Heartwarming Reunion Celebration
Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers, iconic stars of Hart to Hart, reunited on Wednesday to mark Wagner’s 96th birthday. Wagner posted a rare photo capturing the duo embracing and smiling for the camera. He sported a blue zip-up sweater, while Powers wore a crisp white collared shirt adorned with black polka dots.
In the caption, Wagner wrote, “When Jonathan and Jennifer reunite, it’s always something special. Thank you, Stefanie, for the beautiful birthday visit.” Fans flooded the comments with affection, one stating, “For all the joy you have brought to us as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, we thank you! Awesome picture!” Another added, “Timeless elegance and eternal friendship! Thank you for all the joy you bring us!” A third fan noted, “You know it’s special when two people can come back together after many years, and they still have that same ‘zing’. Great show, Great stars,” while others chimed in, “Love this! You both look wonderful.”
Powers shared her own birthday message on Facebook: “Celebrating another birthday for RJ, may there be many more.”
Legacy of Hart to Hart
Wagner and Powers portrayed self-made millionaire Jonathan Hart and freelance journalist Jennifer Hart, a glamorous childless couple who tackled crimes in their spare time. The series aired from 1979 to 1984 across five seasons, spawning eight successful TV movies, with the final one released in 1996.
Enduring Friendship Through Adversity
Powers reflected on their shared experiences, saying, “There are so many wonderful memories. I saw [Robert] two days ago. And every time we see each other, we talk about, ‘Do you remember when?’ It crops up all these little memories… Hart to Hart was a gift because it played on both of our sensibilities.”
Their bond strengthened during filming after both endured profound losses. Powers’ husband, Sabrina star William Holden, died from a fall at home in November 1981. Just two weeks later, Wagner’s wife, actress Natalie Wood, drowned during a boat trip off California’s coast.
“We leaned on each other for support,” Powers stated. “And we also understood that we had committed to doing a television series. It had to go on. The show had to go on, and no one would’ve understood that more than the partners we both lost.”
“It was a very difficult time,” she added. “We were held up by a lot of wonderful people and friends, some mutual friends and some on each side of the coin. And [Robert] had daughters. He also had children to keep supporting… emotionally. So it was a complicated and difficult time.”
Later Lives
Powers later married French aristocrat Patrick Houitte de La Chesnais in 1993; the union ended in divorce six years later. She then partnered with auditor Tom Carroll from 2000 until his passing in 2014. Nine years after Wood’s death, Wagner wed longtime friend Jill St. John, and the couple remains together decades later.
