Every morning, Robert Wagner, affectionately known as RJ, wakes up with a sense of gratitude. From his home in Aspen, he enjoys a breathtaking view of Elk Mountain bathed in golden sunlight, and often spots wildlife like elk, deer, and fox roaming his forested property. As his wife, Jill St. John, likes to say, “There are only so many front-row seats to life, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have one.”
A Match Made in Hollywood
RJ, now 92, feels an immense sense of gratitude not just for his surroundings but also for the presence of his beloved wife, Jill St. John, who’s 81. The couple tied the knot in 1990, but their friendship dates back to the 1960s when they first met as young actors at Fox Studios. Though their love story took time to blossom, their marriage has stood the test of time, becoming one of Hollywood's most enduring romances. A close friend puts it best: “Their love isn’t just a cliché—it’s real and inspiring.”
Jill's Hollywood Beginnings
Jill, who gained fame as the sultry Tiffany Case in the 1971 James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever," hails from Los Angeles and began her acting career as a child. She trained at the Panaieff Ballet Center, where her classmates included RJ’s future wife, Natalie Wood, and his "Hart to Hart" co-star, Stephanie Powers. “We were all friendly back then,” Jill recalls with a smile. “Though Natalie and I weren’t best friends, we respected each other deeply.”
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RJ, born in Detroit, is one of the last classic leading men from Hollywood’s golden era. He made his screen debut at 20 and quickly rose to fame playing a soldier with PTSD in the 1952 film "With a Song in My Heart." Over his illustrious career, RJ and Jill worked together in two films during the late 1960s. “After their collaborations, they remained good friends,” a mutual friend explains.
A Friendship Forged in Tragedy
When Natalie Wood tragically drowned off the coast of Catalina Island in 1981, Jill, like the rest of the world, was deeply saddened by the news. She reached out to RJ, sending him a heartfelt note and flowers to offer her condolences. Just two months later, RJ and Jill reconnected at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend. Jill empathized with RJ’s grief because she had also experienced loss—her ex-husband, race car driver and Woolworth heir Lance Reventlow, had died in a plane crash in 1972. “Even after Lance passed, a part of him stayed with me,” Jill shares. “We were friends until the very end.”
After their fateful meeting, RJ and Jill stayed in touch and eventually began dating. “They found solace in each other,” says their friend. In the media frenzy surrounding Natalie’s death, RJ cherished having someone he could trust. “I’ve always valued discretion in my friendships,” Jill said in 1982. The couple married eight years later in a small, intimate ceremony at RJ’s home in LA.
A Lasting Legacy of Love
Though it was their fourth marriage for both RJ and Jill, their union has proven to be the longest-lasting and most fulfilling of their lives. Jill, who never had children, embraced RJ’s daughters—Courtney, Katie Wagner, and Natasha Gregson—helping them through the difficult years following Natalie’s death. “I get along beautifully with RJ’s children,” Jill said in 1982. Over the years, RJ and Jill have collaborated on several projects, including movies and a memorable appearance on the "Seinfeld" episode "The Yada Yada." Before the pandemic, Jill often accompanied RJ to LA for his
