William Conrad

Biography

William Conrad (September 27, 1920 - February 11, 1994) was a prominent American actor, producer, and director. Originally named William Cann, he was born in Louisville, Kentucky, into a family involved in the theatre industry. His family later relocated to Southern California, where he developed a strong affinity for drama and literature during his education. Conrad began his career in radio in the late 1930s, and his service as a fighter pilot in World War II began in 1942. He was commissioned at Luke Field, Arizona (now Luke Air Force Base), in 1943, the same day he married June Nelson. Following the war, he returned to radio, amassing an impressive portfolio of over 7,000 roles by his own estimates.

Conrad was often cast in film roles that depicted menacing characters, with his breakthrough credited role being in the 1946 movie The Killers, where he played a gunman targeting Burt Lancaster. His filmography also includes appearances in notable works such as Body and Soul (1947), Sorry, Wrong Number, Joan of Arc (both from 1948), and The Naked Jungle (1954).

As a producer at Warner Brothers, he was involved in several feature films, including An American Dream (1966, later re-titled for its British release), A Covenant With Death (1966), First to Fight (1967), and The Cool Ones (1967). Additionally, he directed My Blood Runs Cold, Brainstorm, and Two on a Guillotine, all released in 1965.