Robert Wagner found true love after experiencing drama in his life.
He penned a sweet message to his beloved wife of 33 years.
At 93, Robert is a happy grandfather who is still close to his grandkids.
Veteran actor Robert Wagner is a nonagenarian, having turned 93 on February 10, 2023. He remembered his beloved fans on his birthday by thanking them for making his day better.
On his Instagram account, Wagner posted a video of him sitting on a couch and speaking directly to his fans, who sent him well wishes online.
“I want to take this time to thank you all for your birthday wishes to me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated it. […] It’s been a wonderful birthday for me, and you all have made it extra special, and I appreciate it so much,” he said in the clip.
In the video, Wagner, who pet his dog sitting next to him, wore a navy blue Ralph Lauren sweater. He captioned his post: “Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I love you all so much.” The Hollywood star revealed he spent his special day at his home in Aspen with his daughters, son-in-law, and grandchild.
Wagner is a father to Courtney Wagner, whom he shares with actress Natalie Wood, and Katie Wagner, whom he welcomed with actress Marion Marshall. He is also a stepfather to Natasha Gregson Wagner, Wood’s eldest child with Richard Gregson.
Wagner and Wood were husband and wife and had a rocky relationship. The pair wed twice, first in 1957 before calling it quits in 1962 after five years of marriage.
They rekindled their romance a decade later and walked down the aisle again in 1972. This time, they stayed married until Wood’s untimely death in 1981. The child star tragically passed away at age 43, leaving her young girls behind.
Wagner stepped in to raise her daughters, Courtney and Natasha, so they, including Katie, could remain close after losing her. Wood’s death heavily affected her first child Natasha, who was only eleven.
However, she found solace in her relationship with her stepfather, saying in a 2016 interview: “My relationship with my stepdad is way deeper than it would have been had she lived.” Meanwhile, Wagner also found happiness following Wood’s passing with his current wife.
Robert Shares a Message of Love for His 33rd Wedding Anniversary Following Drama Involving Wood’s Death
Wagner is married to former Bond girl Jill St. John, whom he wed in 1990. The two had been friends since the sixties after crossing paths as young actors at Fox Studios.
After starring in two movies together, they “remained friends,” a pal revealed once. Wagner and St. John bonded over tragedy as they both lost their loved ones.
His wife Wood drowned off the coast of Catalina Island, while St. John’s former spouse, Lance Reventlow, a race car driver, died in a plane crash in 1972. He and the “Diamonds Are Forever” star stayed pals long after their divorce.
After Wood’s death made headlines, St. John contacted Wagner and sent him a letter and flowers. They reunited two months later at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend. Following their meeting, the pair remained in touch, leading to a newfound romance.
According to a pal, the former actress and the television star “found comfort in each other,” and eventually, they tied the knot eight years later. They had an intimate ceremony in the presence of family at the groom’s home in Los Angeles.
St. John, who never had kids of her own, became a stepmom to Wagner’s daughters after marrying him and she helped raise them. During a 1982 interview, she divulged they “get along beautifully.”
The lovebirds settled in Aspen, Colorado, in 2007 and currently reside in a 7.5-acre estate. In an April 2022 interview, St. John expressed that she loves living in Colorado and that it is a “blessing” to be exposed to nature like that.
Meanwhile, a friend described the type of relationship she has with her beloved husband as they relish the love they share daily:
“They have that thing couples who enjoy each other have.”
Wagner and St. John have been married for over three decades, and the “Hart to Hart” star recently commemorated the couple’s milestone on social media. He posted a throwback photo of them smiling in an embrace, writing:
“Happy 33rd anniversary to my incredible wife, Jill. I love you. You are my rock, my Magic.”
Despite a happy marriage, Wagner has faced heavy criticism after being accused of killing his late wife. The police reopened Wood’s cold case in 2011, pointing him as a person of interest. He and Hollywood’s leading lady, including actor Christopher Walken, were on a boat trip together when she died.
The coroner declared her death an accident, ruling out possibilities of foul play. Still, several years later, Wagner, also called RJ, was named a prime suspect. His stepdaughter Natasha got candid about her famous mother’s mysterious death for the first time in April 2020 and defended him against the allegations.
She penned in her book, “More Than Love, An Intimate Portrait of My Mother, Natalie Wood,” that her stepdad’s life had been “marred by trumped up scandals and accusations,” adding:
“My mother no longer has a voice of her own, but I do, and this is what I know – RJ loved Natalie ‘more than love.’ No one in my world questioned my dad’s love for my mom or his utter despair at her loss.”
The 30th anniversary of Wood’s passing in 2012 evoked feelings of agony yet again for her loved ones after Dennis Davern, a former deckhand on the Splendour boat that transported her, Wagner, and Walken, changed his testimony.
He claimed he was part of a cover-up orchestrated by Wagner, but a family publicist rubbished the claims. That said, after initially ruling out Wagner as a suspect in Wood’s death, the authorities exonerated him again.
In a 2020 film documentary based on Wood’s life, Wagner appeared and discussed his relationship with her. His stepchild Natasha spoke highly of him after agreeing to participate in the doccie, saying:
“I am always blown away by his courage. As my dad and knowing him for basically my whole life, I know him to be such a courageous person.”
Wagner & St. John Are Happy Grandparents
In addition to his flourishing relationship with his stepdaughter, Wagner remains happy with his current life with St. John despite the bad publicity they endured throughout the years concerning Wood’s passing.
The pair are also happy grandparents. On February 7, 2023, the “NCIS” star shared a video of him and his grandkids blowing candles off a cake.
The video shows the two young family members who were happy to help their beloved grandfather blow off the candles.
Wagner wrote, “In a lead up to my birthday, Natasha sent me this clip from 2020. It was a such a beautiful and wonderful night when the whole family was able to celebrate.”
The family patriarch also celebrates his grandkids online. In May 2021, he paid tribute to his granddaughter Riley alongside a photo of her and her grandmother, St. John.
He captioned the post: “Jill and I would like to wish our granddaughter a very happy 9th birthday. Grandma and Grandpa love you and can’t wait to see you again.”
The birthday girl seemed ecstatic to celebrate her special day as she was pictured broadly smiling while posing with her grandmother.
