Robert Conrad dead at 84
02-08-20, 05:25 PM
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Robert Conrad dead at 84
https://tvline.com/2020/02/08/robert...d-age-84-dies/
Veteran TV actor Robert Conrad has died, at age 84.
“He lived a wonderfully long life and while the family is saddened by his passing, he will live forever in their hearts,” family spokesman Jeff Ballard said in a statement to People.com. No other details were immediately available.
Conrad’s long TV career began with one-shots on series such as Bat Masterson, Maverick and Lawman, before he co-starred opposite Anthony Eisley in the ABC detective series Hawaiian Eye, which ran for four seasons (from 1959-63). A few years later, he headed up The Wild Wild West, science fiction/Western series that ran on CBS for four seasons (and a long while later was turned into a big-budget feature flop by Will Smith).
Next up, Conrad played Major Greg “Pappy” Boyington on Baa Baa Black Sheep, while also costarring in NBC’s Centennial miniseries. His other of many TV credits included A Man Called Sloane, High Mountain Rangers, Jesse Hawkes and High Sierra Search and Rescue . Most recently, he guested on a 1999 episode of Just Shoot Me, though it appears he is in the can a guest spot on the upcoming Nash Bridges reboot.
Conrad was also, quite famously, a fixture on the Battle of the Network Stars internetwork competition series, often serving as a most intimidating team captain, building off of his reputation as a pitchman for Eveready, where in a series of commercials he dared ya to knock the battery off his shoulder.
“He lived a wonderfully long life and while the family is saddened by his passing, he will live forever in their hearts,” family spokesman Jeff Ballard said in a statement to People.com. No other details were immediately available.
Conrad’s long TV career began with one-shots on series such as Bat Masterson, Maverick and Lawman, before he co-starred opposite Anthony Eisley in the ABC detective series Hawaiian Eye, which ran for four seasons (from 1959-63). A few years later, he headed up The Wild Wild West, science fiction/Western series that ran on CBS for four seasons (and a long while later was turned into a big-budget feature flop by Will Smith).
Next up, Conrad played Major Greg “Pappy” Boyington on Baa Baa Black Sheep, while also costarring in NBC’s Centennial miniseries. His other of many TV credits included A Man Called Sloane, High Mountain Rangers, Jesse Hawkes and High Sierra Search and Rescue . Most recently, he guested on a 1999 episode of Just Shoot Me, though it appears he is in the can a guest spot on the upcoming Nash Bridges reboot.
Conrad was also, quite famously, a fixture on the Battle of the Network Stars internetwork competition series, often serving as a most intimidating team captain, building off of his reputation as a pitchman for Eveready, where in a series of commercials he dared ya to knock the battery off his shoulder.
02-08-20, 05:51 PM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
I always thought of him as the male version of Tony Curtis. I do think some of his tough guy schtick was short man's syndrome.
He was always great on the Battle of the Network Stars shows.
He was always great on the Battle of the Network Stars shows.
02-09-20, 02:35 PM
#5
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
I was too young for his initial stardom, but remember loving him in Baa Baa Black Sheep. And thanks for mentioning Battle of the Network Stars. I had forgotten all about those, but fondly remember the shows and him in them.
02-09-20, 08:57 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
Originally Posted by Trevor
And thanks for mentioning Battle of the Network Stars. I had forgotten all about those, but fondly remember the shows and him in them.
02-10-20, 09:39 AM
#7
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
Originally Posted by Bill Needle
I always thought of him as the male version of Tony Curtis.
I thought Tony Curtis was the male version of Tony Curtis.
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Spiderbite (02-15-20)
02-10-20, 12:02 PM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
He was definitely a reality show villain long before there were reality shows.
This is the TV thread, but I liked his performance in The Lady in Red as John Dillinger. Great movie, if you've never seen it. Pretty solid cast for a Corman exploitation flick, with Oscar winner Louise Fletcher, and also Christopher Lloyd (as a REALLY bad guy, try to imagine that) and an uncredited Robert Forster. Plus it hits all the buttons of a 70s exploitation movie, with a women-in-prison segment, a bank heist, lots more. Plus Mary Woronov and Dick Miller, so that you know it's a Corman movie.
This is the TV thread, but I liked his performance in The Lady in Red as John Dillinger. Great movie, if you've never seen it. Pretty solid cast for a Corman exploitation flick, with Oscar winner Louise Fletcher, and also Christopher Lloyd (as a REALLY bad guy, try to imagine that) and an uncredited Robert Forster. Plus it hits all the buttons of a 70s exploitation movie, with a women-in-prison segment, a bank heist, lots more. Plus Mary Woronov and Dick Miller, so that you know it's a Corman movie.
02-13-20, 01:42 AM
#11
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
My friend bought his house in Thousand Oaks. It was a really sweet house.
02-18-20, 02:14 AM
#12
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
Originally Posted by Goldberg74
I grew up watching his stuff with my dad. Loved "Wild Wild West"... the TV Series.
02-18-20, 08:06 AM
#13
Re: Robert Conrad dead at 84
I was already into martial arts at when I was 7 in 1972 that's when I started watching reruns of Wild Wild West. In the original B&W version he was doing a lot; not so much in the colored version. I didn't know he was a real martial artist until years later. Was he the first to actually do martial arts on TV? I never looked it up.
