William Conrad Birthday Fun

Thanks to loyal reader Tom D., who reminded me that September 27th is the birth date of William Conrad (1920-1994.) 

Here at Escape and Suspense!, we've never really taken a moment to stop and pay our respects to Conrad, an actor who appeared in 55 episodes of Suspense, and I don't know how many episodes of Escape. Conrad claims to have appeared in 7500 radio roles during his career and that is easily possible. He played the lead role on Gunsmoke and also appeared on a number of other radio programs. William Conrad was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame posthumously in 1997.

We've already posted many of the great Escape episodes that featured William Conrad, including his impressive performance in their adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Poison." Many of the Suspense episodes in which he was a primary character have already been posted here as well. We've also covered some of the films in which appeared. (The Killers, The Naked Jungle, Cry of the Hunted, etc..)

That didn't leave me much to work with for a birthday tribute, but one aspect of his career that we haven't focused on is television. Conrad was known for the series Cannon, Nero Wolfe, and Jake and the Fatman. 

On the other side of the camera, he was a director and producer with a list of credits in film and television. Conrad was also the narrator for a number television programs, including what appears to have been a short-lived television version of Escape in 1950.

So, for some birthday fun, let's take a look at some of his more light-hearted television work:

_________________________________________________________________________________

This TvLand promo for the "Frank Cannon Diet" makes me want to watch the show...and have a snack.

_____________________________________________________________________

William Conrad's voice was featured in a number of commercials, but this one, in which Conrad walks us through an "Allerest Alert," is my favorite.

_____________________________________________________________________

In the 1960's, Conrad provided the voice for Quake cereal, which was in competition with Quisp cereal. Dawes Butler provides the voice of Quisp and Paul Frees is the announcer.

Comments

[Stacy]

..and we can't forget his work on Rocky and Bullwinkle!

[Patrick Leary]

He will always be Matt Dillon to me -- one of the greatest of radio roles, in one of the greatest of radio series.
Thanks for celebrating this wonderful actor!