- published: 16 Mar 2015
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William Conrad (born John William Cann, Jr.; September 27, 1920 – February 11, 1994) was an American actor, producer and director whose career spanned five decades in radio, film and television.
A radio writer and actor, he moved to Hollywood after his World War II service and played a series of character roles in films beginning with the quintessential film noir, The Killers (1946). He created the role of Marshall Matt Dillon for the popular radio series, Gunsmoke (1952–1961), and narrated the television adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (1959–1964) and The Fugitive (1963–1967).
Finding fewer on-screen roles in the 1950s, he transitioned from actor to producer-director with television work and a series of Warner Bros. films in the 1960s. Conrad found stardom as a detective in the TV series Cannon (1971–1976) and Nero Wolfe (1981), and in the crime drama Jake and the Fatman (1987–1992).
Conrad was the son of a theatre owner who moved his family to California when William was a boy. Excelling at drama and literature at school, he began his career as an announcer, writer, and director for Los Angeles radio station KMPC in the late 1930s. Conrad served as a fighter pilot in World War II. On the day he was commissioned in 1943 at Luke Field, he married June Nelson. He left the US Army Air Force with the rank of captain, and as a producer-director of the Armed Forces Radio Service.
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast ~ William Conrad 1973
"CANNON" - William Conrad - Bloopers
THE DEATH OF WILLIAM CONRAD
William Conrad narrates "The Twelve Days of Christmas" X-Rated!!!
Dean Martin, William Conrad, William Holden & Dan Rowan - Supermarket
William Conrad - Moon River 1977
Dean Martin & William Conrad - Accountants Convention
Telly Savalas, William Conrad & Erik Ode bei Am laufenden Band 1975
Dean Martin, William Conrad, Dom DeLuise & The Dingalings - Nursery Rhyme Trial
William Conrad's Very Bad Day (NSFW)
Dean Martin, William Conrad, Dom DeLuise & Nipsey Russell - Barbershop Sketch
Gunsmoke "The Stage Holdup" William Conrad CBS 1/2/54 Oldtime Radio Drama Western
High Flight recited by William Conrad
The William Conrad Alert!