Kristina Wagner
 |
Kristina Wagner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kristina Kay Crump October 30, 1962 |
| Other names | Kristina Malandro |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
Kristina Wagner (born Kristina Kay Crump; October 30, 1962) is an American actress. She is sometimes credited by the name Kristina Malandro. She is best known for her role as Felicia Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She also briefly had a small role on the ABC series Hotel in the late 1980s.
Career
[edit]On September 7, 1984, Kristina Wagner got her big break when she was cast as Felicia Cummings on General Hospital as the spirited Aztec princess. She became half of the 80's super couple Frisco and Felicia, whose on-screen chemistry was real and undeniable. She appeared in the role on a contract basis until 2003. After a brief departure, she returned to the series in a recurring capacity in 2004. In May 2005, however, Wagner asked ABC to place her back on contract status for an important storyline involving her character. After ABC refused, Wagner walked, and she was replaced briefly by former Another World actress Sandra Ferguson. Upon Ferguson's departure in 2005, the character was absent from the show until late 2007, when Wagner again returned for a month-long stint.
In 2012, it was announced that Wagner would once again reprise the role of Felicia, with a first airing on April 27 that year.[1]
In 2013, it was announced that Wagner was releasing a documentary, Children of Internment, which she produced and directed with her brother, Joe Crump. The documentary concerns the events surrounding the American internment of German-Americans during World War II.[2] The documentary won Best Documentary at the Santa Fe Film Festival.
Wagner appeared as Nora Avery alongside her ex-husband, actor Jack Wagner, on the Hallmark Channel's When Calls the Heart.[3]
At age 54, Wagner posed in a bikini for the first time ever for the cover of First for Women.[4]
In 2019, Wagner celebrated her 35-year journey with General Hospital, recounting how the journey affected both her professional and personal life.[5]
In late 2021, Wagner was placed back under contract at General Hospital after 18 years downgraded to recurring.
Personal life
[edit]Wagner is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana.
After privately dating, Kristina Wagner went public about her relationship with her General Hospital co-star, Jack Wagner, when she announced her pregnancy in 1990.[6] Kristina and Jack Wagner eventually wed on December 18, 1993, in a private ceremony in Lake Tahoe.[7] Citing irreconcilable differences, they filed for divorce in February 2001. After two years apart, the Wagners announced that they were working through their problems and privately reconciling; they publicized their news of formal reconciliation in 2004. However, in 2005, the Wagners once again filed for divorce, which was finalized the following year. The couple had two sons born in 1990 and 1994.[6] Their younger son died in Los Angeles on June 6, 2022.[8] On June 13, 2022, Wagner and former husband Jack announced that their younger son died of drug addiction. The couple have since created a scholarship fund in honour of their son. All funds donated to the Harrison Wagner Scholarship Fund will be used to directly help young men pay their rent or a portion of their rent who could not otherwise afford their care at New Life House (a sober living facility in California).[9]
After her divorce, she decided to go back to college and attended California State University, Northridge where she majored in history. In her senior year, she began working on what became the Children of Internment documentary.[10]
A self-proclaimed adventurous type, Wagner loves camping, river rafting and mountaineering, as well as ice skating, swimming and gymnastics.[11]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–2005 2007–2008 2012–present |
General Hospital | Felicia Jones Scorpio | TV series (635 episodes) |
| 1988 | Hotel | Susan Atwell | TV series (Episode: "Power Play") |
| 1994 | Double Dragon | Linda Lash | |
| 1994 | A Low Down Dirty Shame | Lisa | |
| 1994 | Men Who Hate Women & the Women Who Love Them | Lacey | TV film |
| 2015–2016 | When Calls the Heart | Nora Avery | Recurring role (13 episodes) |
| 2018 | The Storyteller | Dr. Gordon |
References
[edit]- ^ "Kristina Wagner to step back into role of Felicia". soapcentral.com.
- ^ "Children of Internment". Children of Internment.
- ^ Lewis, Errol (2015-01-09). "Jack Wagner and Kristina Wagner Join Season Two Cast of Hallmark's 'When Calls the Heart'". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ "Kristina Wagner Looks Stunning in New Pics". First For Women. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ "ICYMI: Kristina Wagner Interview". Soap Opera Digest. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ a b "Soap Star Kristina Wagner: Divorce Made Me a Better Mother". Oprah.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ "Lawrence Journal-World - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "Harrison Wagner, 27, has passed away". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ "General Hospital's Jack and Kristina Wagner's Son Harrison 'Lost Battle with Addiction'". Toofab. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ^ "CSUN Alumna to Screen Award-Winning Documentary, 'Children of Internment'". CSUN Today. 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
- ^ "About the Actors | Kristina Wagner | General Hospital on Soap Central". soapcentral.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.