Robert Conrad
Encyclopedia
Robert Conrad is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the 1965 CBS
television
series
The Wild Wild West
, in which he played the sophisticated Secret Service
agent James T. West, and his portrayal of World War II ace Pappy Boyington
in the television series Baa Baa Black Sheep
. He was a recording artist of pop/rock songs in the early 1960s as Bob Conrad before he started acting. He currently hosts a weekly 2 hour national radio show ("The PM Show with Robert Conrad") on CRN Digital Talk Radio.
, who married Chicago disk jockey and radio personality Eddie Hubbard
in 1948. Hubbard and Smith reportedly had at least one child together (born 1949) but split up by 1958.
Signed to Warner Brothers as an actor, Conrad took advantage of Warner's recording division. He eventually released several recordings issued on a variety of LPs, EPs, and SPs 33 and a third and 45 rpm records during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He had a minor Billboard hit song in "Bye Bye Baby" which reached #113.
Before The Wild Wild West, Conrad played Tom Lopaka in ABC
's Hawaiian Eye
opposite Anthony Eisley
and Connie Stevens
.The show was a hit, lasting four seasons, 1959-63. In the 1970s, he played such roles as prosecuting attorney Paul Ryan in a short-lived 1971 TV series, The D.A., and American spy Jake Webster in the series Assignment Vienna
. With his muscular build and cigarette-induced gravelly voice, Conrad found ratings success playing legendary tough-guy World War II
fighter ace
Pappy Boyington
in Baa Baa Black Sheep
on NBC
(retitled for its second season and in later syndication as Black Sheep Squadron), from 1976 to 1978. In 1980 he played a paraplegic coach in Coach of the Year
.
In the late 1970s, he served as the captain of the NBC
team for six editions of Battle of the Network Stars
. He played a modern day variation of James West in the short-lived secret agent series A Man Called Sloane
in 1979, about the same time he reprised the role of West in a pair of made-for-TV films. He also starred in the 1978 TV miniseries Centennial
on NBC.
Conrad was widely identified in the late 1970s for his television commercials for Eveready
batteries, particularly his placing of the battery on his shoulder and prompting the viewer to challenge its long-lasting power: "Come on, I dare ya". The commercial was frequently parodied on Johnny Carson
's The Tonight Show
and The Carol Burnett Show
. In 1988, Conrad starred in a short-lived TV series called High Mountain Rangers
with two of his sons later starring in that show's one season spin-off Jesse Hawkes. In 1990 he starred in the made for television adventure film Anything to Survive
along side Matt LeBlanc
and Emily Perkins
. In 1992, Conrad played the role of the sheriff
in Richard Marx's Hazard
video.
Conrad took over hosting The History Channel
's Weapons At War (later Tech Force) in 2000 following George C. Scott
's 1999 death. In 2006, Conrad recorded audio introductions for every episode of the first season of The Wild Wild West for its North American DVD release on June 6. The DVD set also included one of Conrad's Eveready battery commercials; in his introduction, Conrad stated that he was flattered to be parodied by Carson. He was inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame for his work on The Wild, Wild West series.
He appeared in the documentary film, Pappy Boyington Field, where he recounted his personal insights about the legendary Marine Corps Aviator that he portrayed in the television series. Conrad hosts a radio talk show on CRN Digital Talk Radio, Thursdays 3-5p Pacific Time.
in the High Sierra, Conrad and Fann re-located to Thousand Oaks, California
in 2006. Conrad and Fann divorced in 2010.
In a 2008 interview, Conrad described the late Chicago "made man" and burglar Michael Spilotro
as his "best friend". Spilotro's slaying was featured in the movie Casino
.
Conrad was involved with a volunteer organization in Bear Valley
known as Bear Valley Search and Rescue, also known by Bear Valley locals as "Bear Valley Slurp and Recline". The rescue organization formed the basis of High Mountain Rangers
.
Conrad had been out of the public eye since 2003, when he was involved in a devastating car accident. Conrad was driving his Jaguar drunk on Highway 4 in the California Sierra foothills near his Calaveras County
home, when he crossed over the center median and slammed head-on into a Subaru
being driven by 26 year old Kevin Burnett. Both men suffered serious injuries. Burnett's family blame Conrad for the death of their son two years later as a result of perforated ulcers connected to the difficult recovery he had from the crash.
Conrad was convicted of drunk driving (his blood-alcohol level was 0.22 percent, nearly three times the legal limit) and was sentenced to six months of house arrest. He also lost his driver's license for one year. During his DUI trial, court documents listed his year of birth as 1929, not 1935 listed in most entertainment biographies; the latter year would have made him 16 years old at the time of his first marriage.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West is an American television series that ran on CBS for four seasons from September 17, 1965 to April 4, 1969....
, in which he played the sophisticated Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
agent James T. West, and his portrayal of World War II ace Pappy Boyington
Pappy Boyington
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was a United States Marine Corps officer who was an American fighter ace during World War II. For his heroic actions, he was awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Boyington flew initially with the American Volunteer Group in the Republic of China Air Force...
in the television series Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)
Baa Baa Black Sheep is a television series that aired on NBC from 1976 until 1978. Its premise was based on the experiences of United States Marine Corps aviator Pappy Boyington and his World War II "Black Sheep Squadron". The series was created and produced by Stephen J. Cannell...
. He was a recording artist of pop/rock songs in the early 1960s as Bob Conrad before he started acting. He currently hosts a weekly 2 hour national radio show ("The PM Show with Robert Conrad") on CRN Digital Talk Radio.
Early life and career
Conrad was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Jackie Smith, first publicity director of Mercury RecordsMercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, who married Chicago disk jockey and radio personality Eddie Hubbard
Eddie Hubbard
Charles Edward "Eddie" Hubbard was an easy-listening disc jockey and radio personality in Chicago, at such radio stations as WIND and WGN. At WGN he co-hosted a popular show with Jack Brickhouse.-Early Years In Chicago:...
in 1948. Hubbard and Smith reportedly had at least one child together (born 1949) but split up by 1958.
Signed to Warner Brothers as an actor, Conrad took advantage of Warner's recording division. He eventually released several recordings issued on a variety of LPs, EPs, and SPs 33 and a third and 45 rpm records during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He had a minor Billboard hit song in "Bye Bye Baby" which reached #113.
Before The Wild Wild West, Conrad played Tom Lopaka in ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Hawaiian Eye
Hawaiian Eye
Hawaiian Eye is an American television series that ran from October 1959 to September 1963 on the American Broadcasting Company television network.-Premise:...
opposite Anthony Eisley
Anthony Eisley
Anthony Eisley was born Frederick Glendinning Eisley in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, whose father was a general sales manager for a large corporation. Father of Amanda Eisley, Jonathan Eisley, Nan R...
and Connie Stevens
Connie Stevens
Connie Stevens is an American actress and singer, best known for her roles in the television series Hawaiian Eye and other TV and film work.-Early life:...
.The show was a hit, lasting four seasons, 1959-63. In the 1970s, he played such roles as prosecuting attorney Paul Ryan in a short-lived 1971 TV series, The D.A., and American spy Jake Webster in the series Assignment Vienna
Assignment Vienna
Assignment Vienna is a drama television series aired in the United States by ABC as an element in its 1972-73 wheel series The Men.Assignment Vienna told the story of Jake Webster , an American expatriate in Vienna who was the operator of Jake's Bar & Grill, an American-style establishment near the...
. With his muscular build and cigarette-induced gravelly voice, Conrad found ratings success playing legendary tough-guy World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
Pappy Boyington
Pappy Boyington
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was a United States Marine Corps officer who was an American fighter ace during World War II. For his heroic actions, he was awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Boyington flew initially with the American Volunteer Group in the Republic of China Air Force...
in Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)
Baa Baa Black Sheep is a television series that aired on NBC from 1976 until 1978. Its premise was based on the experiences of United States Marine Corps aviator Pappy Boyington and his World War II "Black Sheep Squadron". The series was created and produced by Stephen J. Cannell...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
(retitled for its second season and in later syndication as Black Sheep Squadron), from 1976 to 1978. In 1980 he played a paraplegic coach in Coach of the Year
Coach of the Year
Many sports leagues, sportswriting associations, and other organizations confer "Coach of the Year" awards.Some of these are:*AFCA Coach of the Year *Annis Stukus Trophy...
.
In the late 1970s, he served as the captain of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
team for six editions of Battle of the Network Stars
Battle of the Network Stars
Battle of the Network Stars is the name of 19 US television specials featuring competitions among teams of popular television performers representing the three major broadcast networks at that time: ABC, CBS, and NBC.- History :...
. He played a modern day variation of James West in the short-lived secret agent series A Man Called Sloane
A Man Called Sloane
A Man Called Sloane was an American secret agent adventure television series that aired on NBC during the 1979-1980 television season. It was a Woodruff Production in association with QM Productions, and became the final series produced by Quinn Martin's company to debut .The series starred Robert...
in 1979, about the same time he reprised the role of West in a pair of made-for-TV films. He also starred in the 1978 TV miniseries Centennial
Centennial (miniseries)
Centennial is a 12-episode American television miniseriesthat aired on NBC from October 1978 to February 1979. It was based on the novel of the same name by James A. Michener. The miniseries was produced by John Wilder....
on NBC.
Conrad was widely identified in the late 1970s for his television commercials for Eveready
Energizer Holdings
Energizer Holdings is an American manufacturer of batteries and personal care products, headquartered in Town and Country, Missouri. Its most well known brands are Energizer and Eveready batteries, Schick, Wilkinson Sword and Edge shaving products, Playtex feminine hygiene and baby products, and...
batteries, particularly his placing of the battery on his shoulder and prompting the viewer to challenge its long-lasting power: "Come on, I dare ya". The commercial was frequently parodied on Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
's The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
and The Carol Burnett Show
The Carol Burnett Show
The Carol Burnett Show is a variety / sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway. It originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 278 episodes and originated from CBS Television City's Studio 33...
. In 1988, Conrad starred in a short-lived TV series called High Mountain Rangers
High Mountain Rangers
High Mountain Rangers was a weekly television series about a group of highly-trained wilderness search and rescue/law enforcement officers in Tahoe, Nevada....
with two of his sons later starring in that show's one season spin-off Jesse Hawkes. In 1990 he starred in the made for television adventure film Anything to Survive
Anything to Survive
Anything to Survive, aka. Almost Too Late, is a 1990 american adventure film directed by Zale Dalen and starring Robert Conrad, Matt LeBlanc and Emily Perkins...
along side Matt LeBlanc
Matt LeBlanc
Matthew Steven "Matt" LeBlanc is an American actor, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcoms Friends and its spin-off Joey....
and Emily Perkins
Emily Perkins
Emily Jean Perkins is a Canadian actress, known best for her co-starring role as Brigitte Fitzgerald in the movie Ginger Snaps and its two sequels, Ginger Snaps II: Unleashed and Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning. Since the late 1980s she has appeared in various films and television series.-Life...
. In 1992, Conrad played the role of the sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
in Richard Marx's Hazard
Hazard (song)
"Hazard" is a 1991 song performed by adult contemporary artist Richard Marx. It has since become one of the most popular songs by Richard Marx, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, the song spent one week atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart...
video.
Conrad took over hosting The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
's Weapons At War (later Tech Force) in 2000 following George C. Scott
George C. Scott
George Campbell Scott was an American stage and film actor, director and producer. He was best known for his stage work, as well as his portrayal of General George S. Patton in the film Patton, and as General Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrick's Dr...
's 1999 death. In 2006, Conrad recorded audio introductions for every episode of the first season of The Wild Wild West for its North American DVD release on June 6. The DVD set also included one of Conrad's Eveready battery commercials; in his introduction, Conrad stated that he was flattered to be parodied by Carson. He was inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame for his work on The Wild, Wild West series.
He appeared in the documentary film, Pappy Boyington Field, where he recounted his personal insights about the legendary Marine Corps Aviator that he portrayed in the television series. Conrad hosts a radio talk show on CRN Digital Talk Radio, Thursdays 3-5p Pacific Time.
Personal life
Robert Conrad was married to Joan Kenlay from February 23, 1952 until their divorce; that union produced five children. His second marriage, to LaVelda Fann, produced three children. After living in Bear Valley, CaliforniaBear Valley, California
Bear Valley is a census-designated place in Alpine County, California. The population was 121 at the 2010 census, down from 133 at the 2000 census. The town is accessible by State Route 4. Bear Valley is within the Stanislaus National Forest...
in the High Sierra, Conrad and Fann re-located to Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
in 2006. Conrad and Fann divorced in 2010.
In a 2008 interview, Conrad described the late Chicago "made man" and burglar Michael Spilotro
Michael Spilotro
Michael Peter "Micky" Spilotro was the brother of Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro and was an associate of the Chicago La Cosa Nostra organized crime organization referred to as "The Outfit".-Family background:...
as his "best friend". Spilotro's slaying was featured in the movie Casino
Casino (film)
Casino is a 1995 crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Scorsese...
.
Conrad was involved with a volunteer organization in Bear Valley
Bear Valley
Bear Valley may refer to:United States* Bear Valley, San Bernardino County, California, USA* Bear Valley, Arizona a valley in Santa Cruz County, Arizona* Bear Valley, Alpine County, California, USA...
known as Bear Valley Search and Rescue, also known by Bear Valley locals as "Bear Valley Slurp and Recline". The rescue organization formed the basis of High Mountain Rangers
High Mountain Rangers
High Mountain Rangers was a weekly television series about a group of highly-trained wilderness search and rescue/law enforcement officers in Tahoe, Nevada....
.
Conrad had been out of the public eye since 2003, when he was involved in a devastating car accident. Conrad was driving his Jaguar drunk on Highway 4 in the California Sierra foothills near his Calaveras County
Calaveras County, California
Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. Calaveras is the Spanish word for skulls; the county was reportedly named for the remains of Native Americans discovered by the Spanish explorer Captain Gabriel Moraga. As of the 2010 census, the county had a...
home, when he crossed over the center median and slammed head-on into a Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
being driven by 26 year old Kevin Burnett. Both men suffered serious injuries. Burnett's family blame Conrad for the death of their son two years later as a result of perforated ulcers connected to the difficult recovery he had from the crash.
Conrad was convicted of drunk driving (his blood-alcohol level was 0.22 percent, nearly three times the legal limit) and was sentenced to six months of house arrest. He also lost his driver's license for one year. During his DUI trial, court documents listed his year of birth as 1929, not 1935 listed in most entertainment biographies; the latter year would have made him 16 years old at the time of his first marriage.