Report: Actor Robert Conrad Dies At Age 84

LA CBS ^ | Feb. 8, 2020

[Rastus]

Actor Robert Conrad has died at the age of 84, according to a report.

The exact cause and location of his death were not immediately confirmed.

[\/\/ayne]

Tman Martial Arts Magazine

Robert Conrad: -My martial arts began in 1957 and the "Wild, Wild West" went on the air in 1965. I did martial arts in 1960 with a guy named Bob Heron. I watched Toshiro Mifune’s moves (famed Japanese Samurai Actor) in the "Seven Samurai" (movie) and was amazed at his agility. I had to literally search to find an instructor back then, Ed Parker was coming from Hawaii and was not well know back then. No one knew Chuck Norris yet or Bill Wallace, etc.

The martial arts started to filter in at that time and I started by watching Toshiro Mifune. If someone asked me whom I feel is the best action actor of all time I would have to say Toshiro Mifune.

Ben Smith: You did your own stunts back then…do you ever complain about actors that are in action movies not doing their own stunts?

Robert Conrad: No. I am not judgmental. I don’t like to put down people and this machismo that I have was given to me by my mother, who was concerned about bringing up a boy without a father in the home. She worked on my confidence by putting me in the ring when I was six! My mother really did help me gain confidence in myself.

Ben Smith: What style did you train in?

Robert Conrad: The name of the first art I studied was "Kajukenbo", then I went into "Shotokan" and now we know there are so many different Japanese arts that evolved from "Shotokan". My original instructor was John Leone. When we did Wild, Wild West, I incorporated the styles I was introduced to as well as Flamenco dancing into a choreographed fluidity for the show and that was back in 1965.

Ben Smith: It seems dancing is very good in learning and developing balance. Bruce Lee was the Cha-Cha champion in Hong Kong when he was a teen, which proved to be as beneficial as his martial arts expertise when he got into movies.

I found the above looking for something I read or heard him say about his fighting style - that it incorporated a form of Chicago street fighting he learned growing up. A clue in the interview has his mother putting him "in the ring" at 6! Robert Conrad certainly had a unique fighting style. The time I talked to him he said his great pals were "the henchmen" on Wild Wild West. Whoever the bad guy was; his henchmen were the same guys wearing disguises.

[jmacusa]

I used to love “The Wild, Wild West’’. Never missed an episode.

[ChildOfThe60s]

I am a manly man indeed so that it does not hurt my masculinity to say that it is obvious why women found him attractive.

Hell’s bells, I would like to have been that good looking. LOL

[txnativegop]

I have seen History/Discovery channel shows that recreated the “Baghdad” battery and they showed that is was possible to electro-plate with it. Now whether it actually happened or not, that is anyone’s guess.

[yarddog]

I think the Hellcat originally caught the Japanese by surprise. They had developed tactics for use against the Wildcat. When they tried them against the Hellcat they did not work.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Well, it’s Hollywood. Look what they did to Lord of the Rings and Dune.

[LeonardFMason]

He also pulled a girl’s ponytail in the 3rd grade. Don’t forget that.

[CrazyIvan]

“It was one heck of a fighter but I think the Hellcat was just as successful.”

19:1

[Huskrrrr]

RIP Pappy!

[Joe 6-pack]

Amazing thing is, even as propellor driven aircraft go, the Hellcat was thought to be growing obsolete as the Pacific war proceeded, and was slated to be replaced by the F8 Bearcat before the war abruptly was ended by the A-Bomb.

[Vendome]

Guy had a chip on his shoulders for years...

[FXRP]

“Radio’s Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke) has passed away! Anyone remember hearing him on radio?”

William Conrad (Cannon) had a fabulous radio voice. Remember two stupid shows from the 70’s named Automan and Manimal? That was William Conrad saying, “And now... MANIMAL!” and “And now... AUTOMAN!!”

[Vendome]

Wonder if anyone will get my joke...

[sushiman]

Nobody has mentioned his starring on Hawaiian Eye ( 1959-1963 ) which is one of my fave shows from that era and I have the complete series on DVD here with me in Japan . Will watch a couple of eps. tonight in his honor . Of course loved him in Wild Wild West too when I was a kid . Never missed that show and had to fight with my 4 sisters in order to watch it as we had just one set .

[TrueFact]

Pappy Boyington was a total renegade in real life. Spouse met him at an airshow a long time ago and talked with him for quite awhile. Spouse is not easily impressed up or down but he was impressed with Pappy...on the downside.

[yarddog]

A guy I used to know told me of a conversation he had with Tex Hill. He said Boyington was not well liked by the other Flying Tigers but they did admire his flying.

[wally_bert]

I still remember those ads.

[wally_bert]

Hutch the mechanic did.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

And we just watched him 2 months ago as Pasquinale on the Centennial mini series DVD set.

[FXRP]

Both Conrads, Robert and William