Hans Conried A Biography, With a Filmography and a Listing of Radio, Television, Stage and Voice Work

9780786413386

0786413387

Hans Conried was once described by the well-known Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper as "a high-strung, droll fellow, plagued by a multitude of talents." Conried was indeed a talented and versatile actor, but his talent often went unrecognized because his versatility worked against him and made it difficult for him to find his niche as an actor. Hans Conried gets the recognition he deserves in this work. Part One covers his birth in 1917 and his early years, the launch of his career as a radio actor, his move to motion pictures, his marriage, and his military service in the Philippines, Korea, and Japan in World War II. Part Two deals with Conrieds return to the United States following the war, the birth of his first child, the decline of radio and his first television performances, and his involvement with such productions as The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T, The Twonky, Peter Pan, Can-Can, and numerous others. Part Three details his work with Jack Paar (Conried became a semi-regular "television personality",on the early Tonight Show), his summer stock theater work, and his work doing guest spots on various programs and providing voices for cartoon characters. Part Four discusses Conrieds final years touring with stock productions, his increasing health problems and problems at home, and his death in 1982.