"They only see what I want them to see, what I'm selling -- an image."

    About This Interview

    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.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Robert Conrad

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

    01:39
    Thumbnail of Robert Conrad

    Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West

    01:46
    Thumbnail of Robert Conrad

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

    00:58
    Thumbnail of Robert Conrad

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

    01:08
    Thumbnail of Robert Conrad

    Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial 

    01:32
    Thumbnail of Robert Conrad

    Robert Conrad on losing to Gabe Kaplan on Battle of the Network Stars

    01:24
    Play 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

    14:22

    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.

    09:10

    On auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye; on his increasing popularity

    04:19

    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

    17:24

    On director Irving J. Moore and original producer Fred Freiberger; on guest stars and critical reaction to The Wild, Wild West

    09:04

    Chapter 3

    On The Wild, Wild West props and opening sequence; on the cancellation and legacy of The Wild, Wild West

    07:57

    On Mission: Impossible; on being cast on Baa-Baa Black Sheep; on what he expects as a director

    10:37

    On Baa-Baa Black Sheep creator Stephen J. Cannell; on the premise and cancellation of Baa-Baa Black Sheep; on his role in Centennial  

    10:26

    Chapter 4

    On competing on Battle of The Network Stars; on his Eveready battery commercial; on hosting Saturday Night Live

    06:26

    On his short-lived series Search and Rescue and High Mountain Rangers; on playing himself on Just Shoot Me; on his image

    05:09

    On his proudest career achievement and regrets; on advice to aspiring actors; on his legacy

    05:41

    Baa Baa Black Sheep aka Black Sheep Squadron

    Robert Conrad on playing "Greg 'Pappy' Boyington" on Baa-Baa Black Sheep

    04:52

    Robert Conrad on directing Baa-Baa Black Sheep

    02:47

    Robert Conrad on the premise and cancellation of Baa-Baa Black Sheep

    01:56

    Battle of the Network Stars

    Robert Conrad on competing on Battle of the Network Stars

    04:01

    Centennial

    Robert Conrad on his character "Pasquinel" on Centennial

    02:45

    Hawaiian Eye

    Robert Conrad on auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye

    03:29

    Robert Conrad on the basic premise of Hawaiian Eye

    00:44

    Just Shoot Me!

    Robert Conrad on playing himself on Just Shoot Me

    01:28

    Saturday Night Live

    Robert Conrad on hosting Saturday Night Live

    00:49

    Wild Wild West, The

    Robert Conrad on auditioning for The Wild, Wild West

    02:23

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

    01:39

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

    00:58

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West stunts

    06:33

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West director Irving J. Moore

    00:57

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West guest stars

    04:46

    Robert Conrad on critical reaction to The Wild, Wild West

    01:49

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West props 

    00:43

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West opening titles

    01:08

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West violence

    01:47

    Robert Conrad on the cancellation of The Wild, Wild West

    00:46

    Robert Conrad on the legacy of The Wild, Wild West

    01:04

    Robert Conrad on returning to The Wild, Wild West in made-for-television movies

    02:20

    Advice

    Robert Conrad on advice to aspiring actors

    01:38

    Characters & Catchphrases

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

    01:39

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

    00:53

    Memorable Moments on Television

    Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial

    01:32

    Pop Culture

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

    01:39

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

    00:53

    Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial

    01:32

    Sex & Violence

    Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West

    01:46

    Studio and Network Management

    Robert Conrad on being under contract at Warner Bros. Television

    02:06

    Television Industry

    Robert Conrad on being under contract at Warner Bros. Television

    02:06

    Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West

    01:46

    TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

    Robert Conrad on the first time he saw television

    00:37

    We Laughed

    Robert Conrad on his Eveready Battery commercial

    01:32

    Actor

    Robert Conrad on his approach to acting and early influences

    01:10

    Robert Conrad on learning to do his own stunts

    02:49

    Robert Conrad on advice to aspiring actors

    01:38

    Directors

    Robert Conrad on directing for television and movies

    02:47

    Performers

    Robert Conrad on his approach to acting and early influences

    01:10

    Robert Conrad on learning to do his own stunts

    02:49

    Robert Conrad on advice to aspiring actors

    01:38

    Adventure/Espionage Series

    Robert Conrad on auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye

    03:29

    Robert Conrad on the basic premise of Hawaiian Eye

    00:44

    Robert Conrad on playing "Greg 'Pappy' Boyington" on Baa-Baa Black Sheep

    04:52

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Robert Conrad on auditioning for and shooting Hawaiian Eye

    03:29

    Drama Series

    Robert Conrad on the basic premise of Hawaiian Eye

    00:44

    Robert Conrad on playing "Greg 'Pappy' Boyington" on Baa-Baa Black Sheep

    04:52

    Reality TV

    Robert Conrad on competing on Battle of the Network Stars

    04:01

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    Robert Conrad on his character "Pasquinel" on Centennial

    02:45

    Western Series

    Robert Conrad on auditioning for The Wild, Wild West

    02:33

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

    01:38

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West stunts

    06:33

    Robert Conrad on the violence on The Wild, Wild West

    01:46

    Robert Conrad on the legacy of The Wild, Wild West

    01:04

    Stephen J. Cannell

    Robert Conrad on working with writer/show creator Stephen J. Cannell

    01:07

    Fred Freiberger

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West producer Fred Freiberger

    00:36

    Gabe Kaplan

    Robert Conrad on losing to Gabe Kaplan on Battle of the Network Stars

    01:25

    Ross Martin

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

    00:58

    Irving J. Moore

    Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West director Irving J. Moore 

    00:57

    All Interviews

    Loading Interviews...