Robert Conrad

2.1. Birth and Family

Robert Conrad was born Conrad Robert Falk on March 1, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. His full birth name was Conrad Robert Norton Falk. His father, Leonard Henry Falk, who was of German descent, was 17 years old at the time of Conrad's birth. His mother, Alice Jacqueline Hartman, was 15 years old when she gave birth and named her son after her father, Conrad Hartman. Alice Jacqueline Hartman later became the first publicity director of Mercury Records, where she was known professionally as Jackie Smith. She married twice; one of her marriages was to Chicago radio personality Eddie Hubbard in 1948. Eddie Hubbard and Jackie Smith reportedly had a child together around 1949 before their separation in 1958.

2.2. Childhood and Education

Conrad attended several schools in Chicago, including South Shore High School, Hyde Park High School, the YMCA Central School, and New Trier High School. At the age of 15, he decided to leave formal education to work full-time. His early jobs included loading trucks for Consolidated Freightways and Eastern Freightways, and driving a milk truck for Chicago's Bowman Dairy.

2.3. Early Career Preparation

After working in Chicago for several years, Conrad began to pursue an acting career, studying theater arts at Northwestern University. One of his first paying roles was a week-long job posing outside a Chicago theater where the film Giant (1956) was being screened. Conrad bore a notable resemblance to the film's lead actor, James Dean, and his mother utilized her contacts in the entertainment industry to help him secure this part, which was intended as a publicity stunt to boost attendance at the theater. Conrad also trained as a singer, taking vocal lessons from Dick Marx, who was the father of the renowned singer Richard Marx.

3.1. Music Career

Conrad embarked on a music career as a singer, recording under the name Bob Conrad. He released several pop/rock songs in the late 1950s and early 1960s through Warner Bros. Records, appearing on a variety of LPs, EPs, and SPs at 33-1/3 and 45 rpm. In 1961, he achieved a minor hit on the Billboard charts with his song "Bye Bye Baby", which reached No. 113. In 1964, while in Mexico, Conrad signed a recording contract with the Orfeon label, releasing two albums and several singles sung in Spanish.

3.2. Early Acting Career and Warner Bros. Contract

Conrad's acting career began to take shape in 1957 when he met actor Nick Adams at James Dean's gravesite in Fairmount, Indiana. They became friends, and Adams encouraged Conrad to move to California to pursue acting professionally. Adams helped Conrad secure a bit part in the film Juvenile Jungle (1958). Although a brief, non-speaking role, this appearance enabled Conrad to join the Screen Actors Guild. He also had a small role in the film Thundering Jets, released in the same year.

Soon after, Conrad signed an acting contract with Warner Bros.. During this period, he made appearances in several television shows, both for Warner Bros. and Ziv Television. These included an episode of the James Garner series Maverick titled "Yellow River" (1959), as well as roles in Highway Patrol, Lawman, Colt .45 (where he portrayed Billy the Kid), Sea Hunt, The Man and the Challenge, and Lock Up.

3.3. Television Career

Robert Conrad's television career was marked by several iconic roles and series that cemented his status as a prominent actor.

3.3.1. Hawaiian Eye

Following the success of its detective show 77 Sunset Strip, Warner Brothers developed Hawaiian Eye as a spin-off series. Conrad starred as detective Tom Lopaka, a role that was first introduced in an episode of 77 Sunset Strip before transitioning to his own series. Hawaiian Eye ran from 1959 to 1963, gaining popularity both in the United States and internationally. During the series' run, Conrad also made a guest appearance on an episode of the Warner Brothers series The Gallant Men.

3.3.2. The Wild Wild West

In 1965, Robert Conrad began his most iconic role as government agent James West on the weekly series The Wild Wild West, which aired on CBS until its cancellation in 1969. For his work on the show, Conrad earned 5.00 K USD per week. He was known for performing most of his own stunts and fight scenes throughout the series, a practice that occasionally led to injuries. During the filming of the fourth season episode "The Night of the Fugitives", Conrad was rushed to the hospital after a stunt went wrong; he dove from the top of a saloon staircase, lost his grip on a chandelier, fell 12 ft, and landed on his head, sustaining injuries.

While starring in The Wild Wild West, Conrad also pursued other projects. In 1967, he traveled to Mexico to appear in Ven a cantar conmigo (Come, sing with me), a musical film. He also established his own company, Robert Conrad Productions, under which he wrote, starred in, and directed the Western film The Bandits, also released in 1967.

3.4. Film Career

Robert Conrad's film career spanned various genres, from early uncredited roles to leading parts and directorial ventures. His earliest film appearances included a minor, uncredited role in Juvenile Jungle (1958) and the part of Lt. Robert 'Tiger Bob' Kiley in Thundering Jets (1958). He also had an uncredited role in Paratroop Command (1959) and appeared in the short film Red Nightmare (1962), which was shot in 1957.

In 1963, he starred as Eric Dean in Palm Springs Weekend. He appeared in the comedic film La nueva Cenicienta (also known as The New Cinderella) in 1964, portraying a character named Bob Conrad. In 1965, he played Pretty Boy Floyd in Young Dillinger, alongside his friend Nick Adams. Conrad also ventured into directing with the Western film The Bandits (1967), in which he also starred as Chris Barrett and wrote the screenplay. He appeared in the musical film Ven a cantar conmigo (Come, sing with me) in 1967, playing Roberto.

Later film roles included Allan Kuhn in Murph the Surf (1975) and Duke Smith in Sudden Death (1977). In 1979, he portrayed John Dillinger in The Lady in Red, based on a script by John Sayles. He also had an uncredited role as Chief Rowe in the comedy film Moving Violations (1985). In 1994, Conrad starred as Gabe McBride in Samurai Cowboy, which notably featured Hiromi Go. He also had a supporting role as Officer Hummell in the 1996 holiday film Jingle All the Way, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. His final film roles included New Jersey Turnpikes (1999), the short film Garbage Day (1999), and Dead Above Ground (2002).

3.5. Later Career and Other Ventures

From the 1980s onwards, Robert Conrad diversified his career beyond acting, taking on roles as a producer and radio host. He spent much of the 1980s starring in television movies, many of which were produced by his own company, A Shane Productions. In 1986, he served as a special guest referee for the main event of WrestleMania 2, a Steel Cage Match for the WWF Championship between Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy.

Conrad was widely recognized in the late 1970s and early 1980s for his television commercials for Eveready batteries. His most famous line involved placing a battery on his shoulder and challenging viewers with "Come on, I dare ya," prompting them to test the battery's long-lasting power. This commercial was frequently parodied on American television comedies, including Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show and The Carol Burnett Show.

In the 1990s, Conrad made an appearance in the music video for Richard Marx's song "Hazard", which became a No. 1 hit in 13 countries. In 2005, he ran for President of the Screen Actors Guild. The following year, in 2006, Conrad recorded audio introductions for every episode of the first season of The Wild Wild West for its North American DVD release. In one of these introductions, he expressed his flattery at being parodied by Johnny Carson. For his extensive stunt work, particularly on The Wild Wild West series, he was inducted into the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall of Fame.

Beginning in 2008, Conrad hosted a weekly two-hour national radio show titled The PM Show with Robert Conrad on CRN Digital Talk Radio. His last appearance on the radio show was on July 18, 2019, with Mike Garey as his co-host. In July 2010, he appeared in the documentary film Pappy Boyington Field, where he shared personal insights about the legendary Marine Corps aviator he had portrayed in his television series. Although he had largely retired from acting after 2002, he continued to be involved in other ventures and resided in Southern California from 2006.

4.1. Marriages and Children

Robert Conrad was married twice and had a large family. His first marriage was to Joan Kenlay, lasting 25 years from 1952 until their amicable divorce in 1977. Together, they had five children. In the same year of his divorce, 1977, he met his second wife, LaVelda Ione Fann. Conrad, standing at 5.7 ft ^{(1.73 m)} tall, was 43 years old when he emceed the Miss National Teenager Pageant, which LaVelda won. They married in 1983, and their marriage produced three children before their divorce in 2010. It was reported that his two families "got along famously." Several of his children also entered the entertainment industry; his sons, Shane Conrad and Christian Conrad, appeared with him in some television shows, as did his daughter Nancy. Another daughter, Joan, became a television producer. His children also include Kaja Conrad.

Conrad was also involved with a volunteer organization in Bear Valley, California, known as Bear Valley Search and Rescue, which later served as the basis for his television series High Mountain Rangers. In a 2008 interview, Conrad described Chicago Outfit associate and burglar Michael Spilotro as his "best friend." Spilotro's murder was notably featured in the film Casino. In 1984, Conrad was honored with a star on the Walk of Western Stars in Newhall, California, which is now part of Santa Clarita.

4.2. DUI Incident and Legal Consequences

On March 31, 2003, Robert Conrad was involved in a serious drunk driving accident while on Highway 4 in California's Sierra Nevada foothills, near his Alpine County home. He drove his Jaguar over the center median and collided head-on with a Subaru driven by 26-year-old Kevin Burnett. Both men suffered serious injuries in the crash. Subsequent investigations revealed that Conrad's blood alcohol concentration was three times the legal limit in the United States.

As a result of the incident, Conrad faced felony charges. He pleaded no contest to the charges, a plea that was accepted by the court, leading to his conviction for drunk driving. He was sentenced to six months of house confinement, mandatory alcohol counseling, and five years of probation. A civil lawsuit filed by Kevin Burnett against Conrad was settled the following year for an undisclosed amount. Tragically, in 2005, Kevin Burnett died at the age of 28 from perforated ulcers, which his family attributed to his difficult recovery from the injuries sustained in the crash. Conrad himself suffered severe nerve injuries from the accident, resulting in partial paralysis on his right side. This incident involving a public figure like Robert Conrad highlighted the serious societal implications and criticisms associated with drunk driving and its devastating consequences, underscoring the responsibility public figures have to uphold legal and ethical standards.

6.1. Awards and Honors

Conrad received a People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Actor and a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance as Pappy Boyington in the television series Baa Baa Black Sheep. For his extensive stunt work, particularly on The Wild Wild West series, he was inducted into the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall of Fame. In 1984, he was honored with a star on the Walk of Western Stars in Newhall, California (now part of Santa Clarita).

7.1. Film

7.2. Television