Anthony Wager

{{Short description|English actor and television writer (1932–1990)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Anthony Wager

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|06|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Willesden, London, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1990|12|23|1932|06|24|df=yes}}

| death_place = Bali, Indonesia

| education = Christ's College, Finchley

| occupation = Actor, television writer

| years_active = 1946–1989

}}

Anthony A. Wager (24 June 1932 – 23 December 1990) was an English actor and television writer. He is best known for portraying the role of the young Pip in David Lean's 1946 film of Great Expectations.

Early life and career

Wager was born in Willesden, north London, and grew up in Mill Hill and Hendon. His father was a plumber and decorator.{{cite book|last=Holstrom|first=John|title=The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia From 1895 To 1995|year=1996|page=180}} He studied at Christ's College, Finchley. In 1945, Wager auditioned for the role of young Pip in the film Great Expectations. He won the role and was praised by critics for his performance. He won a Film Daily Critics Award for Best Performance For a Juvenile for his role in the film.{{cite news|title=Critics Award Acting Honors|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19481026&id=R_w0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=deUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5139,4709801|accessdate=2 April 2014|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|page=2|date=26 October 1948}}

After appearing in Great Expectations, Wager continued working in films and television in England. He often lived with the director Brian Desmond Hurst.{{Cite web | url=http://anthonywager.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-about-anthony-wager.html | title=A Tribute to Anthony Wager}} In the late 1960s, Wager moved to Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career in both film and television but occasionally returned to England for acting jobs.{{cite news|title=English Actor Returning To Film Role|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19570801&id=WYgQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4991,108550|accessdate=2 April 2014|newspaper=The Age|page=1|date=1 August 1957}} He made his final onscreen appearance in the 1988 Australian television movie The Boardroom. Wager then moved to Bali, Indonesia, for health reasons.