Anthony Wager

[DAVID RAYNER]

Watching the classic 1946 version of GREAT EXPECTATIONS on BBC2 yesterday afternoon (December 21st) with its wonderful debut performance by 12 years old Anthony Wager as young Pip, I got to wondering what became of him, whether he is still alive and where he is now. Also, where did he come from and how did David Lean (if indeed it was he) come to choose this unknown, if very photogenic and talented schoolboy, for such an important part in his film.

I have searched all over the internet for information on Anthony Wager and all I can come up with is his date of birth and a list of his films. Can anyone here elaborate on the subject, I wonder.

[yrrab]

Although your enquiry was a long time ago and I imagine that by now you have been able to find out a great deal more about this boy, I can tell you that he died in 1990. He was fifty eight years old. My late mother spoke of his sister as a friend from her childhood. I believe Tony suffered from heart disease. I have no confirmation that this was the cause of his death, although I suspect that it may have been. He was for the greater part of his life unwell.There is also some mystery as to his natural mother. At the time of the audition for Great Expectations he had a step mother. Whether his natural mother died, which I suspect, or divorced his father I cannot be sure.

He was by all accounts a likeable gentle boy gifted in drama. I feel he had a raw deal, both with his health and his career. The brightest candle the shorter the life. May he Rest in Piece.


barry.waterfiedl351@btinternet.com.

[Gerald Lovell]

I'm gratified to see that Anthony Wager had a pretty lengthy acting career, but sad to learn of his early death. According to Ian Dickerson's book The Saint on TV, Anthony's appearance in "Iris" was dogged by a practical joke by Roger Moore, who gave him a bar of laxative wrapped up as an ordinary bar of chocolate. Anthony got his revenge, it seems, by putting sugar into Roger's car petrol tank.
The source of this is John Ronane who also appeared in the episode.

[yrrab]

Pretty expensive revenge I'd say, an engine rebuild in exchange for a few extra trips to the gents. Interestingly, shortly after Wager emigrated to Australia he collapsed on set with serious health problems (heart) and his availability was described as 'limited' after that. I feel sorry for him, I think he had real talent, I think he could have been given better breaks. Still, that's life.

[CaptainWaggett]

http://anthonywager.blogspot.co.uk/

[Gerald Lovell]

Anthony and Roger must've forgiven each other as Anthony went on to appear in further episodes of THE SAINT.

[billy farmer]

David Rayner, who started this Thread is actually David (darrenburnfan), he used his real name when he first joined Brit Movie, i will send David an email to let him know about the responses to Anthony Wager's Thread.

[cornershop15]

He'll thank you for that!