Jack Wagner was a pioneering writer in the silent film era, specializing in comedy construction, from staging car chases in Keystone Kops shorts to sight gags, pratfalls, and later comedy bits for A-list actors in sound films.
Born on May 20, 1891, in Los Angeles, Jack was one of four brothers, all of whom worked in the motion picture business. His father, William Wagner, was a railroad train conductor in Mexico, and the family grew up in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. The Mexican Revolution forced the family to return to California after William Wagner was fatally wounded by rebels attacking his train.
Jack and his brothers, Blake and Bob, found work in the infant film industry, initially with D.W. Griffith, painting furniture and sets, and later as assistant cameramen. Jack eventually left Griffith to work as a gag writer and assistant cameraman for Mack Sennett, where he engineered much of the auto and train chases and sight gags involving the Keystone Kops.
During World War I, Jack and Blake joined the U.S. Army, assigned to the first motion picture combat unit for the Signal Corps. Jack filmed Air Corps footage and battles involving American forces at the Marne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne.
After the war, Jack returned to Hollywood, working with Mack Sennett and later Hal Roach. He was a favorite of director Harry Sweet, filming a number of shorts with Turpin, Natalie Kingston, and others.
By 1924, Jack joined Harry Langdon, working with Frank Capra among other directors. He also continued working on feature-length movies for Allan Dwan and William A. Seiter. His work included writing scenes for "The Sea Beast" (1926) starring John Barrymore.
Like many silent film writers, Jack had great difficulty making the transition from silents to talkies. However, a short film, "La Cucaracha" (1934),he co-wrote with Lloyd Corrigan earned an Academy Award for best short.
Most of his work in the 1930s and '40s was uncredited, as he was considered a "what-if" man. In comedy films and the occasional drama, he would stand next to the director and offer "what-if" comedy gags that would be inserted into the script.
During World War II, Jack kicked around an idea for a film about a young man who was marginalized by the citizens of his hometown but treated as a hero after his death in the war. He enlisted the aid of his long-time friend John Steinbeck to help him write the screenplay and use his influence to get the film made. The Steinbeck magic worked, and Paramount Pictures produced "A Medal for Benny" (1945) starring Dorothy Lamour and J. Carrol Naish.
Jack Wagner died on July 13, 1963, in Los Angeles.
