Lindsay Wagner – The Bionic Woman Revisited

Her acting career, having spanned nearly 45 years, Lindsay Wagner will be best remembered as “Jaimie Sommers” the bionic super hero female counterpart to “The Six Million Dollar Man.”
The then 28 year-old Wagner was the surprise 1977 recipient of an Emmy for Outstanding Act Lead Actress In A Drama for her role in “The Bionic Woman.”

Other credits include the critically acclaimed “The Paper Chase” (1973). Subsequent to “The Bionic Woman” Wagner settled mostly for ensemble or supporting actor roles, although from the sheer number, she seemed to have had a regular pay check. Wagner even had a stint as a college instructor, teaching at SanBernardino’s Valley College. Wagner, who was married four times, is the mother of two thirty-something sons, themselves Hollywood stuntmen.
Her career in entertainment came quite by chance; Wagner often babysat the children of actor James Best (Sheriff Roscoe of the “Dukes Of Hazzard). It was Best who suggested she attend his acting classes, and she caught the bug.

Looking at Wagner‘s credits, most of her work is PG rated – except for one: “Two People” (1973). Perhaps is was the opportunity to work with then bona-fide A-List actor and “bad boy” Peter Fonda that convinced Wagner to doff her top? Fortunately, we have the pictures. The movie was released in March of 1973, so it may have been shot as early as the fall of 1971 – which would have made Wagner just 22 years-old.