- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGeorge Raymond Wagner
- Nicknames
- The Human Orchid
- The Toast of the Coast
- Height5′ 9½″ (1.77 m)
- Gorgeous George was born on March 24, 1915 in Seward, Nebraska, USA. He was an actor, known for Alias the Champ (1949), I've Got a Secret (1952) and To Tell the Truth (1956). He was married to Betty Hanson, Cherie Dupré and Eula Wagner. He died on December 26, 1963 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- SpousesBetty Hanson(February 23, 1939 - 1951) (divorced, 2 children)Cherie Dupré(195? - June 1962) (divorced, 1 child)Eula Wagner
- Flamboyant personality that contrasted his physical skills as a wrestler
- He was notorious for fighting dirty and cheating any way he could to win matches
- Curly, platinum blonde hair
- Known for his elaborate costumes, especially his sequined robes
- He would always enter the ring wearing an elegant robe and escorted down a personal red carpet by his ring valet "Jeffries", who carried a silver mirror while spreading rose petals at his feet, and sprayed Chanel No 5 on George as he took his robe off
- "Gorgeous George" became so famous that, in the early days of television-- when most families didn't have one--stores would place a television in their window display tuned to the station running professional wrestling. Groups of people would gather outside these stores to watch the programs.
- In the early days of television, professional wrestling was one of the biggest successes on the new medium. Wagner's character, "Gorgeous George," is generally regarded as one of the first "superstars" of that new medium.
- A major part of his performance was the elaborate pre-match rituals. It would start off with the playing of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" as he entered the arena and moved toward the ring. He was the first professional wrestler to use entrance music.
- Prior to entering the sport of professional wrestling, he had trained to be a psychiatrist.
- Was the inspiration for the glitzy, effeminate wrestler character Ravishing Ronald, "The De-Natured Boy," in the 1951 Bugs Bunny cartoon Bunny Hugged (1951).
- [in the ring as "Gorgeous George" being checked by the referee] Take your filthy hands off me!
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