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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 10 February 2020

Robert Conrad, star of "The Wild, Wild West," dies at 84

LOS ANGELES (Associated Anthony Eisley. They oper- Sheep" followed in 1976 "Wrong Is Right."
Press) — Robert Conrad, ated out of a fancy office and was roughly based on At the same time, he found
the rugged, contentious overlooking the pool at a an autobiography by Ma- plenty of time for argu-
actor who starred in the popular Waikiki hotel. rine Corps ace and Medal ments.
hugely popular 1960s tele- The two private eyes alter- of Honor recipient Gregory Throughout Hollywood,
vision series "Hawaiian Eye" nated on simple investiga- "Pappy" Boyington, who Conrad had a reputation
and "The Wild, Wild West," tions with help from the is- wrote of the raucous fliers as a tough customer and
died Saturday. He was 84. land's colorful characters, he commanded during was sued more than a half-
The actor died of heart fail- including a singer named World War II. dozen times as a result of
ure in Malibu, California, Cricket Blake (Connie Ste- Conrad played Pappy Boy- fist fights. Playing himself in
family spokesperson Jeff vens) and a ukulele-strum- ington, so nicknamed be- a 1999 episode of the TV
Ballard said. A small pri- ming taxi driver named Ka- cause he often rescued his series "Just Shoot Me," he
vate service is planned for zuo (Poncie Ponce). pilots from severe punish- lampooned his threaten-
March 1, which would have After five seasons with the ment. Bringing his custom- ing, tough-guy persona. He
been his 85th birthday. show, Conrad went on to ary intensity to the role, he was also featured in 1970s
"He lived a wonderfully long embrace the television even learned to fly. commercials for Eveready
life and while the family is craze of the time, period The CBS series was enjoyed Batteries, with a battery
saddened by his passing, Westerns, but with a decid- by male viewers but not In this June 13, 2013, file photo, on his shoulder, a menac-
he will live forever in their edly different twist. so much by women and it actor Robert Conrad poses ing stare and a popular
hearts," Ballard said. In "The Wild, Wild West," was dropped after its first for photographers during catchphrase, "I dare you to
the closing ceremony of the
With his good looks and which debuted in 1965, he season. It was revived in 2013 Monte Carlo Television knock this off."
strong physique, Conrad was James T. West, a James December 1977 as "Black Festival, in Monaco. "I'm only about 5-feet-8
was a rising young actor Bond-like agent who used Sheep Squadron," after the Associated Press and only weigh 165 pounds
when he was chosen for innovative tactics and fu- network's new shows failed TV fame elevated him to as of this morning, so I'm not
the lead in "Hawaiian Eye." turistic gadgets (futuristic to find audiences. stardom, starting in 1966 the world's meanest guy,"
He became an overnight for the 1800s anyway) to It continued on for another with "Young Dillinger," in he told an interviewer in
star after the show debuted battle bizarre villains. He season. which he played Pretty Boy 2008.
in 1959. was ably assisted by Ross Conrad, meanwhile, inter- Floyd. Other films included "If you treat me nicely, I'll
Conrad played Tom Lopa- Martin's Artemus Gordon, a spersed his long, success- "Murph the Surf," "The Ban- treat you nicer," he added.
ka, a daring private inves- master of disguise. ful TV career with numer- dits" (which he also direct- "If you're rude to me, put
tigator whose partner was The show aired until 1970. ous roles in films. After a ed), "The Lady in Red" (this your headgear on. Here it
Tracy Steele, played by The series "Baa Baa Black couple of small parts, his time as John Dillinger) and comes."q