About
"They only see what I want them to see, what I'm selling -- an image."
In his two-hour interview, Robert Conrad (1935-2020) describes his early years as an athlete, singer, and actor in Chicago, before he set out to look for professional acting work in Hollywood. He talks about his early auditions, learning to do his own stunts, and being signed as a contract player by William T. Orr for Warner Bros. Television. He tells of landing a role as a series regular on Hawaiian Eye and describes the premise of the series. He then details the series with which he is most closely associated, The Wild Wild West, on which he played the lead, "James T. West." Conrad recalls performing his own stunts for the show, discusses working with his co-star Ross Martin, and notes the series' cancellation due to political pressure about violence on television. Conrad then speaks of his lead role as Gregory "Pappy" Boyington in the series Baa-Baa Black Sheep (later titled Black Sheep Squadron) and his association with the real-life World War II hero he portrayed. He also recounts his work on the miniseries Centennial, his participation as NBC team captain on Battle of the Network Stars specials, and his Eveready battery commercials, which featured him placing a battery on his shoulder and looking into the camera demanding, "I dare you to knock this off," as well as directing for television. Gary J. Rutkowski conducted the interview on August 30, 2006 in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Highlights

Robert Conrad on his character, "James T. West," on The Wild, Wild West

Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West

Robert Conrad on his chemistry with The Wild, Wild West co-star Ross Martin

Robert Conrad on leaving and returning to Hawaiian Eye in a contract dispute with the studio

Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial

Robert Conrad on losing to Gabe Kaplan on Battle of the Network Stars
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early singing career; on training as an actor and his first professional acting job; on doing publicity for "Giant"; on moving to Hollywood
On the first time he saw television; on getting his first agent; on learning to do stunts; on early jobs in television; on being under contract at Warner Bros.
On auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye; on his increasing popularity
Chapter 2
On the premise of Hawaiian Eye; on studio head William T. Orr; on auditioning for The Wild, Wild West; on his character and stunts on The Wild, Wild West
On director Irving J. Moore and original producer Fred Freiberger; on guest stars and critical reaction to The Wild, Wild West
Chapter 3
On The Wild, Wild West props and opening sequence; on the cancellation and legacy of The Wild, Wild West
On Mission: Impossible; on being cast on Baa-Baa Black Sheep; on what he expects as a director
On Baa-Baa Black Sheep creator Stephen J. Cannell; on the premise and cancellation of Baa-Baa Black Sheep; on his role in Centennial
Chapter 4
On competing on Battle of The Network Stars; on his Eveready battery commercial; on hosting Saturday Night Live
On his short-lived series Search and Rescue and High Mountain Rangers; on playing himself on Just Shoot Me; on his image
On his proudest career achievement and regrets; on advice to aspiring actors; on his legacy
Shows
Baa Baa Black Sheep aka Black Sheep Squadron
Robert Conrad on playing "Greg 'Pappy' Boyington" on Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Robert Conrad on directing Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Robert Conrad on the premise and cancellation of Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Battle of the Network Stars
Robert Conrad on competing on Battle of the Network Stars
Centennial
Robert Conrad on his character "Pasquinel" on Centennial
Hawaiian Eye
Robert Conrad on auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye
Robert Conrad on the basic premise of Hawaiian Eye
Just Shoot Me!
Robert Conrad on playing himself on Just Shoot Me
Saturday Night Live
Robert Conrad on hosting Saturday Night Live
Wild Wild West, The
Robert Conrad on auditioning for The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on his character "James T. West" on The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on his chemistry with The Wild, Wild West co-star Ross Martin
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West stunts
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West director Irving J. Moore
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West guest stars
Robert Conrad on critical reaction to The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West props
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West opening titles
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West violence
Robert Conrad on the cancellation of The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on the legacy of The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on returning to The Wild, Wild West in made-for-television movies
Topics
Advice
Robert Conrad on advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
Robert Conrad on his character "James T. West" on The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on the legacy of his The Wild, Wild West character, "James T. West"
Memorable Moments on Television
Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial
Pop Culture
Robert Conrad on his character, "James T. West," on The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on the legacy of his The Wild, Wild West character, "James T. West"
Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial
Sex & Violence
Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West
Studio and Network Management
Robert Conrad on being under contract at Warner Bros. Television
Television Industry
Robert Conrad on being under contract at Warner Bros. Television
Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Robert Conrad on the first time he saw television
We Laughed
Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial
Professions
Actor
Robert Conrad on his approach to acting and early influences
Robert Conrad on learning to do his own stunts
Robert Conrad on advice to aspiring actors
Directors
Robert Conrad on directing for television and movies
Performers
Robert Conrad on his approach to acting and early influences
Robert Conrad on learning to do his own stunts
Robert Conrad on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Robert Conrad on auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye
Robert Conrad on the basic premise of Hawaiian Eye
Robert Conrad on playing "Greg 'Pappy' Boyington" on Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Robert Conrad on auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye
Drama Series
Robert Conrad on the basic premise of Hawaiian Eye
Robert Conrad on playing "Greg 'Pappy' Boyington" on Baa-Baa Black Sheep
Reality TV
Robert Conrad on competing on Battle of the Network Stars
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Robert Conrad on his character "Pasquinel" on Centennial
Western Series
Robert Conrad on auditioning for The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on his character "James T. West" on The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West stunts
Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West
Robert Conrad on the legacy of The Wild, Wild West
People
Stephen J. Cannell
Robert Conrad on working with writer/show creator Stephen J. Cannell
Fred Freiberger
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West producer Fred Freiberger
Gabe Kaplan
Robert Conrad on losing to Gabe Kaplan on Battle of the Network Stars
Ross Martin
Robert Conrad on his chemistry with The Wild, Wild West co-star Ross Martin
Irving J. Moore
Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West director Irving J. Moore