Robert Conrad, star of the small screen in The Mysteries of the West or The Hotheads, has passed away at the age of 84.
"He lived an incredibly long life and, despite the fact that his family is saddened by his passing, he will live forever in their hearts."
Jeff Ballard – spokesman for Robert Conrad
Little known for his film career (barely a dozen films to his credit), it is thanks to the series The Mysteries of the West that Robert Conrad becomes an icon of television. The actor will impress the audience with his sporting skills. A former featherweight boxer, Conrad performed his own stunts, adding credit to his acting performances. The series ended in 1969 (only to reappear on the big screen in 1999, starring Will Smith).
He will later play the spy Jake Webster in the series The Man from Vienna as well as the role of "Pappy" in The Hotheads. There was also an appearance in the cult crime series Columbo in 1974. He will be rarer on the screen from the 1980s, continuing to appear in TV movies or commercials.
Conrad was again publicized in 2003 for sad reasons. Having driven his car while intoxicated, he collided with the vehicle of a certain Kevin Burnett, a young man of 26 years. The latter died in 2005, following medical complications related to the accident. Conrad will be under house arrest for 6 months and will lose his driver's license.
The actor's last television appearance was in 2000, in the series Nash Bridge. However, he hosted a radio show from 2008: "The PM Show with Robert Conrad".
Robert Conrad leaves behind eight children, three of whom followed in their father's footsteps to pursue careers as actors.
