Walter Wager - Biography

Walter Herman Wager (September 4, 1924 - July 11, 2004) was an American novelist.

Early life

Walter Wager grew up in the East Tremont section of The Bronx, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants; his father, Max, was a doctor, and his mother, Jessie, was a nurse. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, he received a master's degree in aviation law from Northwestern University in 1949.

Career

Wager was best known as an author of mystery and spy fiction; his works included 58 Minutes (1987), whose story was used as the basis of the action film Die Hard 2 in 1990. Two of his other novels became major motion pictures in 1977: Viper Three (1972), which was released as Twilight's Last Gleaming, and Telefon (1975). Wager wrote a number of original novels in the 1960s under the pseudonym "John Tiger" that were based on the TV series I Spy and Mission: Impossible.

Prior to making his reputation as a novelist, Wager was a Fulbright Fellow at the Sorbonne in Paris and diplomatic adviser to Israel's Director of Civil Aviation. He was also a writer and producer for CBS Radio, CBS television, and NBC television and was editor-in-chief of Playbill from 1963 to 1966. In addition, Wager worked in public relations for ASCAP, the University of Bridgeport, and the Juilliard School.

Death

He died in 2004 at Amsterdam House, a home for the elderly in Manhattan.

Spouses

Winifred McIvor Wager: married June 4, 1975 - July 11, 2004 (his death)
Sylvia Leonard Wager: married May 6, 1952 - May __, 1975 (divorced; one child)

Bibliography

• Death Hits the Jackpot (1954)
• Operation Intrigue (1956)
• I Spy (1965)
• I Spy #2: Masterstroke (1966)
• I Spy #3: Superkill (1967)
• I Spy #4: Wipeout (1967)
• I Spy #5: Countertrap (1967)
• I Spy #6: Doomdate (1967)
• Mission: Impossible (1967)
• I Spy #7: Death-Twist (1968)
• Mission: Impossible #4: Code Name Little Ivan (1969)
• Sledgehammer (1970)
• Warhead (1971)
• Viper Three (1972), adapted for film as Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977)
• Swap (1973)
• Telefon (1975), adapted for film as Telefon (1977)
• Time of Reckoning (1977)
• Blue Leader (1979)
• Blue Moon (1981)
• Blue Murder (1982)
• Designated Hitter (1982)
• Otto's Boy (1985)
• Raw Deal, novelization of the Arnold Schwarzenegger film (1986)
• 58 Minutes (1987), adapted for film as Die Hard 2 (1990)
• The Spirit Team (1996)
• Tunnel (2001)
• Kelly's People (2002)

The I Spy and Mission: Impossible books were published under the name "John Tiger." Operation Intrigue (1956) was published under "Walter Hermann."

NY Times Obituary July 14, 2004
The Independent Obituary July 20 2004

External links

fantasticfiction.co.uk Biography & Book dust jacket images
IMDB Biography