William Conrad | |
|---|---|
 Conrad in 1952, when he created the role of Matt Dillon on the radio version of Gunsmoke | |
| Born | John William Cann Jr. September 27, 1920 |
| Died | February 11, 1994 (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | Excelsior Union High School |
| Alma mater | Fullerton College (AA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1940–1992 |
| Known for | |
| Spouses | June Nelson
(m. 1943; div. 1957)Susan Randall
(m. 1957; died 1979)Lewis Tipton Stringer Huntley
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | National Radio Hall of Fame |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
William Conrad (born John William Cann Jr., September 27, 1920 – February 11, 1994) was an American actor, producer, and director whose entertainment career spanned five decades in radio, film, and television, peaking in popularity when he starred in the detective series Cannon.
A radio writer and actor, he moved to Hollywood after serving in World War II as a fighter pilot, and played a series of character roles in films, beginning with the film noir The Killers (1946). He originated the role of Marshal Matt Dillon for the radio series Gunsmoke (1952–1961) and narrated the television adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (1959–1964) and The Fugitive (1963–1967).
Finding fewer onscreen roles in the 1950s, he changed from actor to producer-director with television work, narration, and a series of Warner Bros. films in the 1960s. Conrad found stardom as a detective in the TV series Cannon (1971–1976) and Nero Wolfe (1981), and as district attorney Jason Lochinvar "J.L., Fatman" McCabe in the legal drama Jake and the Fatman (1987–1992).