• 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

Short Info

Net Worth$2 million
Date Of BirthMarch 1, 1935
SpouseLaVelda Fann, Joan Kenlay
MarkDoing his own stunts
FactWas born in Canaryville, a section of Chicago populated mainly by Irish immigrants.
PaymentsEarned $5,000 per week from The Wild Wild West (1965)



Who is Robert Conrad?

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.

An Acting Career

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

Full NameRobert Conrad
Net Worth$2 million
Date Of BirthMarch 1, 1935
Height1.73 m
ProfessionScreenwriter, Film director, Actor, Television Director
EducationNorthwestern University
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseLaVelda Fann, Joan Kenlay
ChildrenShane Conrad, Nancy Conrad, Christian Conrad, Chelsea Conrad, Joan Conrad, Camille Conrad, Kaja Conrad
ParentsJackie Smith, Leonard Henry Falkowski

Accomplishments

AwardsPeople's Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series
NominationsGolden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
MoviesJingle 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 ShowsHawaiian 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

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Smoky, gravelly voice.
2Doing his own stunts
3His exceptional athletic skills

Salary

TitleSalary
Death Ray 2000 (1981)$100,000 per 1 hour episode
The Wild Wild West (1965)$5,000 per week
Hawaiian Eye (1959)$300 per week

Quotes

#Quote
1[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
1The 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.
2Turned down George Gaynes role in Police Academy (1984), which he later regretted.
3Resides in Malibu, California.
4Despite high ratings High Mountain Rangers (1987) got canceled after 1 season.
5Began his career as a contract player for Warner Bros. in 1956.
6Had hired fellow actor Michael Landon to direct some episodes of Black Sheep Squadron (1976), but was too busy working on Little House on the Prairie (1974), at the same network that 'Black Sheep Squadron,' was on, which was NBC.
7Up until 2010, Conrad lived in Thousand Oaks, California.
8His mother, Alice Jacqueline Hartman, died in 1981, at age 62.
9Graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1953.
10His mother, Alice Jacqueline Hartman, was as a PR business, and his father, Leonard Henry Falkowski, was a construction worker.
11Had a yacht.
12Acting mentors and friends of Larry Manetti, Dirk Blocker and Russell Todd.
13Former neighbor of Carroll O'Connor.
14Long time best friend of Red West.
15Met Julie London at Jack Webb's house, when he was only a young man.
16Became friends with Dirk Blocker's father, Dan Blocker, years before Dirk received a co-starring role on Black Sheep Squadron (1976).
17Friends with: Robert Fuller, James Drury, Doug McClure, John Smith, Adam West, Shirley Jones, Angela Lansbury, Florence Henderson, Peter Graves and his brother, James Arness, Ken Curtis, Telly Savalas, Julie London, Bobby Troup, Randolph Mantooth, John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Chuck Connors, Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas, Dana Elcar, Betsy Palmer, Steve McQueen, Yul Brynner, Barbara Stanwyck, Harry Morgan, Alan Hale Jr., Dawn Wells, Ernest Borgnine, James Garner, Michael Landon, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Frankie Laine, Abby Dalton, Ruta Lee, Michele Lee, Jack Webb, Carroll O'Connor, Larry Hagman, Robert Horton, James Best, Raymond Burr, Pernell Roberts, Anthony Eisley, Connie Stevens, Larry Manetti, Dan Blocker, Stephen J. Cannell, Tom Selleck, William Schallert, Ross Martin, Mickey Rooney, Beverly Garland, Patti Page, Anna Lee and Jeanne Cooper.
18Three veterans of The Wild Wild West (1965), stuntman Whitey Hughes, makeup artist Ken Chase and actor Richard Kiel, reminisce about the series and star Conrad in the book "A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde" (McFarland, 2010) by Tom Weaver.
19His idols are Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and John Garfield.
20Grandfather of actor Jesse Erwin.
21Once was a bandsinger and made the rounds of Chicago's major hotels with bandleaders Johnny Gilbert, Jim Redd, and a jazz trio.
22Interviewed in Tom Weaver's book "I Talked with a Zombie" (McFarland & Co., 2008).
23Was offered the role of Hannibal Smith on The A-Team (1983), but turned it down because he preferred to produce his own projects.
24As 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.
25He 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.
2618-year-old daughter Chelsea is a jazz-pop singer. Recording artist Richard Marx is set to produce her debut album.
27Inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame for his work on The Wild Wild West (1965).
28Best remembered by the public for his starring role as James West in The Wild Wild West (1965).
29At 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.
30Addressed the Republican National Convention in 2004.
31His daughter Nancy was born on his 19th birthday (March 1, 1954).
32Tested for the role of Maj. Anthony Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie (1965).
33Was born in Canaryville, a section of Chicago populated mainly by Irish immigrants.
34His 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.
35Had an undefeated professional boxing record of 4-0-1.
36As Bob Conrad he defeated Ed Hickman on points on March 15, 1962 in San Diego, California in a 6 round professional boxing match.
37He was a Deputy Sheriff for approximately 8 years in the Bear Valley area of California where he still resides.
38During 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.
39Father-in-law of Timothy 'Toes' Erwin.
40Played the drums and the trumpet
41Speaks Spanish.
42When 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.
43Lived with his grandmother when his mother remarried.
44Worked as a milkman in Chicago.
45Got 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.
46When 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.
47Lied 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.
48Was a star football and basketball player in middle school and high school.
49On 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.
50Attended Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).
51Father of actors Christian Conrad, Nancy Conrad, Shane Conrad and producer Joan Conrad.
52Lives 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.
53Born at 3:34pm-CST.

Pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mario and the Mob1992TV MovieMario Dante
Anything to Survive1990TV MovieEddie Barton
Jesse Hawkes1989TV SeriesJesse Hawkes
Glory Days1988TV MovieMike Moran
Police Story: Gladiator School1988TV MovieOfficer Charles 'Chick' Stacy
High Mountain Rangers1987-1988TV SeriesJesse Hawkes
J.J. Starbuck1987TV Series
One Police Plaza1986TV MovieLt. Daniel B. Malone
Charley Hannah1986TV MovieCapt. Charley Hannah
Assassin1986TV MovieHenry Stanton
The Fifth Missile1986TV MovieCmdr. Mark Van Meer
Moving Violations1985Chief Rowe (uncredited)
Two Fathers' Justice1985TV MovieBill Stackhouse
The Irv Kupcinet Show1984TV SeriesInterviewee
Hard Knox1984TV MovieCol. Joe Knox
Confessions of a Married Man1983TV Movie
Wrong Is Right1982Gen. Wombat
The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour1982TV Series
Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy1982TV MovieGeorge Gordon Battle Liddy (G. Gordon Liddy)
Coach of the Year1980TV MovieJim Brandon
More Wild Wild West1980TV MovieJim West
A Man Called Sloane1979TV SeriesThomas Remington Sloane III Thomas R. Sloane
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do1979TV MovieFrank Scapa
The Lady in Red1979John Dillinger
The Wild Wild West Revisited1979TV MovieJim West
The Duke1979TV SeriesOscar 'Duke' Ramsey
Centennial1978-1979TV Mini-SeriesPasquinel
Black Sheep Squadron1976-1978TV SeriesMaj. Greg 'Pappy' Boyington
Sudden Death1977Duke Smith
Smash-Up on Interstate 51976TV MovieSergeant Sam Marcum
Murph the Surf1975Allan Kuhn
The Last Day1975TV MovieBob Dalton
Columbo1974TV SeriesMilo Janus
Assignment: Vienna1972-1973TV SeriesJake Webster
Mission: Impossible1968-1972TV SeriesBobby / Press Allen / Eddie Lorca
Adventures of Nick Carter1972TV MovieNick Carter
The D.A.1971-1972TV SeriesDeputy D.A. Paul Ryan
Adam-121971TV SeriesDeputy D.A. Paul Ryan
Five Desperate Women1971TV MovieMichael Wylie
D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill1971TV MovieDeputy D.A. Paul Ryan
Weekend of Terror1970TV MovieEddie
Keene1969as Bob Conrad
D.A.: Murder One1969TV MoviePaul Ryan
Mannix1969TV SeriesMitch Cantrell
The Wild Wild West1965-1969TV SeriesJames T. West Jim West
The Bandits1967Chris Barrett
Ven a cantar conmigo1967Bob
Young Dillinger1965'Pretty Boy' Floyd
Kraft Suspense Theatre1965TV SeriesGary Kemp
La nueva Cenicienta1964Bob Conrad
Temple Houston1964TV SeriesMartin Purcell
Palm Springs Weekend1963Eric Dean
Hawaiian Eye1959-1963TV SeriesTom Lopaka
Red Nightmare1962ShortPete
77 Sunset Strip1959-1962TV SeriesTom Lopaka
The Gallant Men1962TV SeriesSgt. Griff Benedict
Lock Up1959TV SeriesHarry Connors
The Man and the Challenge1959TV SeriesBill Howard
Sea Hunt1959TV SeriesHal Peters / The Boat Captain
Colt .451959TV SeriesBilly the Kid
Lawman1959TV SeriesDavey Catterton
Highway Patrol1959TV SeriesTommy Chugg
Maverick1959TV SeriesDavie Barrows
Bat Masterson1959TV SeriesJuanito
Thundering Jets1958Lt. Robert 'Tiger Bob' Kiley
Juvenile Jungle1958Bit Part (uncredited)
Dead Above Ground2002Reed Wilson
Nash Bridges2000TV SeriesCaltrans Guy
Garbage Day1999ShortGarbage Thrower
New Jersey Turnpikes1999
Jingle All the Way1996Officer Hummell
High Sierra Search and Rescue1995TV SeriesGriffin 'Tooter' Campbell
Search and Rescue1994TV MovieTooter
Samurai Cowboy1994Gabe McBride
Two Fathers: Justice for the Innocent1994TV MovieStackhouse
Sworn to Vengeance1993TV MovieSergeant Stewart
The Kennedy Assassinations1992TV MovieHost

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Past Due2016attached pre-production
Jesse Hawkes1989TV Series 1 episode
Glory Days1988TV Movie
High Mountain Rangers1987-1988TV Series 2 episodes
A Man Called Sloane1979TV Series 1 episode
The Duke1979TV Series 1 episode
Black Sheep Squadron1977-1978TV Series 3 episodes
The Bandits1967

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
High Sierra Search and Rescue1995TV Series creator - 1 episode
High Mountain Rangers1988TV Series story - 2 episodes
Hard Knox1984TV Movie story
The Bandits1967story
Hawaiian Eye1962TV Series story - 1 episode

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Wild Wild WestTV Series 1 episode, 1968 performer - 1 episode, 1969

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Pioneers of Television2011TV Mini-Series documentaryHimself / James West from Wild Wild West
Memories of Centennial2008Video shortHimself
CBS at 752003TV Special documentaryHimself
Just Shoot Me!1999TV SeriesHimself
E! Mysteries & Scandals1999TV Series documentaryHimself
E! True Hollywood Story1999TV Series documentaryHimself
Vicki!1993-1994TV SeriesHimself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien1994TV SeriesHimself
One on One with John Tesh1992TV SeriesHimself
Weapons at War1991TV SeriesHimself
The 23rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards1988TV SpecialHimself
The 1986 Jewish National Funds Annual Tree of Life Awards1986TV SpecialHimself
All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood1986TV SpecialHimself
NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration1986TV Special documentaryHimself
WrestleMania 21986TV MovieHimself - Guest Referee
All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan1985TV SpecialHimself
Stroh's Circle of Sports1985TV SeriesHimself - Host
Battle of the Network Stars XV1983TV SpecialHimself - Host
That's TV1982TV MovieHimself
Saturday Night Live1982TV SeriesHimself - Host / Various
The Regis Philbin Show1982TV SeriesHimself
The Way They Were1981TV Special
Hour Magazine1981TV SeriesHimself
Battle of the Network Stars VIII1980TV SpecialHimself - Noncontestant
Battle of the Network Stars VII1979TV SpecialHimself - NBC Team
The 31st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1979TV SpecialHimself - Presenter: Outstanding Program & Outstanding Special Events
The Mike Douglas Show1975-1979TV SeriesHimself - Actor / Himself - Co-Host
Battle of the Network Stars VI1979TV SpecialHimself - NBC Team Captain
Battle of the Network Stars V1978TV SpecialHimself - NBC Team Captain
Donny and Marie1978TV SeriesHimself
Everyday1978TV SeriesHimself
America 2-Night1978TV SeriesHimself
Dinah!1978TV SeriesHimself
The Hollywood Squares1967-1978TV SeriesHimself
The 4th Annual People's Choice Awards1978TV SpecialHimself
ABC's Silver Anniversary Celebration1978TV SpecialHimself
The 35th Annual Golden Globe Awards1978TV Movie documentaryHimself - Nominee
Circus of the Stars #21977TV SpecialHimself - Performer
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 21977TV MovieHimself
Superstunt1977TV Special
Battle of the Network Stars III1977TV SpecialHimself - NBC Team
The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1977TV SpecialHimself - Presenter
The Frank Rosenthal Show1977TV SeriesHimself
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes1977TV MovieHimself
Battle of the Network Stars II1977TV SpecialHimself - NBC Team Captain
The 3rd Annual People's Choice Awards1977TV SpecialHimself - Winner: Favourite Male Performer in a New Television Show
Battle of the Network Stars1976TV SpecialHimself - NBC Team Captain
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1976TV SeriesHimself
Don Adams' Screen Test1975TV Series
The Irv Kupcinet Show1971TV SeriesHimself
Dateline: Hollywood1967TV SeriesHimself
The Joey Bishop Show1967TV SeriesHimself
Here's Hollywood1962TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Biography1995TV Series documentaryHimself

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1979Bronze WranglerWestern Heritage AwardsFictional Television DramaCentennial (1978)
1977People's Choice AwardPeople's Choice Awards, USAFavorite Male Performer in a New TV ProgramTied with Dick Van Dyke

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1978Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USABest Actor in a Television Series - DramaBaa Baa Black Sheep (1976)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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