Veteran Hollywood star Robert Wagner, an icon of cinema history for over seventy years, passionately preaches the necessity of personal progress. After facing the challenges of career and life in the early 1960s, Wagner chose to “make the leap” and “make the shift,” which took him across the Atlantic to Europe and into pivotal television roles.
With a career spanning more than 70 years, Robert Wagner is one of Hollywood and television’s most beloved icons. The 96-year-old began his career as a ‘teen heartthrob’. Known for his roles in “It Takes a Thief” and “Hart to Hart,” Robert Wagner has a greater philosophy on life.
Reflecting on the necessity of personal growth, he once said: “You find that you are standing still, and not on purpose. You will not get anywhere. You have to move. You have to grow.”
Robert Wagner’s advice on personal growth
During a 1962 interview with Photoplay magazine, Robert spoke about stagnation in life and famously said: “You find yourself standing still, not on purpose. You’re never going to get anywhere. You’ve got to move. You’ve got to grow.” Giving a lesson from his own experience, he said: “You have to turn that page or turn your cover.
I chose to do the former. The whole feeling emphasizes that staying in one place, whether emotionally, professionally or personally, is a form of regression if it is not a conscious choice.
Robert Wagner’s words reflect his journey
Wagner’s lyrics also reflect the stage he was at in his career at the time. After a decade as the “Golden Boy”, Wagner was at a crossroads, as his contract expired and his high-profile marriage to Natalie Wood also collapsed.
Despite the decline, Wagner did not remain stagnant. In fact, it moved, and eventually grew. Wagner moved to Europe, which led to his casting in the 1963 film The Pink Panther. This role demonstrated his versatility and ability to handle mature roles. Wagner later moved to television, giving rise to his most famous works such as “It Takes a Thief,” “Switch” and the global phenomenon “Hart to Hart.”At 96 years old, Wagner’s career stands as definitive proof of his words: by choosing to “move on” whenever he felt stuck, he turned a fleeting moment of stardom into a lifelong impact.