Lindsay Wagner Net Worth, Personal Life and TV Career
Lindsay Wagner, an American actress, is best known for her iconic role as Jaime Sommers in the 1970s hit TV show The Bionic Woman, a part that earned her an Emmy Award. Beyond acting, Wagner has diversified her career into education, self-help therapy, writing, and coaching. With a net worth of $15 million, her influence extends far beyond her time on screen.
Early Life
Lindsay Jean Wagner was born on June 22, 1949, in Los Angeles, California. Her parents, Marilyn Thrasher and William Wagner, divorced when she was just seven years old. Following the separation, Lindsay moved with her mother to Pasadena, California, before relocating to Portland, Oregon. This move allowed her to put down roots and attend high school, where she discovered her love for acting through participation in various school plays.
Interestingly, Lindsay’s family has another connection to Hollywood: her uncle, Ed Thrasher, married actress Linda Gray, making Gray her aunt by marriage. After high school, Wagner spent time traveling through Europe, including a significant stint in France, before returning to the United States to attend the University of Oregon. After one year of college, she left to follow her true passion—acting—by moving back to Los Angeles.
Early Career and Breakthrough with The Bionic Woman
Lindsay Wagner initially found success in the modeling world and started making small appearances on TV. Her early TV work included a role on Playboy After Dark and a brief appearance on The Dating Game in 1969. However, her career took off when she signed with Universal Studios as a contract player. Her first major TV role came with the police drama Adam-12, followed by appearances on popular shows like The F.B.I., Sarge, and Night Gallery.
Wagner’s real breakthrough came when she appeared in The Six Million Dollar Man as Jaime Sommers, the love interest of the title character. Originally, her character was killed off, but public demand was so overwhelming that she was brought back to life and given her own spin-off series, The Bionic Woman (1976–1978). This role made Wagner a household name and won her the 1977 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Expanding Her Career: Film, TV, and Beyond
After the success of The Bionic Woman, Wagner continued acting, both in films and on TV. Some of her more notable movies include Two People (1973), where she played the leading lady, and The Paper Chase (1973), where she had a supporting role. She also appeared in action films like Nighthawks (1981) and Ricochet (1991). Her television credits include The Rockford Files, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Fall Guy, and NCIS.
In addition to acting, Wagner has made several notable guest appearances in TV mini-series like Scruples (1980) and Voice of the Heart (1989). In more recent years, she ventured into video games, lending her voice and likeness to the 2019 video game Death Stranding, created by Hideo Kojima.
Writing, Wellness, and Personal Growth
Outside of her acting career, Lindsay Wagner has devoted much of her life to education, self-help, and wellness advocacy. She has written books on topics like holistic health and wellness. One of her notable works focuses on using acupressure techniques to achieve non-surgical facelifts.
In addition to her writing, Wagner also offers self-help seminars, coaching sessions, and workshops, blending her celebrity status with her commitment to helping others heal and grow. Her personal philosophy of wellness is deeply rooted in holistic health practices, which she has promoted for decades. She is also an acting coach, helping aspiring actors refine their craft through her workshops and seminars.
Endorsements and Further Ventures
Wagner’s influence extends into commercial endeavors, where she has worked with a variety of brands. Some of her notable endorsements include Ford and Select Comfort, which added to her net worth over the years.
Her ability to reinvent herself from a TV star to a wellness advocate and author shows the breadth of her talents and interests. As of 2024, Lindsay Wagner continues to balance her time between acting, wellness advocacy, and helping people grow through her therapeutic practices.
Personal Life
In her personal life, Lindsay Wagner has experienced a number of ups and downs. She has been married four times and is the mother of two sons. Despite the challenges in her personal life, including multiple marriages, Wagner remains a resilient and empowering figure in Hollywood and beyond.
Throughout her career, she has used her platform to advocate for personal growth, wellness, and healing. Her ability to evolve while maintaining a successful career spanning more than five decades serves as an inspiration to many.
Legacy
Lindsay Wagner’s role in The Bionic Woman remains her most famous, but her legacy is much broader than her on-screen career. She has leveraged her fame to promote causes she believes in, and her work in wellness and personal growth has made her an important figure in the field of holistic health. Whether through her acting, writing, or seminars, Lindsay Wagner has left an indelible mark on multiple industries.
Her journey from a TV icon of the 1970s to a respected author and wellness coach is a testament to her versatility, intelligence, and enduring appeal. Today, she continues to inspire both fans and newcomers alike, proving that reinvention is always possible at any stage of life.
