• Robert Conrad is a former actor, stuntman and singer from Chicago, Illinois. • His net worth is estimated at $2 million from his acting, radio, and music career. • He made his television debut in 1958, and his most iconic roles were in Wild Wild West and Baa Baa Black Sheep. • He was married twice and had 8 children. • In 2003, he was involved in a car accident and was convicted of drunk driving.
Known for movies
The Wild Wild West (1965-1969) as James T. West / Jim West
Hawaiian Eye (1959-1963) as Tom Lopaka
Jingle All the Way (1996) as Officer Hummell
Black Sheep Squadron (1976-1978) as Maj. Greg 'Pappy' Boyington
Short Info
Short Info
Net Worth
$2 million
Date Of Birth
March 1, 1935
Spouse
LaVelda Fann, Joan Kenlay
Mark
Doing his own stunts
Fact
When he eloped, he and his wife lived under the assumed name "Robert Conrad" so their parents wouldn't find them. They only told their parents where they were in May of 1952 when his wife found out she was having a baby. They were thrilled because they figured it would be too late for their parents to annul the marriage.
Payments
Earned $100,000 per 1 hour episode from Death Ray 2000 (1981)
Conrad Robert Falk was born on 1 March 1935, in Chicago, Illinois USA, and is a former actor, stuntman and singer, probably best known from appearances in the television series’ “The Wild Wild West” in which he played Secret Service agent James T. West, and in “Baa Baa Black Sheep” as ‘Pappy’ Boyington.
The Riches of Robert Conrad
How rich is Robert Conrad? As of mid-2018, sources estimate a net worth that is at $2 million, mostly earned through a successful career in acting. He also worked on radio as a host, and recorded several songs, all of which ensured the position of his wealth.
Early Life and Education
Conrad is of part-German descent – his parents were 16 and 15 years old when they had him. They would go their separate ways soon after his birth, and his mother would marry again. Robert attended various high schools during his youth, including South Shore, Hyde Park and New Trier High Schools.
He never matriculated, dropping out to begin working full time as a truck loader and a milk delivery driver, before continuing his education. He subsequently went to Northwestern University to study the theatre arts, in hopes of pursuing an acting career. Since he resembled the actor James Dean, he was used initially in publicity stunts to help boost theater attendances of Dean’s films. He also studied singing, being taught by the father of Richard Marx, Dick Marx. In 1957 after James Dean’s death, Conrad met actor Nick Adams, who proposed that he should move to California to pursue acting.
In 1958, Robert debuted in a small part in the film “Juvenile Jungle”, which eventually led him to a support role in the film “Thundering Jets”, and his television debut in an episode of “Bat Masterson”. He soon signed an acting contract with Warner Bros, but also started releasing songs for Warner Bros. Records during the 1950s and 1960s; most of his songs never hit it big, and he only had a minor Billboard hit song entitled Bye Bye Baby. Meantime he appeared in the second season of the his TV series ‘Maverick”, before going on to make guest appearances in a variety of other Warner Bros. shows.
He was then introduced as a detective, in the popular series “77 Sunset Strip”, which led him to his own spin-off entitled “Hawaiian Eye”, which would run from 1959 to 1963. He also made an appearance in “The Gallant Men”, before starring in “Palm Springs Weekend”. Robert also signed a contract with the label Orfeon, through which he released two albums, and a few singles in Spanish. His acting work continued as well, in episodes of “Kraft Suspense Theatre”, “Young Dillinger” and “Temple Houston”.
Iconic Roles – The Wild Wild West, Baa Baa Black Sheep, and More
In 1965, Conrad was cast as the government agent James West in “The Wild Wild West’, which is considered one of his most high profile roles. The show would go on to run for four years before its eventual cancellation. He also worked other projects while starring in the show. After the show’s run, he debuted as prosecutor Paul Ryan in the television movie “D.A.: Murder One” and would go on to reprise his role in two other movies – “D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill”, and “The D.A.” He consistently made television projects up to the 1970s.
In 1976, he found success once more when he was cast as World War II fighter ace Commander ‘Pappy’ Boyington in the series “Baa Baa Black Sheep”, which would lead him to win a People’s Choice Award, and also a Golden Globe nomination. In the 1980s, Conrad would focus on production work, while continuing to star in television movies. He also did directorial and writing work during this time, and as the years passed, he found more positions away from the cameras, and appeared in front of them less and less, before retiring in 2002.
Personal Life and Relationships
Robert’s first marriage was to Joan Kenlay, and they had five children together over 25 years until divorcing in 1977. He then met his second wife LaVelda Ione Fann during the Miss National Teen-ager Pageant, which he emceed and which she won. They would go on to have three children during their marriage which began in 1983 and ended in divorce in 2010. Robert’s sons have been known to appear in television shows alongside him.
In 2003 Robert was involved in a car accident, slamming head on into another car with both drivers suffering serious injuries. He was convicted of drunk driving, and had to spend six months in house confinement with alcohol counseling, and five years’ probation. The two settled the following year for an undisclosed amount, but never truly recovered from the crash, and the other victim Burnett died from perforated ulcers in 2005, while Robert suffered severe nerve injuries which partially paralyzed his right side.
General Info
Family
Accomplishments
Social profile links
General Info
Full Name
Robert Conrad
Net Worth
$2 million
Date Of Birth
March 1, 1935
Height
1.73 m
Profession
Screenwriter, Film director, Actor, Television Director
Education
Northwestern University
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
LaVelda Fann, Joan Kenlay
Children
Shane Conrad, Nancy Conrad, Christian Conrad, Chelsea Conrad, Joan Conrad, Camille Conrad, Kaja Conrad
Parents
Jackie Smith, Leonard Henry Falkowski
Accomplishments
Awards
People's Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series
Nominations
Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Movies
Jingle All the Way, Murph the Surf, Anything to Survive, Palm Springs Weekend, Wrong Is Right, Coach of the Year, The Lady in Red, Young Dillinger, Will: G. Gordon Liddy, Smash-Up on Interstate 5, Two Fathers: Justice for the Innocent, The Fifth Missile, Samurai Cowboy, Sworn to Vengeance, Sudden De...
TV Shows
Hawaiian Eye, The Wild Wild West, The D.A., Assignment Vienna, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Centennial, A Man Called Sloane, High Mountain Rangers, High Sierra Search and Rescue, The Duke, Jesse Hawkes
[10/62, interview in Photoplay magazine] If one of the girls came to me before she had finished high school and announced that she had intended to marry a boy with no job and little education, I'd forbid it--just like a stern father in a melodrama.
2
[10/62, asked in interview in Photoplay magazine if his daughter were to marry as a teenager like he did] If some sixteen-year-old punk were to come to me and say, "Sir, I want to marry your daughter" I'd say, "Fine", and escort him to an analyst. The average boy that age isn't remotely capable--from any point of view, including the emotional--of supporting a family.
3
[3/61, interview in Motion Picture magazine] Sometimes I'm so preoccupied you have to drop a bomb to communicate with me and most of the time I only average four hours sleep. I don't mind. I wanted to work this hard.
4
[about The Wild Wild West (1965)] We always put in lot more (fighting) than we really wanted to see. (The censors) would say, "We're going to take out two punches . . . two of this . . . three of that . . . ". So when they finished,we were still left with what we really wanted anyway.
5
[11/61, interview in Photoplay magazine] I neither condemn nor condone the morals of others. I think there are very few, really, whose conduct reflects unfavorably on the rest of us in this mythical kingdom of Hollywood. There are men who need many women in order to bolster their egos--half the time, they don't remember the girl's name afterward. But I've got a good ego to start with, and I'm too sensitive for a quick relationship with a dame and sex alone would never be enough for me. Marriage is something that goes way beyond the flesh. Each human being has his own need for security . . . It's great to have someone to lean on . . . it's great to have someone lean on you.
Facts
#
Fact
1
The June 11, 1969, and also Aug. 20, editions of Variety, in its Hollywood Production Pulse column, shows Robert Conrad starring with Richard Crenna and Tippi Hedren in the movie Seven Against Kansas, directed by David Friedkin, which started filming June 10, 1969, in Almeria, Spain. No evidence if the film was ever completed.
Once was a bandsinger and made the rounds of Chicago's major hotels with bandleaders Johnny Gilbert, Jim Redd, and a jazz trio.
22
Interviewed in Tom Weaver's book "I Talked with a Zombie" (McFarland & Co., 2008).
23
Was offered the role of Hannibal Smith on The A-Team (1983), but turned it down because he preferred to produce his own projects.
24
As the star of the original TV series The Wild Wild West (1965), Conrad attended The 20th Annual Razzie Awards, snidely accepting several of the tacky statuettes on behalf of the Barry Sonnenfeld movie remake (Wild Wild West (1999)). The film swept that year's dis-honors with 5 awards, including Worst Picture of 1999.
25
He was seriously injured in a head-on car crash in 2003 in which he sustained head injuries and neuro damage that left his right hand and arm paralyzed, and slowed his speech. Convicted of DUI, he was sentenced to six months of house arrest, five years probation and alcohol counseling. He also lost his driver's license for one year.
26
18-year-old daughter Chelsea is a jazz-pop singer. Recording artist Richard Marx is set to produce her debut album.
27
Inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame for his work on The Wild Wild West (1965).
28
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as James West in The Wild Wild West (1965).
29
At the time of his former co-star Ross Martin's death in 1981, he and Conrad were in the planning stages of another "Wild, Wild West" TV series.
30
Addressed the Republican National Convention in 2004.
31
His daughter Nancy was born on his 19th birthday (March 1, 1954).
32
Tested for the role of Maj. Anthony Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie (1965).
33
Was born in Canaryville, a section of Chicago populated mainly by Irish immigrants.
34
His paternal grandfather, Stanley Falkowski, was a Polish immigrant, and his paternal grandmother, Stella Skarsecki, was born in Chicago, to Polish parents. His mother, who was the daughter of Conrad Edward Hartman and Hazel Helen Downs, had German and English ancestry.
35
Had an undefeated professional boxing record of 4-0-1.
36
As Bob Conrad he defeated Ed Hickman on points on March 15, 1962 in San Diego, California in a 6 round professional boxing match.
37
He was a Deputy Sheriff for approximately 8 years in the Bear Valley area of California where he still resides.
38
During the Battle of the Network Stars (1976), Conrad and Gabe Kaplan (Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)) had an infamous showdown. Conrad was the NBC Team Captain, Kaplan was ABC Team Captain. A dispute arose over the winner of an event, and Conrad really lost his temper, pacing and saying he wouldn't accept that the other team had won. Finally, he insisted that he and Kaplan, as team captains, have a race and the winner would win the event for their team. But Conrad had underestimated Kaplan, and Kaplan won easily, which made Conrad look pretty foolish.
When the 1999 movie remake of The Wild Wild West (1965) swept the 20th Annual Razzie Awards, "winning" 5 statuettes (including Worst Picture) Conrad, who played James West in the original 1960s TV series, accepted 3 of the awards in person as his way of expressing his low opinion of what had been done with his source material.
43
Lived with his grandmother when his mother remarried.
44
Worked as a milkman in Chicago.
45
Got fired from his job at the docks in December of 1953 for handing out a petition to get his union steward fired. His wife was six months pregnant with their second child at the time.
46
When he eloped, he and his wife lived under the assumed name "Robert Conrad" so their parents wouldn't find them. They only told their parents where they were in May of 1952 when his wife found out she was having a baby. They were thrilled because they figured it would be too late for their parents to annul the marriage.
47
Lied to get a job when he was seventeen. He had eloped with a lawyer's daughter,who was attending a religious boarding school. The only place he could think of where a kid his age could get decent wage was the loading docks in Chicago. He told them he was 21 and made $1.87 an hour -- $74.40 a week.
48
Was a star football and basketball player in middle school and high school.
49
On The Wild Wild West (1965), did most of his own stunt work, resulting in several injuries during the course of the show. During one episode's shooting, he slipped while performing a stunt and fell head first onto a concrete floor 12 feet below. Seriously injured, his recuperation delayed the series' production for nearly three months.
Lives in Bear Valley, California, a ski resort village in the High Sierra; has three young daughters, (Kaja Conrad, Camille Conrad, Chelsea Conrad), with LaVelda Fann and five other children from a previous marriage.
