George Waggner

George Waggner (September 7, 1894 - December 11, 1984) was a notable American filmmaker, producer, and actor whose career spanned several decades. Born in New York City, Waggner made his cinematic debut in the silent film The Sheik (1921), portraying the character Yousayef. He later ventured into the Western genre, where he found a niche in both acting and directing.

Waggner's directorial career began with Western Trails (1938), but he is perhaps best remembered for his iconic horror film, The Wolf Man (1941), which has since become a classic in the genre. During the 1960s, he transitioned to television, directing popular series such as Maverick, Batman, The Green Hornet, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. One of his notable projects was The Fighting Kentuckian (1949), featuring John Wayne and Oliver Hardy, in which his daughter, Shy Waggner, made a brief appearance.

As television gained popularity in the 1950s, Waggner's film career waned, prompting him to focus more on television productions. Interestingly, many of his TV credits appear under the name "george waGGner." He also directed Red Nightmare, a Cold War propaganda film for the Department of Defense, narrated by Jack Webb.

In addition to his directing work, Waggner co-wrote the film Queen of the Yukon with Jack London. He was married to Danny Shannon and had one daughter, Shy, along with two grandchildren, Sherry and Robert.