hollywood Unknowns: A History of Extras, Bit Players and Stand-Ins, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, located at a Hollywood historical landmark: the Lasky-DeMille Barn, right across the street from the Hollywood Bowl. (Check out: "The History of Hollywood Extras, Bit Players and Stand-Ins: Interview with Author and Film Historian Anthony Slide.") Pictured Above are Olivia de Havilland and her The Charge of the Light Brigade stand-in, Ann Robinson, circa 1936. As per the Barn's press release, "Mr. Slide will discuss the lives and work of extras, including the harsh conditions, sexual harassment, scandals and tragedies." Besides, he'll also talk about Central Casting and the Hollywood Studio Club, the residence of a number of up-and-coming actresses,...
- 4/4/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
In the book Hollywood Unknowns, author Anthony Slide tackles a little-known side of Hollywood moviemaking: the aspirations and travails of the movie extras and bit players (in addition to "side" chapters on actors' stand-ins and stunt doubles). [Image: Book cover featuring -- possibly -- short filmmaker Pete Smith.] Slide's Hollywood Unknowns: A History of Extras, Bit Players and Stand-Ins covers the history of the movie extras from the very dawn of cinema -- when, say, someone like future "star" Florence Lawrence could be the focus of one film and mere "atmosphere" in another -- to the current crop of movie extras. Among the sujects discussed in Anthony Slide's highly entertaining tome are the history of Central Casting; union battles involving the Screen Actors Guild, the Screen Extras Guild, and splinter groups; and a look at former silent-era performers, including Clara Kimball Young, King Baggott, and William Farnum, who finished their days as Hollywood extras. So, next time you watch Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist,...
- 2/16/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Gloria Stuart joined by fellow actresses Carla Laemmle and Pauline Wagner, all of whom are centenarians, at the "Academy's Centennial Celebration with Gloria Stuart." (photo courtesy of AMPAS) When Gloria Stuart was cast as “Old Rose” in Titanic, makeup artist Greg Cannom had to age the 88-year-old actress to make her look older! On July 4, Gloria turned 100 in real life, and she still looks terrific. What’s more, she is as engaged—and engaging—as ever. It was my privilege to host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ centennial celebration of her life and career on Thursday night. The…...
- 7/24/2010
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
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