Conrad, Connors, and O’Connor
"Just Thinking"
By the end of the 1950s, the transition from radio to television was, for the most part, a fait accompli. Shows like The Lone Ranger, The Shadow, and Gunsmoke seamlessly transferred their loyal fans to the new form of household entertainment. As television evolved, new shows emerged, and new stars became mainstream. Some transitioned from radio, others moved from the big screen, and many took advantage of the new medium to achieve mainstream success. Starting with this transition and for the next quarter century, three names—representing five actors—were constant figures on television or on the cover of TV Guide: Conrad, Connors, and O’Connor.
The first actor of note is Chuck Connors, known as the Rifleman, an athlete turned actor. Born in Brooklyn, he attended Seton Hall University on an athletic scholarship and served in the Army during World War II as a tank warfare instructor. After his service but before becoming an actor, Connors was a professional athlete. He played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs and also played for the Boston Celtics, making him a rare athlete to compete in both MLB and the NBA. Although most famously known for the series The Rifleman, which ran from 1958 to 1963 for a total of 168 episodes, he also starred in a lesser-known series, Arrest and Trial (1963–1964) for 30 episodes, and Branded, a personal favorite, from 1965 to 1966 for 48 episodes.
The other Connors is Mike, known for his role as Joe Mannix. A California boy, he attended UCLA on a basketball scholarship after serving in the Army Air Forces during World War II. Mannix was a series that ran from 1967 to 1975 for 194 episodes. Joe Mannix, a tough private investigator based in Los Angeles, was known for his fast action and classic pompadour.
While searching for information on Chuck and Mike, Carroll O’Connor’s name continually popped up, and I felt that the "Connor" in O’Connor was too close to "Connors" to pass up. O’Connor was born in the Bronx, served as a merchant marine during World War II, and later earned a degree from the University of Montana. Although not a television role, my favorite O’Connor character is his portrayal of General Colt in Kelly’s Heroes. His television career was epic; the societal impact of Archie Bunker cannot be overstated. All in the Family ran from 1971 to 1979, consisting of 206 episodes, followed by Archie Bunker’s Place, which ran from 1979 to 1983 for another 97 episodes. After leaving Archie Bunker behind, O’Connor starred as Southern police chief Bill Gillespie in In the Heat of the Night from 1988 to 1995 for 146 episodes.
Robert Conrad, born in Chicago, was famously known for his Eveready battery commercials. He would place a battery on his shoulder and challenge viewers, "Come on, I dare ya to knock it off!" Conrad rose to fame as James T. West, a suave Secret Service agent, in the hit TV series The Wild Wild West, which ran from 1965 to 1969 for 104 episodes. He also appeared in Hawaiian Eye from 1959 to 1963 for 104 episodes and Black Sheep Squadron from 1976 to 1978 for 36 episodes.
The other Conrad is William, who first gained fame as a radio actor, most notably as the original voice of Marshal Matt Dillon in the radio version of Gunsmoke from 1952 to 1961. He transitioned into television with a career that spanned many years. His most notable role was his portrayal of the portly but brilliant private investigator Frank Cannon in Cannon, which ran from 1971 to 1976 for 120 episodes. He was also a less iconic actor in several other TV series: The Fugitive (1963–1967, 120 episodes), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979, 21 episodes), Nero Wolfe (1981, 14 episodes), and The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour (1980–1982, 28 episodes).
Connors, O’Connor, and Conrad were featured in over 1,000 television episodes, plus additional character actor appearances, over a 25-year span. Their acting has left us with many great memories and set a high bar for the actors who followed.
Let me Know what you think.
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