Lyle Wagoner was more than a pretty face

Lyle Wesley Waggoner was considered to be one of the most handsome and physically fit men of his time. He was born on April 13, 1935, and was most famous for being a member of the cast of THE CAROL BURNETTE SHOW. Along with Carol, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and later Tim Conway Waggoner left the viewing audience in stitches week after week. Prior to becoming a part of the entertainment business, the actor was a traveling salesman, a model. and a presenter. He was also widely known for portraying Steve Trevor and Steve Trevor Jr. from 1975-1979 on WONDER WOMAN which starred Lynda Carter in the title role.

Waggoner did a two-year stint as a radio operator in the US army in Germany. Upon returning home he studied mechanical engineering at the General Motors Institute of Technology. He next went door to door selling encyclopedias prior to his career in modeling and made his acting debut in a Kansas City production of Li'L Abner. His television debut came in 1966 on an episode of GUNSMOKE titled 'Wishbone" and shortly after he was hired by THE CAROL BURNETTE SHOW where he worked from 1967-1974.

His good looks and well-honed physique were often showcased in skits on the show but eventually, he proved that he was much more than a pretty face and a great body. He held his own with the other comics which included Burnette, Harvey Korman, Vickie Lawrence, and later Tim Conway. They worked as a team and each one was funny in his or her own way. Lyle Waggoner had never desired to do sketch comedy so he left THE CAROL BURNETTE SHOW for greener pastors. He did not achieve the success he was looking for but always found a way to remain in the public eye.

In 1967, Waggoner appeared in the film CATALINA CAPER and also had a rik in the season 3 episode "Deadliest of the Species" 0n the television series LOST IN SPACE. In 1973 he was the first centerfold for PLAYGIRL MAGAZINE. He said he did it for the publicity value and that it was pointed out to him that gay men, as well as women, would be looking at his naked body. Waggoner says his response to this was that it did not matter and he did not care,

In 1979, while on WONDER WOMAN, Waggoner discovered something that changed the course of his life. He found out that the motorhome he was using during the taping of the series was rented by the studio from a nearby resident. The actor came up with an idea and purchased a fleet of motor homes for $50,000 each, He then rented them out to Hollywood productions for $400-$500 per week. Not long after, he founded Star Waggons, a company that leased customized location trailers to the entertainment industry.

Lyle Waggoner retired from full-time acting to run his business and made Star Waggons, his priority. He continued to make guest appearances on television shows often parodying his earlier sexy image. These included THAT 70's SHOW, THE NAKED TRUTH, and RETURN TO THE BATCAVE. Waggoner had desired and narrowly missed being hired for the role of BATMAN in the 1966 TV series but the part went to Adam West. The show became a cult classic and West bcame a household name.

In 1990, Waggoner co-produced and appeared with cohost Shawn Bruner in a show called CONSUMER AMERICA. The series featured national products ranging from home goods to self-help products and remained on the air for two seasons. In 1993, Waggoner hosted an infomercial, "Let's Talk With Lyle Waggoner", which advertised a product called "Y-Bron". This was marketed as a natural remedy that would cure erectile dysfunction.

It was sold for $54.45 a bottle and said to b a male aphrodisiac. Twin Star the makers of this product was later fined $1.5 million for unsubstantiated claims about Y-Bron. There is no evidence that Lyle Waggoner was a part of the litigation. Waggoner married his wife Shirley in 1961 and they had two children. The couple remained together for almost 60 years until his death from cancer at his Los Angeles area home on March 17, 2020. Lyle Waggoner never took himself seriously and often did parodies of his earlier years when he was considered a sex symbol.

One of his most famous skits on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW was when he donned a mustache and imitated Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz. Lyle Waggoner was handsome and had a great body, and he capitalized on that by posing in PLAYGIRL. The actor will be remembered for different things by different people. His most ardent fans will fondly recall his time with Carol Burnette, on Wonder Woman and the fact that his marriage lasted 6 decades in an industry that can destroy relationships.