William Conrad

Photo of William Conrad

Biography

With his imposing physical presence and sonorous baritone voice, actor-director-producer William Conrad enjoyed a vibrant career on and off screens across several mediums, spanning more than five decades. Although he made early onscreen appearances in noirs like "The Killers" (1946), Conrad achieved early fame as the voice of Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running radio show "Gunsmoke" (CBS Radio, 1949-1960), helping to define the role later …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Music, Other

Born

September 27, 1920

Career Milestones

Directed 35 episodes of "General Electric True Theater/General Electric True/True", a dramatic anthology series that emphasized true suspense stories

Introduced the sci-fi series "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"

Narrated "The Invaders", a QM-produced sci-fi series

Narrated the "Dudley Do-Right" segments of "The Bullwinkle Show"

Narrated the "Rocky and Bullwinkle" segments of ABC's cartoon classic, "Rocky and His Friends"

Narrated the hugely successful drama series, "The Fugitive"; first work in a Quinn Martin (QM) Production

Produced some seasons of "77 Sunset Strip", a popular detective series on ABC from the late 50s through the mid-60s

Provided the voice of the Lone Ranger on "The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour", an action-packed Saturday morning cartoon

Reprised TV role on "Jake and the Fatman"

Returned to radio and became a mainstay of network radio drama

Served as a producer-director for the Armed Forces Radio Service

Served in WWII with the US Air Force as a fighter pilot; eventually attained the rank of captain

Spent 15 years under contract as a producer-director for Warner Bros.

Starred as J L 'Fatman' McCabe, a tough district attorney who teamed with a smooth private investigator on the CBS series "Jake and the Fatman"

Starred as Marshall Matt Dillon for the 11-year run of the CBS radio series, "Gunsmoke" (dates approximate)

TV producing and directing debut, "Klondike", a period adventure series set in Alaska

TV series debut as a star, "Cannon", a QM production about a suave private investigator

Worked as a writer-announcer-director at L.A. radio station KMPC

1946

Feature acting debut, "The Killers"

1950

TV debut, narrated the CBS-TV version of the anthology radio series, "Escape"

1957

Feature producing debut, "The Ride Back", a Western

1964

Feature directing debut, "The Man From Galveston", a Western

1965

Final directing credit, "Two on a Guillotine", a Gothic melodrama (also produced)

1966

Feature executive producing debut, "An American Dream", based on a Norman Mailer novel

1968

Final producing credit, executive produced "Countdown", the first studio-backed fiction film directed by Robert Altman

1977

Hosted and narrated "Tales of the Unexpected", a QM-produced suspense anthology

1980

Recreated his most celebrated role for "The Return of Frank Cannon", a CBS TV-movie

1981

Starred as Rex Stout's literary detective "Nero Wolfe" on an NBC detective series

1986

Played the recurring role of Art Patterson on "Hotel"

1986

Played the recurring role of District Attorney Brackett on "Matlock"

1991

Final TV voice credit, provided the narration for "Of Moose and Men: The Rocky and Bullwinkle Story", a PBS special

1991

Final feature credit, narrator of "Hudson Hawk"

Awards

1971

Golden Globe Award for Actor in a Leading Role - Drama Series Or Television Movie in Cannon

1972

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in Cannon

1973

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance By an Actor In a Leading in Cannon

1974

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in Cannon