Robert Conrad at Brian's Drive-In Theater

biography

Born Conrad Robert Falk (some sources cite his name as Konrad Robert Falkowski) in Chicago on March 1, 1935, actor Robert Conrad majored in theater at Northwestern University. He married his first wife, Joan, at age 17 in 1952; the couple eventually had five children together. In order to support his growing family, he was employed as a dock worker and a milkman for a period. In addition to acting, Conrad also had a great interest in music, appearing on several local Chicago programs as a singer in the 1950s. In the early 1960s, Conrad released a few singles, and Warner Bros. released a soundtrack album from his TV series Hawaiian Eye that featured songs by Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad, and Poncie Ponce.

By the late 1950s, Robert Conrad's acting career was underway, thanks to a helping hand from his friend, actor Nick Adams. Conrad's first film appearance came in the 20th-Century Fox release Thundering Jets (1958; with Rex Reason). In 1959, Conrad signed with Warner Bros., and the studio gave him a plum role in its popular series Hawaiian Eye, which also featured Anthony Eisley and Connie Stevens. This 1959-1963 ABC TV series was a spin-off of the 1958-1964 ABC series 77 Sunset Strip. Filmed in Burbank, Hawaiian Eye proved to be a popular show, lasting four seasons. Conrad portrayed Tom Lopaka, a detective with a office by the pool of the Hawaiian Village Hotel. His partner was Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley), and in later seasons detectives Greg MacKenzie (Grant Williams) and Philip Barton (Troy Donahue) were added to the cast.

While under contract to Warner Bros., Robert Conrad acted in two films made by the studio: the propaganda short Red Nightmare (1962; with Jeanne Cooper and Peter Brown) and Palm Springs Weekend (1963; with Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, and Ty Hardin). When Conrad's contract with Warner Bros. ended, the actor then took few roles in B movies, including The New Cinderella (1964) and Young Dillinger (1965; with Nick Adams, John Ashley, and Mary Ann Mobley). But his next role would be the one for which he is best remembered, as Jim West in the cutting-edge action/western CBS-TV series The Wild, Wild West (1965-1969). This role proved difficult for Robert Conrad to nail down. Originally, Rory Calhoun was to portray Jim West but backed out of the role. Also, John Derek auditioned and nearly got the part, but producers chose Robert Conrad, in part because he was capable of doing his own stunts. As a result he was injured several times on the set. During the shooting of one episode, he slipped while performing a stunt and fell head first onto a concrete floor twelve feet below. Conrad was seriously injured, delaying production on the series for nearly three months.

the films of robert conrad

Hawaiian Eye (1959-1963 ABC TV Series)

Images from the 1959-1963 series Hawaiian Eye. The left photo features Conrad in the back seat with Anthony Eisley, Connie Stevens, and Poncie Ponce

Palm Springs Weekend (1963)

LEFT: Ty Hardin gets the better of spoiled rich kid Robert Conrad in the Warner Bros. flick Palm Springs Weekend. RIGHT: With Connie Stevens

Young Dillinger (1965)

Nick Adams, Robert Conrad, and John Ashley

Helen Stephens, Dan Terranova, Beverly Powers, Robert Conrad, Nick Adams, Mary Ann Mobley, John Ashley, and Joy Harmon

Images from the Allied Artists release Young Dillinger. LEFT: With Nick Adams as John Dillinger, Robert Conrad as Pretty Boy Floyd, and John Ashley as Baby Face Nelson. RIGHT: With Helen Stephens, Dan Terranova, Beverly Powers, Nick Adams, Mary Ann Mobley, John Ashley, and Joy Harmon

The Wild, Wild West (1965-1969 CBS TV Series)

LEFT and CENTER A: Conrad as Jim West with co-star Ross Martin as Artemus Gordon in The Wild, Wild West. Martin passed away in 1981. CENTER B, C, and RIGHT: Conrad as Jim West, an undercover agent for President Grant's administration

Adventures of Nick Carter (1972)

From the ABC TV thriller Adventures of Nick Carter with Shelley Winters

Live a Little, Steal a Lot (1975)

Don Stroud, Robert Conrad, and Donna Mills

LEFT and CENTER: With Don Stroud. RIGHT: With Don Stroud and Donna Mills

Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976-1978 NBC TV Series)

From Baa Baa Black Sheep

Wrong Is Right (1982)

Conrad as General Wombat in Columbia's Wrong Is Right

Jesse Hawkes (1989 TV Series)

Shane Conrad, Robert Conrad, and Christian Conrad

Conrad as Jesse Hawkes with his sons Shane Conrad (left) and Christian Conrad (right) as co-stars

later years

Robert Conrad's series Baa Baa Black Sheep premiered on NBC in September 1976. While the series had many fans, it was in a difficult time slot, and NBC canceled the series in 1977. However, NBC revived the series later that same year after many of the network's new programs tanked due to poor ratings. In 1978, Conrad was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance on Baa Baa Black Sheep, but NBC decided once again to cancel the series. Conrad also starred in the TV series Jesse Hawkes, High Mountain Rangers, and A Man Called Sloane.

The actor retired from acting following a debilitating car accident in March 2003 and underwent grueling physical therapy and several surgeries. He recovered from the accident and hosted a long-running talk radio show on CRN Digital Talk Radio titled The Wild, Wild PM Show. Sadly, Robert Conrad passed away on February 8, 2020 at the age of 84. He was survived by his children and grandchildren.