William Conrad
Biography
William Conrad was an American actor, producer, and director. He was born William Cann on September 27, 1920, in Louisville, Kentucky. His father was a theatre owner who moved the family to southern California, where Conrad excelled at drama and literature in school. He began working in radio in California in the late 1930s. In 1942, he entered the army, serving as a fighter pilot in World War II, and was commissioned at Luke Field, Arizona, in 1943. On the day of his commission, he married June Nelson. Following the war, he returned to radio, estimating he accumulated over 7,000 radio roles. He passed away on February 11, 1994, at the age of seventy-three.
Career overview
William Conrad was an American actor, producer, and director who was born William Cann on September 27, 1920, in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the son of a theatre owner who moved the family to southern California, where Conrad excelled at drama and literature while at school. He began working in radio in California in the late 1930s before serving as a fighter pilot in World War II. He entered the army in 1942 and was commissioned at Luke Field, Arizona, in 1943, marrying June Nelson on the day of his commission. Following his military service, he returned to the airwaves, eventually accumulating over 7,000 roles in radio by his own estimate.
Known for his credits in acting, Conrad built an extensive career across film and television. Among his various film roles and television appearances, he is noted for his work associated with Police Squad!, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and The Man and the Challenge. Over the course of his career, he amassed 127 known acting credits.
Conrad passed away on February 11, 1994, at the age of 73. Throughout his life and career, he was also known by the name John, and he became recognized for his physical stature and voice.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
154 titles- The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- The Box (2009) as Self (voice) (uncredited)
- Hudson Hawk (1991) as Narrator (voice)
- Jake and the Fatman (1987) as Jason McCabe
- The Highwayman (1987) as Narrator
- Daws Butler: Voice Magician (1987) as Self—Host
- Matlock (1986) as James McShane
- Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo (1986) as Jim Dunn
- Killing Cars (1986) as Mr. Mahoney
- Blitz (1985) as Mr. Mahoney
- In Like Flynn (1985) as Sgt. Dominic
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Anatole Karzof
- The Mikado (1983) as The Mikado
- Hotel (1982)
- Police Squad! (1982) as Stabbed Man
- Shock-Trauma (1982) as Dr. R. Adams Cowley
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) as (in "The Killers") (archive footage)
- Nero Wolfe (1981) as Nero Wolfe
- Side Show (1981) as Ring Announcer (voice)
- Side Show (1981) Director
- Side Show (1981) Songs
- The Return of the King (1980) as Lord Denethor (voice)
- The Return of Frank Cannon (1980) as Frank Cannon
- Turnover Smith (1980) as Thaddeus Smith
- Turnover Smith (1980) Executive Producer
- The Murder That Wouldn't Die (1980) as William Battles
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) as Opening Narrator / Draconian officer (uncredited) (voice)
- Night Cries (1978) as Dr. Whelan
- Keefer (1978) as Col. Keefer
- How the West Was Won (1977) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected (1977) as Narrator
- The Making of Star Wars (1977) as Narrator (voice)
- Moonshine County Express (1977) as Jack Starkey
- The City (1977) as Narrator (voice)
- The Force of Evil (1977) as Narrator (voice)
- Catastrophe (1977) as Narrator (voice)
- The Sonny and Cher Show (1976) as Self
- The Macahans (1976) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan (1975) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Tony Orlando and Dawn (1974) as Self
- Hamburgers (1974) as self
- The F.B.I. Story: The FBI Versus Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One (1974) as Narrator (voice)
- Voices (1974) as Narrator (voice)
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Frank Cannon
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- Cannon (1971) as Frank Cannon
- The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971)
- The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971) as Self
- The D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill (1971) as Chief Vincent Kovac
- O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra (1971) as Keegan
- Cannon (1971) as Frank Cannon
- Chisum (1970) as Narrator - Opening Credits (voice) (uncredited)
- The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970) as Bart Harris
- The Dudley Do-Right Show (1969)
- The Learning Tree (1969) Executive Producer
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Arnold Wexler
- The Name of the Game (1968) Director
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- Assignment to Kill (1968) Executive Producer
- Chubasco (1968) Producer
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- The High Chaparral (1967) as China Pierce
- The Cool Ones (1967) Executive Producer
- First to Fight (1967) Executive Producer
- Countdown (1967) as TV Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)
- Countdown (1967) Executive Producer
- Chamber of Horrors (1966) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- An American Dream (1966) Producer
- The Dean Martin Show (1965)
- F Troop (1965)
- Battle of the Bulge (1965) as Narrator (uncredited)
- Battle of the Bulge (1965) as Narrator (voice)
- Two on a Guillotine (1965) as Fat Man in Hall of Mirrors (uncredited)
- Two on a Guillotine (1965) Director
- Two on a Guillotine (1965) Producer
- Brainstorm (1965) as Mental Patient (uncredited)
- Brainstorm (1965) Director
- Brainstorm (1965) Producer
- My Blood Runs Cold (1965) Director
- My Blood Runs Cold (1965) Producer
- Eggs Benedict (1965) as Narrator
- The Fugitive (1963) as Narrator
- Temple Houston (1963) Director
- The Man from Galveston (1963) Director
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Sergent Cresse
- General Electric True (1962)
- General Electric True (1962) Director
- Saints and Sinners (1962) Director
- Design for Disaster (1962) as Narrator
- Target: The Corruptors! (1961)
- Target: The Corruptors! (1961) Director
- Route 66 (1960) Director
- The Aquanauts (1960) as Corey
- The Case of the Dangerous Robin (1960) Director
- Klondike (1960) Director
- The Bullwinkle Show (1959) as Narrator (voice)
- The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (1959) as Narrator (voice)
- Lock-Up (1959) Director
- Bold Venture (1959) Director
- Men Into Space (1959) Director
- The Man and the Challenge (1959)
- -30- (1959) as Jim Bathgate
- This Man Dawson (1959) as Narrator (voice only)
- This Man Dawson (1959) Director
- The Rifleman (1958) Director
- Naked City (1958) Director
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Clark Benson
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Dick MacIntyre
- Bat Masterson (1958) Director
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Bystander (uncredited)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Clapper (uncredited)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Baseball Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) Director
- The Rough Riders (1958) Director
- Mackenzie's Raiders (1958) Director
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Moses Kadish
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) Director
- Tombstone Territory (1957) as Frank Banter
- Tombstone Territory (1957) Director
- Zero Hour! (1957) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- The Ride Back (1957) as Sheriff Chris Hamish
- The Ride Back (1957) Producer
- The Conqueror (1956) as Kasar
- Johnny Concho (1956) as Tallman
- Highway Patrol (1955) Director
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Narrator (voice)
- Gunsmoke (1955) Director
- 5 Against the House (1955) as Eric Berg
- The Naked Sea (1955) as Narrator
- The Naked Jungle (1954) as Commissioner
- Cry of the Hunted (1953) as Goodwin
- The Desert Song (1953) as Lachmed
- Lone Star (1952) as Mizette
- The Racket (1951) as Turk
- Cry Danger (1951) as Louie Castro
- The Sword of Monte Cristo (1951) as Major Nicolet
- One Way Street (1950) as Ollie
- Dial 1119 (1950) as Chuckles
- The Milkman (1950) as Mike Morrel
- East Side, West Side (1949) as Lt. Jacobi
- Any Number Can Play (1949) as Frank Sistina
- Tension (1949) as Lt. Edgar Gonsales
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Bambi (1948) as Self
- Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) as Morano
- Joan of Arc (1948) as Guillaume Erard, a Prosecutor
- Four Faces West (1948) as Sheriff Egan
- Arch of Triumph (1948) as Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
- To the Victor (1948) as Farnsworth
- Body and Soul (1947) as Quinn
- The Killers (1946) as Max
- Pillow to Post (1945) as First Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is William Conrad best known for?
William Conrad is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Box (2009), Hudson Hawk (1991), Jake and the Fatman (1987), The Highwayman (1987).
When and where was William Conrad born?
William Conrad was born on September 27, 1920 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. They passed away on February 11, 1994.
How many credits does William Conrad have?
William Conrad has accumulated over 154 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1945 to 2024.
What is William Conrad's background in cinema and television?
William Conrad was an American actor, producer, and director. He was born William Cann on September 27, 1920, in Louisville, Kentucky. His father was a theatre owner who moved the family to southern California, where Conrad excelled at drama and literature in school. He began working in radio in California in the late ...