Lyle Waggoner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lyle Waggoner
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Waggoner in a 1976 publicity photo for Wonder Woman
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| Born |
Lyle Wesley Waggoner
April 13, 1935 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
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| Died | March 17, 2020 (aged 84) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1956–2005 |
| Spouse(s) |
Sharon Kennedy
(m. 1961) |
| Children | 2 |
Lyle Wesley Waggoner (pronounced WAG-ner; born April 13, 1935 – died March 17, 2020) was an American actor, sculptor, and model. He was best known for his roles on The Carol Burnett Show from 1967 to 1974 and as Steve Trevor in the TV series Wonder Woman from 1975 to 1979. Later in his life, he started a successful company called Star Waggons, which rented fancy trailers to movie and TV production teams.
Early Life and Beginnings
Lyle Waggoner was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on April 13, 1935. He spent some of his childhood in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. He had three sisters and one brother. After finishing Kirkwood High School in 1953, he briefly studied at Washington University in St. Louis.
After college, Lyle joined the United States Army. He served for two years in West Germany as a radio operator. When he left the army, he studied mechanical engineering. He also worked as a door-to-door salesman, selling encyclopedias.
Lyle's first acting role was as a muscle man in a play called Li'l Abner in Kansas City. This experience made him want to pursue acting. He saved enough money from a sales job to move to Los Angeles and try to become an actor.
Becoming a Star
By the mid-1960s, Lyle Waggoner started getting roles in television shows and movies. He appeared in an episode of the famous Western show Gunsmoke in 1966. He even tried out for the main role in the TV series Batman, but Adam West got the part instead.
In 1967, he was in a movie called Catalina Caper. He also had a small role in an episode of the science fiction TV series Lost in Space.
Later in 1967, Lyle joined The Carol Burnett Show. This was a very popular comedy and variety show. He worked on the show for seven years as an announcer and performer, playing many different funny characters. He left the show in 1974 because he wanted to become a lead actor in other projects. Tim Conway took his place on the show. Lyle did return for some special reunion shows later on.
In 1976, Lyle Waggoner was given an honorary title: "mayor" of Encino, California. This wasn't a real government job, as Encino is part of Los Angeles. It was a special title given by the local business group to famous people who would act as a "goodwill ambassador" for the area.
Wonder Woman and Other Roles
A year after leaving The Carol Burnett Show, Lyle got a big role. He was cast as Steve Trevor in the TV series Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter. The first season of the show was set during World War II. When the show moved forward in time to the 1970s for its next two seasons, Lyle played Steve Trevor Jr., the son of his original character.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Lyle also appeared in many TV movies and smaller films. He was often chosen for roles where he played a handsome character. He made guest appearances on many popular TV shows. These included Charlie's Angels, Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, The Golden Girls, and Ellen. He also played different characters on The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Murder, She Wrote.
Starting Star Waggons
In 1979, while working on Wonder Woman, Lyle noticed that the motorhome he was using on set was rented from a local person. He realized this could be a good business idea. Lyle bought several motor homes and started renting them out to Hollywood movie and TV productions.
Soon, he founded a company called Star Waggons. This company rented out special, customized trailers for actors and crew to use on film sets. He also started Zio Studio Services, which was the rental part of Star Waggons. In 2021, these companies were sold for a large amount of money. Lyle's sons, Jason and Beau, continue to run these businesses. Lyle mostly retired from acting to focus on Star Waggons, but he still made occasional appearances, sometimes making fun of his earlier image.
Personal Life
Lyle Waggoner was married to Sharon Kennedy. She was an actress, a financial advisor, and a real estate agent. They got married in 1961 and had two sons together.
In his later years, Lyle lived near Jackson, Wyoming. He was also a talented sculptor. His sculptures can be seen in art galleries in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Lander, Wyoming.
Death
Lyle Waggoner passed away at his home in the Los Angeles area on March 17, 2020. He was 84 years old and died from cancer.
Images for kids
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Waggoner in a 1976 publicity photo for Wonder Woman
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Left: Waggoner and other cast members from The Carol Burnett Show in 1967 (clockwise from the bottom): Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner (on the right, the 1977 cast, with Tim Conway)
See also
In Spanish: Lyle Waggoner para niños
