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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Brian Patrick Clarke to Charlotte Cornwell
William Conrad Biography (1920-)
Born September 27, 1920, in Louisville, KY. Addresses: AGENT--CreativeArtists Agency, 1888 Century Park E., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90067.
Born September 27, 1920, in Louisville, KY; died of a heart attack, February11, 1994, in Hollywood, CA. Actor, producer, director, and radio announcer. Conrad is perhaps best known for his television portrayals of the portly characters detective Frank Cannon in the series Cannon which aired during the 1970s, and for his more recent role as J. L. "Fat Man" McCabe in Jake and the FatMan, in which he played a former cop turned district attorney. Conrad beganhis career after serving as a fighter pilot in World War II, making his filmdebut in The Killers in 1946. His movie credits included supporting roles infilms such as Body and Soul, The Naked Jungle, and Moonshine County Express.He also worked on the other side of the camera, directing the motion pictureThe Man from Galveston, directing and producing such films as Two on a Guillotine and Brainstorm, and serving as producer on several other films, including First to Fight, Countdown, and Assignment to Kill. On television, Conrad appeared in the series Nero Wolfe, and in the movies The Return of Frank Cannon, Conspiracy to Kill, and In Like Flynn. Furthermore, he produced and directed the series Klondike, and worked on other series, directing episodes of 77 Sunset Strip, and producing Turnover Smith. Conrad's distinctive voice was also heard over the radio as Marshall Matt Dillon in the series Gunsmoke, and ontelevision as the narrator for such programs as The Bullwinkle Show, The Fugitive, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Birth Details
- September 27, 1920
- Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Famous Works
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Credits; PRINCIPAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
- Narrator, The Bullwinkle Show, NBC, 1961-62.
- narrator, The Fugitive, ABC, 1963-67.
- title role, Cannon, CBS, 1971-76.
- narrator, The Wild, Wild World of Animals, syndicated, 1973-78.
- narrator, Tales of the Unexpected, NBC, 1977.
- narrator, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, 1979-80.
- title role, Nero Wolfe, NBC, 1981.
- J.L. McCabe, Jake and the Fat Man, CBS, 1987--.
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Credits; MOVIES
- Title role, The Return of Frank Cannon, CBS, 1980.
- title role, Turnover Smith, 1980.
- Narrator, The Return of the King. Also appeared in The Brotherhood of theBell, 1970; Conspiracy to Kill, 1970; Night Cries, 1978; The Rebels, 1979; Shocktrauma, 1982; In Like Flynn, 1985.
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Credits; PRINCIPAL TELEVISION WORK
- Producer and director, Klondike, NBC, 1960-61.
- director, 77 Sunset Strip, ABC, 1963-64.
- director, General Electric True (thirty-five episodes), CBS, 1962- 63.
- producer, Turnover Smith, 1980.
- FILM DEBUT--The Killers, Universal, 1946.
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Credits; PRINCIPAL FILM APPEARANCES
- Body and Soul, United Artists, 1947.
- Sorry, Wrong Number, Paramount, 1948.
- East Side, West Side, 1949.
- Cry Danger, R.K.O., 1951.
- The Naked Jungle, 1954.
- narrator, The Naked Sea, R.K.O., 1955.
- The Conqueror, R.K.O., 1956.
- --30--, Warner Brothers, 1959.
- Moonshine County Express, 1977.
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Credits; PRINCIPAL FILM WORK
- Director, The Man from Galveston, Warner Brothers, 1964.
- producer and director, Two on a Guillotine, Warner Brothers, 1965.
- producer and director, Brainstorm, Warner Brothers, 1965.
- producer, An American Dream, Warner Brothers, 1966.
- A Covenant with Death, Warner Brothers, 1967.
- First to Fight, Warner Brothers, 1967.
- The Cool Ones, Warner Brothers, 1967.
- producer, Countdown, Warner Brothers, 1968.
- producer, Chubasco, Warner Brothers, 1968.
- producer, Assignment to Kill, Warner Brothers, 1969.
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Credits; PRINCIPAL RADIO WORK
- Marshal Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke, 1949-60.
- announcer, KMPC, Los Angeles, CA.
Further Reference
PERIODICALS
- Chicago Tribune, February 12, 1994, p. 19.
- Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1994, p. A24.
- Times (London), February 14, 1994, p. 19.
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