Thursday, December 29, 2011

12/29 Robert Conrad Talks to YOU!


The show is all about you! Your letters, your emails and YOUR calls! It's a love-fest between you and Robert Conrad!



Don't forget to "Like" Robert's Facebook Page:
The Real Robert Conrad

Thursday, December 22, 2011

12/22 Tom Dreesen, Gary Sinise, Linda Blair

Join Robert Conrad on his Special Best Of Christmas Edition with some of his favorite interviews over the past years, including Tom Dreesen, Gary Sinise and Linda Blair!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

12/15 Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes

Gena Rowlands is an American actress, recognized for roles as tough, boozy, or traumatized women, and for her long professional collaboration with her husband, art-house filmmaker John Cassavetes. They were married just two months after they met, and stayed together until his death in 1989.


Her father was vice-president of a local bank, a state assemblyman and later a state senator. Rowlands dropped out of college after a big argument with her parents (the subject remains unclear) and moved to New York, where she supported herself by working part-time at a movie theater. She studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and wrote dialogue for comic books during dry spells between low-paying acting gigs. She was first understudy in the Broadway production of The Seven Year Itch, and took over the lead role late in the play's run. Her first Hollywood hit was opposite Kirk Douglas and Walter Matthau in Lonely are the Brave, in 1962.


Rowlands starred in Cassavetes' films such as Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, and Love Streams. She also worked alongside Cassavetes as an actor in Two Minute Warning, and Paul Mazursky's version of The Tempest, with Molly Ringwald.


Sans husband, Rowlands later played Mom to Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox in Light of Day, and mothered one of TV's first AIDS deaths in the drama An Early Frost. She was the accidental eavesdropper in Woody Allen's Another Woman, and was also featured in Night on Earth, The Neon Bible, and The Notebook.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

12/08 Corbin Bernsen

Rugged, hirsutely handsome Corbin Bernsen blazed to TV stardom in 1986 on L.A. Law as opportunistic divorce lawyer "Arnie Becker", whose blond and brash good looks, impish grin and aggressive courting style proved a wild sex magnet to not only the beautiful female clients desirous of his "services", but his own lovelorn secretary who frequently bailed him out of trouble. Bernsen invested the Becker character with a likable "bad boy" charm that made him a favorite among the tight ensemble for eight solid seasons. In the process, he earned multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He also proved the role was no flash-in-the-pan or dead-end stereotype, maintaining a steady career over the course of three decades now with no signs of let up. Moreover, his deep love for acting and intent devotion to his career recently impelled him to climb into the producer/director's chair.

Born in North Hollywood, California, on September 7, 1954, Corbin was raised around the glitz of the entertainment business. The eldest of three children born to 70s film/TV producer Harry Bernsen and veteran grande dame soap star Jeanne Cooper (the couple divorced in 1977), he graduated from Beverly Hills High School and attended UCLA with the intention of pursuing law. Instead, he went on to receive a BFA in Theatre Arts and MFA in Playwriting. He worked on the Equity-waiver L.A. stage circuit as both actor and set designer, making his film debut as a bit player in his father's picture Three the Hard Way. Appearing unobtrusively in a couple of other films, he set his sights on New York in the late 70s. During his salad days, he eeked out a living as a carpenter and roofer while sidelining as a model. His first big break came in 1983 with the role of "Ken Graham" on daytime's Ryan's Hope. During this time, he also met and married TV costumer designer Brenda Cooper, who later worked on The Nanny sitcom. They divorced four years later. This break led to an exclusive deal by NBC and eventually the TV role of a lifetime. The perks of his newly-found stardom on L.A. Law included a hosting stint on Saturday Night Live and the covers of numerous major magazines. Wasting no time, he parlayed his sudden small screen success into a major movie career, usually playing charmingly unsympathetic characters. He co-starred as Shelley Long's egotistical husband in the lightweight reincarnation comedy Hello Again; played an equally vain Hollywood star in the musical comedy Bert Rigby, You're a Fool; and starred as a disorganized ringleader of a band of crooks in the bank caper Disorganized Crime. He capped the 1980s decade opposite Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger in the box office hit Major League, which took advantage of his natural athleticism, playing ballplayer-cum-owner "Roger Dorn". Two sequels followed.

Corbin's career has merrily rolled along ever since - active in lowbudgets as well as pricier film fare portraying both anti-heroes and villains. On the TV homefront, he has appeared in a slew of mini-movie vehicles, including Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story as the famed civil rights attorney, and has ventured on in an assortment film genres - the mystery thriller Shattered, which re-teamed him with Tom Berenger; the romantic comedy Frozen Assets, again with Shelley Long; the war horror tale Grey Knight; the slapstick farce Radioland Murders; the melodramatic An American Affair, and the fantasy adventure Beings. Topping it off, Corbin's title role in the expert thriller The Dentist had audiences excogitating a similar paranoia of tooth doctors as Anthony Perkins had decades before with motel clerks. As spurned husband-turned-crazed ivory hunter "Dr. Alan Feinstone", Corbin reached cult horror status. The movie spawned a sequel in which he also served as associate producer.

Into the millennium, Corbin returned to his daytime roots with a recurring role on mother Jeanne Cooper's popular serial The Young and the Restless, and is currently seen as "John Durant" on General Hospital, a role he's played since 2004. A game and excitable player on reality shows, he added immeasurable fun to the "Celebrity Mole" series, and has enjoyed recurring roles on the more current and trendy The West Wing, JAG, Cuts and Psych.

Of late, Corbin has decided to tackle the business end of show biz. In 2004, he formed Public Media Works, a film/TV production company in order to exert more creative control over his projects. On top of the list is the loopy film comedy Carpool Guy, which he directed, produced and co-starred in. It features more than 10 of the currently reigning soap opera stars, including a wildly eccentric Anthony Geary in the title role, and, of course, his irrepressible real-life mom, Jeanne Cooper.

Obviously, his errant on-camera antics does not reflect a similar personal lifestyle for Corbin as he has been happily married (since 1988) to lovely British actress Amanda Pays. They have appeared together in the sci-fi film Spacejacked and the TV-movies Dead on the Money and The Santa Trap, among others. The couple have four children, including twin boys. Just a few years ago, they relocated to Los Angeles after living in England for some time. In between, he still shows off as a master carpenter at home and continues to dabble in writing. Perseverance and dedication has played a large part in the acting success of Corbin Bernsen. Gleaning a savvy, take-charge approach hasn't hurt either -- characteristics worthy of many of the sharpies he's played on screen.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

12/01 Robert Conrad Talks to YOU!


The show is all about you! Your letters, your emails and YOUR calls! It's a love-fest between you and Robert Conrad!



Don't forget to "Like" Robert's Facebook Page:
The Real Robert Conrad

Thursday, November 24, 2011

11/24 Loretta Swit, Robert Forster

Loretta Swit (born November 4, 1937) is an American stage and television actress known for her character roles. Swit is best-known for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H.












Robert Forster (born July 13, 1941) is an American actor, best known for his roles as John Cassellis in Haskell Wexler's Medium Cool, and as Max Cherry in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, the latter of which gaining him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

11/17 Robert Conrad, Robert Forster


Special guest, Robert Forster joins the show!


Robert Forster was born in Rochester, New York in 1941 and first become interested in acting while attending Rochester's Madison High School where he performed as a song-and-dance man in musical revues. After graduating in 1959, Forster attended Heidelberg College, Alfred University, and the University of Rochester on football scholarships and continued to perform in student theatrical revues.

After earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Rochester in 1963, Forster took an apprenticeship at an East Rochester theater where he performed in such plays as "West Side Story." Forster moved to New York City in 1965, where his first big break came when he landed the lead in the two-character play "Mrs. Dally Has a Lover" opposite Arlene Francis. But after the play ran its course, work was hard to find in the theater. Forster returned to Rochester where he worked as a substitute teacher and construction worker until an agent from 20th Century Fox Pictures offered him a five-picture deal. His movie debut was a small part in the 1967 drama Reflections in a Golden Eye, which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando. Forster went on to appear in small and minor roles and acting alongside some top Hollywood actors in films like The Stalking Moon (1968) and Medium Cool (1969), and a large part in Justine (1969). Although he continued to act in feature films, he took the part of a hardboiled detective in the short-lived 1972 TV series "Banyon."

Forster also appeared in notable parts in The Black Hole (1979), Avalanche (1978), and as the lead in the cult horror flick Alligator (1980), and played the part of a factory worker-turned-vigilante in the 1982 thriller Vigilante. Forster also was offered the lead as a taxi driver in Walking the Edge (1983) by director Norbert Meisel. A series of action flicks followed, the most notable being Delta Force (1986) which starred Chuck Norris. By the late 1980s Forster's acting career had begun to slide, with work becoming less and less, and if there was any, he would be cast in small parts playing villains. Forster then began to work as a motive speaker and an acting coach in Hollywood film schools.

But then in the mid-1990s, Forster's career was resurrected by writer-director Quentin Tarantino, a long-time fan of Forster's early work, who offered him an audition for a part in his latest movie. After a seven-hour audition, Tarantino cast Forster in the role of the tough but sympathetic bail bondsman Max Cherry in Jackie Brown (1997), which netted him an Academy Award nomination and some nationwide recognition. His success landed him more high-profile starring roles in films such as All the Rage (1998), Gus Van Sant's remake of Psycho (1998), and Supernova (2000). Forster continues to act in many big budget Hollywood productions playing many charming characters who often steal the scene.

Friday, November 11, 2011

11/10 Join Robert Conrad as he chats with actress Loretta Swit!

Swit was born in Passaic, New Jersey of Polish descent. She studied with Gene Frankel in Manhattan and considered him her acting coach. She regularly returned to his studio to speak with aspiring actors throughout her career. Swit is also a singer who trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before entering the theater. She graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic, NJ, in 1955.

In 1967, Swit toured with the national company of Any Wednesday, starring Gardner McKay. She continued as one of the Pigeon sisters opposite Don Rickles and Ernest Borgnine in a Los Angeles run of The Odd Couple.

In 1975, Swit played in Same Time, Next Year on Broadway opposite Ted Bessell[1]. She also performed on Broadway in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. From there, she played Agnes Gooch in the Las Vegas version of Mame, starring Susan Hayward and later, Celeste Holm. Most recently, Swit has toured with The Vagina Monologues.

In October–November 2003, she starred as the title character in North Carolina Theatre production of Mame in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In August–September 2010, Swit starred in the world premier of the Mark Miller play, Amorous Crossings at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida, directed by Todd Booth.

When Swit arrived in Hollywood in 1970, she performed in television shows, including Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, and Mannix.

Starting in 1972, Swit played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the television series M*A*S*H. She inherited the star-making role from actress Sally Kellerman, who portrayed Houlihan in the feature film. Swit, Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher stayed for all 11 seasons of the show, from 1972 to 1983.

She and Alda were the only two actors to have been on the pilot episode and the finale; she appeared in all but 11 of the total of 251 episodes. Swit received two Emmy Awards for her work on M*A*S*H. Later, she was also the first M*A*S*H star to visit South Korea, when she narrated the documentary Korea, the Forgotten War.

In 1981, Swit played the "Christine Cagney" role in the movie pilot for the television series Cagney & Lacey, but was precluded by contractual obligations from continuing the role. Actress Meg Foster portrayed Cagney for the first six episodes of the television series with Sharon Gless taking over the role from that point on.

Swit also guest-starred in shows such as The Love Boat, Win, Lose or Draw, Match Game, Pyramid, and Hollywood Squares. She also starred in Christmas programs such as the television version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and 1987's PBS Special A Christmas Calendar.[3] In 1992 she hosted the 26 part series Those Increbible Animals on the Discovery Channel. Loretta's latest appearance was on GSN Live on October 10, 2008.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

11/3 Robert Conrad Talks With YOU!

The show is all about you! Your letters, your emails and YOUR calls! It's a love-fest between you and Robert Conrad, today, so call in at 800-336-2225 or email Robert Conrad at rconrad@crni.net!











Thursday, October 27, 2011

10/27 Robert Conrad talks with Dyan Cannon!

Cannon made her screen debut in 1960 in The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond, however her small screen debut was in the late 1950s including a guest appearance on Bat Masterson in 1959, in the episode entitled "Lady Luck". Another role was as Mona Elliott, with fellow guest star Franchot Tone, in the episode "The Man Behind the Man" of the 1964 CBS drama, The Reporter, with Harry Guardino in the title role. She also made appearances on 77 Sunset Strip, the perennial western series Gunsmoke, The Untouchables and the syndicated Two Faces West in the 1960 episode entitled "Sheriff of the Town".

In 1969, Cannon starred with an ensemble cast led by Natalie Wood in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, a film about sexual revolution in which she played Alice. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film, as well as two Golden Globe nominations.[citation needed] Most of Cannon's later roles in the 1970s were less successful,[citation needed] although she did receive a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination for Such Good Friends (1971).[citation needed] In addition, she became the first Oscar-nominated actress to be nominated in the Best Short Film, Live Action Category for Number One (1976), a project which Cannon produced, directed, wrote and edited.[citation needed] It was a story about adolescent sexual curiosity.[citation needed] In 1978, Cannon starred in Revenge of the Pink Panther. That same year, she appeared opposite Warren Beatty, Julie Christie and James Mason in Heaven Can Wait. This performance earned her a second Oscar nomination and also won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.[citation needed]

In 1976, she hosted Saturday Night Live during its first season.[citation needed] She was a guest in the fourth season of The Muppet Show in 1979.[3]

In the 1980s, Cannon, who is also a singer/songwriter, appeared in Honeysuckle Rose (1980) with Willie Nelson, Deathtrap (1982) with Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine, Caddyshack II (1988) and has starred in several TV movies.[citation needed]

In the 1990s, she appeared on the popular television shows Diagnosis: Murder and The Practice, as well as being a semi-regular on Ally McBeal. She made appearances in films such as That Darn Cat (1997), 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997), Out to Sea (1997) with the duo Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, and Kangaroo Jack (2003). She also starred on the short-lived sitcom Three Sisters (2001–2002).[citation needed] In 2005, she appeared in Boynton Beach Club, a movie about aging Floridians who have just lost their spouses.

Friday, October 14, 2011

10/13 Robert Conrad Talks With YOU!

The show is all about you! Your letters, your emails and YOUR calls! It's a love-fest between you and Robert Conrad, today, so call in at 800-336-2225 or email Robert Conrad at rconrad@crni.net!










Thursday, October 6, 2011

10/06 Robert Conrad Talks with Tanya Roberts!

Tanya Roberts is best known for two great TV series: Charlie’s Angles and That 70s Show. She has entertaining stories from the set of Charlie’s Angels and her work with Ashton Kutcher on That 70s Show.

Rogers played Julie Rogers, Charlie’s Angels in the series fifth and final season 1980-1981. As Charlie’s “final” Angel her face was on 1,000s of magazine covers, 1,000 of bedroom walls with a bestselling poster and watched by millions on ABC-TV. She became one of the most recognized women in the world overnight.

ON That 70s Show, Roberts was casted as Midge Pinciotti. The series began in 1998 on the FOX Network and Roberts was seen in six seasons on the series. The series also starred a cast of young Hollywood unknowns. One of those unknown actors was Ashton Kutcher who as Kelso became the #1 heartthrob of screaming teenagers. Now, that young man is an accomplished actor and one of the highest profile men on TV as he steps into the set of Two and a Half Men.

Roberts went other memorable roles; such as a James Bond girl in “A View to a Kill”, Sheena in “Sheena: Queen of the Jungle”, and Kiri in the cult classic “The Beastmaster.”

Roberts herself keeps her super hot body in shape with a daily walk with her two dogs and her never miss a daily protein shake. She keeps her angelic face gorgeous with her daily regiment with LifeCell. LifeCell is her favorite product that keeps her skin as beautiful as the days on Charlie’s Angels.

September 22, 2011 was the 35th Anniversary of the original TV series. Charlie’s Angels originally premiered on the TV airways Wed, September 22, 1976. The show ran for five seasons and starred Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack and Tanya Roberts.


The Charlie’s Angels series hit the silver screen in 2000 with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu. The film grossed over $260+ million worldwide and was followed up with the sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle in 2003 which grossed $259+ worldwide. Charlie’s Angels has been empowering woman on TV and film for over 35 years now and the new series is set to continue that tradition.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

9/29 Robert Conrad Talks with Stephanie Powers!

Powers appeared in several motion pictures in the early 1960s in secondary roles such as the thriller Experiment in Terror with Glenn Ford and Lee Remick, the comedy If a Man Answers with Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin, and as the daughter of John Wayne in the lighthearted comedy-Western McLintock! (1963). She played a schoolgirl in Tammy Tell Me True (1961) and the police chief's daughter Bunny in the romantic comedy Palm Springs Weekend (1963). She was also in the 1962 hospital melodrama The Interns and its sequel The New Interns in 1964. In 1965, Powers had a more substantial role playing opposite veteran actress Tallulah Bankhead in the Hammer horror film Die! Die! My Darling (originally released in England as Fanatic). Her early television work included Route 66 and Bonanza (both in 1963).

In 1966, her "tempestuous" good looks led to a starring role as April Dancer in the short-lived NBC television spy thriller series The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.. This was a spin-off of the popular The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. Powers' linguistic skills, dance training, and interest in bullfighting were written into several episodes of the series. She also learned how to fence for a five-minute fight sequence with sabers.

Shortly after the series' debut, she was featured on the cover of TV Guide (Dec. 31, 1966–Jan. 6, 1967). The article mentions her "117-pound frame is kept supple with 11 minutes of Royal Canadian Air Force exercises every morning." It also noted: "Unlike her fellow U.N.C.L.E. agents, the ladylike April is not required to kill the bad guys. Her feminine charms serve as the bait, while her partner Noel Harrison provides the fireworks." Dancer was written as a demure, passive figure instead of an action heroine like The Avengers' Emma Peel. The show's reliance on self-parody and camp humor instead of dramatic action and suspense was not a success. The series lasted for only one season (29 one-hour episodes) airing from September 16, 1966 to April 11, 1967.

In 1967, she was in the film Warning Shot with David Janssen. Her 1970s began with two Disney films, The Boatniks (1970) and Herbie Rides Again (sequel to The Love Bug).

She was a guest star on the Robert Wagner series It Takes a Thief in 1970. The two would go on to co-star in the popular Hart to Hart series nine years later.

Prior to the Hart to Hart success, she starred in The Feather and Father Gang as Toni "Feather" Danton, a successful lawyer. Her father, Harry Danton, was a smooth-talking ex-con man played by Harold Gould. It ran for 13 episodes. Guest roles on other popular TV shows include: McCloud (1971), The Mod Squad (1972), Kung Fu (1974), The Rockford Files (1975), Three for the Road (1975), The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman (1976), and McMillan & Wife (1977). These shows were the ones that Powers appeared, long after she signed a contract with Universal Studios in 1970, coincidentally, her longtime friend and Hart to Hart series' star, Wagner, signed up a contract with Universal, but did not guest-star on more shows than Powers did. Her role as stripper Dottie Del Mar in 1979's Escape to Athena with Roger Moore turned out to be Powers' last theatrical film to date.

Powers became widely known as a television star for her role opposite old friend Wagner as a pair of amateur sleuths in the 1979-1984 series Hart to Hart for which she received two Emmy and five Golden Globe Award Best Television Actress nominations. In the 1990s she and Wagner reunited to make eight Hart to Hart made-for-TV two-hour movies. In 1985, Powers starred as twins who swap places leading to dire consequences in the two-part made-for-TV movie Deceptions.

She starred briefly in a 1991 London musical, Matador, which closed prematurely due to the sharp drop in tourism during the Persian Gulf War. In 1993, she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her stage performance in Love Letters.

In 1996, she toured in a production of Applause which was slated to go to New York in hopes of a Broadway revival. She played the role of Margo Channing, played in the original production by Lauren Bacall (and later Anne Baxter), and in the source film All About Eve by Bette Davis.

She toured the United Kingdom in 2002 in the singing role of Anna Leonowens for a revival of The King and I. She also toured the U.S. in 2004 and 2005 in that role. Powers released her debut CD in 2003, titled, On The Same Page. The album features selections from the classic Great American Songbook era. Since 2006 she has been the U.S. location presenter on the BBC's long running Through the Keyhole panel show.

On April 30, 2008, she was reunited with Robert Wagner for the filming of a special Hart to Hart edition of the Graham Norton show [BBC]. On 12 March 2011, she received the Steiger Award (Germany) for accomplishment in the arts.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

9/22 Robert Conrad Talks with Lesley ann Warren!

Lithe and lovely Lesley Ann Warren started gearing towards a life in show business right off the bat as a child ballerina; little did she know that Hollywood stardom would arrive on her doorstep in the form of a "Cinderella" story -- literally!

The New York-born actress (born in 1946) was the daughter of a realtor and a night club singer, Margot Warren, who gave up her own entertainment career for marriage and family. Lesley attended New York's Professional Children's School and eventually studied under Lee Strasberg at his Actors Studio, the youngest student to be accepted at the time (age 17). The freckled, talented hopeful gathered musical stage experience in such shows as "Bye Bye Birdie" playing swooning teen Kim McAfee. She made her illustrious Broadway debut in "110 in the Shade", the 1963 musical version of "The Rainmaker," and subsequently received the Theatre World Award for her work in the 1965 tunefest "Drat! The Cat!"

The attention she received immediately led to her capturing the beguiling title role in the Rodgers and Hammerstein TV musical production of Cinderella (1965) (TV). Although sweet-voiced stardom was certainly hers on a silver platter, she didn't necessarily carry the sweet tooth for it. Her impact as Cinderella led to her signing with the Walt Disney Studio as their principal ingénue. Co-starring in the rather blah musical showcases The Happiest Millionaire (1967) and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) further convinced her that she needed to nip the saccharine stereotype in the bud if she was to grow as an actress and sustain some type of career longevity.

Rebelling against her studio-imposed image, she left Disney determined to pursue roles with more depth, drama and character. Changing her name temporarily to "Lesley Warren" to reinforce her goal, she replaced Barbara Bain in the long-running espionage series "Mission: Impossible" (1966) in 1970, but the audiences were quite cool in their reception to the "new and improved" Lesley and didn't buy her as a femme-fatale replacement for the cool and aloof Ms. Bain. After only one season, she left the show and sought greener pastures in the TV mini-movie market playing a wide range of vulnerable neurotics as well as sexy, worldly ladies. She made her mark in such sudsy 1970s material as Love Hate Love (1971) (TV) co-starring 'Ryan O'Neal (I)'; The Legend of Valentino (1975) (TV); the rags-to-riches story "Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue" (1977), for which she won a Golden Globe award; the epic WWII story "Pearl" (1978); Betrayal (1978) (TV); and Portrait of a Stripper (1979) (TV).

In the early 1980s, Lesley's movie career resurrected itself with a priceless performance as kingpin James Garner's whiny-voiced, peroxide-blonde spitfire Norma Cassady in the musical film slapstick Victor Victoria (1982). This scene-stealing turn led to a couple of other quality offbeat films: Choose Me (1984) and Songwriter (1984), along with the usual quota of TV projects. She also matured into a steamy, sexier "older woman" type and earned some worldly roles opposite various gorgeous young guns, including Christopher Atkins in the critically-drubbed A Night in Heaven (1983). Her riotous "dumb blonde" act, however, had Hollywood discovering her potential as a scatter-brained comedienne, an image she has reinforced over the years with recurring TV guest parts on such popular shows as "Will & Grace" (1998) and "Desperate Housewives" (2004) Lesley has a son, Christopher Peters, from her 1967-1977 union to makeup artist/hair stylist-cum-film producer Jon Peters. Since 2000, she has been married to advertising exec Ronald Taft, a former v.p. at Columbia and sometime actor. From Cinderella to sexy mamas, the effervescent Lesley is still going strong in a career now hitting four-and-a-half decades.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

09/15 Robert Conrad Talk With YOU!

The show is all about you! Your letters, your emails and YOUR calls! It's a love-fest between you and Robert Conrad, today, so call in at 800-336-2225 or email Robert Conrad at rconrad@crni.net!










































Thursday, September 8, 2011

9/8 Robert Conrad Talks with Cassandra Peterson and Airrion Copeland Producer of White Wash!

Cassandra Peterson, Elvira's alter ego, was born in Manhattan, Kansas, and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She remembers always being a fan of Ann-Margret. Since Cassandra saw her in Viva Las Vegas (1964), she wanted to be a dancer. Just days after graduating from high school, Cassandra traveled to Las Vegas where, at the age of 17, she became the youngest showgirl in Las Vegas history. When Elvis Presley saw her perform he encouraged her to pursue a singing career. She toured Europe extensively as lead singer for an Italian rock band. She settled in Rome, where she became fluent in Italian. Here Cassandra met Federico Fellini, who cast her in his classic film, Fellini's Roma (1972). Returning to the US, Cassandra formed her own nightclub review, "Mama's Boys", which toured the national club circuit. In the late 1970s she joined the satiric improvisational troupe, The Groundlings, which also produced such stars as Paul Reubens (aka "Pee Wee Herman"). There she honed her now renowned comedic skills as both a writer and performer. Film and television appearances such as Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980) and others followed, but Cassandra was just the typical struggling actress and spent years wondering where her next meal was coming from. It was the fall of 1981, with the birth of her character, Elvira, that it all changed. While she has since played herself in many film and television shows, Cassandra Peterson ultimately combines her numerous talents into an intriguing persona which has not only become a Halloween icon, but a "vamp" for all seasons.

Producer Airrion Copeland joins the show to talk about a new Documentary featuring 10time ASP World Champion Surfer Kelly Slater, Triple Crown of Surfing winner Rob Machado, Legendary Pro Surfer Buttons Kaluhiokalani, and more. Narrated by Grammy winner Ben Harper, in conjunction with Black Thought of the Grammy Award winning group, The Roots, the documentary explores the history of surfing culture and breaks all 'surfer dude' stereotypes by uncovering the succession of African-Americans riding the waves. While paying respect to the ocean, filmmaker Ted Woods and producers Airrion Copeland and Dan Munger illustrate a comprehensive study from the perspective of black surfers from Hawaii, Jamaica, Florida, and California, blending archival footage and conversations with professors, historians, authors, organizations and professional surfers.

Beginning September 9th, White Wash, will be shown at the Laemmle Theater, 8000 W. Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, for one week until September 15th. Screening Times are 5:40 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.
Although surfing originated in Hawaii as part of Polynesian culture, Americans adopted a blonde-haired, blue-eyed male surfer cliché that still dominates the sport today. White Wash breaks all manifested barriers and explores the role of black surfers by introducing audiences to the likes of: Michael Green, Founder of Brooklyn Surfing; Rick Blocker, Black Surf Historian & Founder of BlackSurfing.com; Sal Masekela, TV Host, Sports Commentator, Actor & Singer; and Dr. Charles Ross, Author of "Outside The Lines", just to name a few. Featured guests recount their personal journey, while discussing surf history, its origin, and its evolution, all the while preserving the love of catching that giant wave.

Presenting facts such as less than 2% of swimmers registered with USA swimming (of competitive swimming associations) are black - compared to 69% of the National Football League; and nearly 60% of black children can't swim - compared to 30% of white children, Woods takes viewers on an eye-opening crusade for the need of a black surfing association to help establish their place in the water and in surfing competitions.

Others featured in the film include: Billy "Mystic" Wilmot, Jamaican Surf Team; Sam George, Surf Historian & Filmmaker (Riding Giants); James Meredith, Integrated the University of Mississippi; Bruce Wigo, President, International Swimming Hall of Fame; Patrick "Quashi" Mitchell, Founder of Quashi Surfboards International; Lee Pitts, Swim Historian & Instructor; Dr. John Oberman, Author, "Darwin's Athletes"; Dr. Doug Flamming, Author of "Bound for Freedom"; Alison Jefferson, Santa Monica Historian; Audwin Anderson, Sports Sociologist, Texas State University; Dr. Mark Chapman, Chair, African American Studies, Fordham University and more.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

09/1 Robert Conrad Talk With YOU!

The show is all about you! Your letters, your emails and YOUR calls! It's a love-fest between you and Robert Conrad, today, so call in at 800-336-2225 or email Robert Conrad at rconrad@crni.net!









































































Thursday, August 25, 2011

Conrad on KABC

Robert Conrad's new gig as radio talk show host | abc7.com: LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Actor Robert Conrad has been a boxer, surfer, cowboy, and pilot.

Using a tough guy image, he also starred in a series of famous TV commercials daring you to knock a battery off his shoulder.

8/25 Robert Conrad Talks with Lana Wood - and YOU!

Lana Wood was born in Svetlana Nikolaevna Zakharenko Russian on March 1, 1946. She is an American actress and producer. She was born to Russian émigré parents, Nikolai and Maria Zakharenko, and is the sister of actress Natalie Wood. Her first major role was at age 9 in the John Wayne western The Searchers. She was a regular on the soap opera Peyton Place. She is best known for her role as Plenty O'Toole in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. She appeared in a number of small films and television guest roles throughout the 1970s and 1980s.



Early in her adult career, Lana Wood played bit parts in Natalie's films; but, in the 1960s, her own career took off. One of her roles was in the beach party film The Girls on the Beach (1965). After appearing in the short-lived drama series, The Long, Hot Summer, she landed the role of Sandy Webber in the prime-time soap Peyton Place, which she played from 1966 to 1967.



In 1971, Lana appeared in the April 1971 Playboy issue, along with her poetry. Even though Natalie strongly disapproved Lana's posing nude, the publicity was a major reason for her being cast as Bond girl Plenty O'Toole in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). In a scene with Sean Connery, she appeared wearing only a flimsy pair of see-through panties.[1]



Wood has more than 20 other films and over 300 television shows to her credit, including The Fugitive, Bonanza, Mission: Impossible, Police Story, Starsky and Hutch, Nero Wolfe, Fantasy Island, and Capitol. Some of her other film roles have been in the Disney film Justin Morgan Had a Horse (1972) and the western Grayeagle (1977). After appearing in the horror film Demon Rage (1982), she retired from acting, concentrating on her career as a producer.



In 1984, Wood published the controversial tell-all book Natalie, A Memoir by Her Sister, which reached #3 on the New York Times Bestseller List. In 2004, she produced the biopic The Mystery of Natalie Wood. She recently returned to acting and has several projects in production. Lana is a character in the new Steve Alten book "Meg: Hell's Aquarium".

Thursday, August 18, 2011

8/17 Robert Conrad Talks with Lana Wood - and YOU!

Lana Wood was born in Svetlana Nikolaevna Zakharenko Russian on March 1, 1946. She is an American actress and producer. She was born to Russian émigré parents, Nikolai and Maria Zakharenko, and is the sister of actress Natalie Wood. Her first major role was at age 9 in the John Wayne western The Searchers. She was a regular on the soap opera Peyton Place. She is best known for her role as Plenty O'Toole in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. She appeared in a number of small films and television guest roles throughout the 1970s and 1980s.



Early in her adult career, Lana Wood played bit parts in Natalie's films; but, in the 1960s, her own career took off. One of her roles was in the beach party film The Girls on the Beach (1965). After appearing in the short-lived drama series, The Long, Hot Summer, she landed the role of Sandy Webber in the prime-time soap Peyton Place, which she played from 1966 to 1967.



In 1971, Lana appeared in the April 1971 Playboy issue, along with her poetry. Even though Natalie strongly disapproved Lana's posing nude, the publicity was a major reason for her being cast as Bond girl Plenty O'Toole in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). In a scene with Sean Connery, she appeared wearing only a flimsy pair of see-through panties.[1]



Wood has more than 20 other films and over 300 television shows to her credit, including The Fugitive, Bonanza, Mission: Impossible, Police Story, Starsky and Hutch, Nero Wolfe, Fantasy Island, and Capitol. Some of her other film roles have been in the Disney film Justin Morgan Had a Horse (1972) and the western Grayeagle (1977). After appearing in the horror film Demon Rage (1982), she retired from acting, concentrating on her career as a producer.



In 1984, Wood published the controversial tell-all book Natalie, A Memoir by Her Sister, which reached #3 on the New York Times Bestseller List. In 2004, she produced the biopic The Mystery of Natalie Wood. She recently returned to acting and has several projects in production. Lana is a character in the new Steve Alten book "Meg: Hell's Aquarium".

Thursday, August 11, 2011

08/11 Robert Conrad Talk With YOU!

The show is all about you! Your letters, your emails and YOUR calls! It's a love-fest between you and Robert Conrad, today, so call in at 800-336-2225 or email Robert Conrad at rconrad@crni.net!













































Thursday, August 4, 2011

8/4 Robert Conrad Talks with Richard Benjamin - and YOU!

Although his actress wife Paula Prentiss became a star by the early 1960s, it took Richard Benjamin almost fifteen years to establish his screen persona, but the wait was rewarding.

After extensive work in theatre as actor and director, and his participation in the cult TV series "He & She" (1967), in which he co-starred with Prentiss, he won the starring role in the screen adaptation of Philip Roth's best-seller, Goodbye, Columbus (1969). That was followed by roles in Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970), The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker (1971) and another Roth adaptation, Portnoy's Complaint (1972), that turned him into a prominent "archetype of East Coast Jewish intellectual agony", as critic Jonathan Romney defines him. But his forte was comedy and he won a Golden Globe when he repeated his stage role in the film version of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys (1975).

Although he still performs, Benjamin turned to direction since the 80s with the highly acclaimed comedy My Favorite Year (1982).

Thursday, July 28, 2011

7/28 Robert Conrad Talks with Joan Van Ark and YOU!!!!

Joan Van Ark, just out of high school, was the second youngest student to attend the Yale School of Drama on a scholarship. The youngest was Julie Harris. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Years later, they would co-star on the CBS Television series, "Knots Landing" (1979). Van Ark began her professional career at the Minneapolis Guthrie Theater in Moliere's "The Miser", opposite Hume Cronyn and Zoe Caldwell. That was followed by "Death of a Salesman" at the Guthrie with both Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. After a season at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., Joan was cast in the national touring company of "Barefoot in the Park", directed by Mike Nichols. She recreated the role in the critically acclaimed London Company and later on Broadway. She earned a Tony nomination for her performance in "The School for Wives" and she won the Theater World Award for "The Rules of the Game".

Van Ark also appeared off-Broadway opposite John Rubinstein in "Love Letters". More recently, she co-starred in the New York production of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning play "Three Tall Women". Her Los Angeles theater credits include "Cyrano de Bergerac", playing "Roxanne" opposite Richard Chamberlain's "Cyrano", "Ring Around the Moon" with Michael Yorkand Glynis Johns, "Chemin de Fer", "Heartbreak House" and "As You Like It", for which she won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award. She also appeared as "Lady Macbeth" in the Grove Shakespeare Festival's production of "Macbeth". Van Ark has also starred in the Williamstown Theater Festival productions of "Night of the Iguana", "The Legend of Oedipus" and the festival's 40th anniversary production of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music".

She is perhaps best known for her role as "Valene Ewing" beginning on "Dallas" (1978) and then on the spin-off series, "Knots Landing" (1979). During the 13 seasons as "Val", she earned six nominations and two Soap Opera Digest Awards for Best Actress. Joan also starred in the TV comedies, "The New Temperatures Rising Show" (1972) and "We've Got Each Other" (1977). In May 1997, she reprieved her role of "Valene" in the CBS mini-series, "Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac" (1997). Most recently, she guest-starred in an episode of "The Nanny" (1993), which was specially written for her. Van Ark's television movie credits include When the Dark Man Calls (1995) (TV), Moment of Truth: A Mother's Deception (1994) (TV), In the Shadows, Someone's Watching (1993) (TV) (actor/producer), Boys Will Be Boys (1999) (TV) (actor/director), Terror on Track 9 (1992) (TV), Tainted Blood (1993) (TV), Menu for Murder (1994) (TV), Always Remember I Love You (1990) (TV), My First Love (1988) (TV) and Shakedown on the Sunset Strip (1988) (TV).

She was also one of the voices for CBS-TV's Saturday morning cartoon series "Santo Bugito" (1995) and she provided the voice of "Spider-Woman" (1979), another Saturday morning series. In 1997, Joan directed a short documentary on homelessness and domestic violence for the Directors Guild of America, which was nominated for an Emmy.

She appeared in the feature film, Held for Ransom (2000), with Dennis Hopper and Debi Mazar. Joan is currently featured in the film, UP, Michigan! (2001), which was entered in the New York Independent Film Festival. According to Film Festival representatives, the screening ofUP, Michigan! (2001) elicited more favorable audience response than any other film throughout the one-week event. Joan also starred as the "Vice President of the United States" in the FOX Family telefilm, Loyal Opposition (1998). Last summer, she played "Camille" in Tennessee Williams' "Camino Real" at the Folger Shakespeare Theater in Washington, D.C. She appeared in "Twice in a Lifetime" (1999), filmed in Toronto. She recently completed filming in Los Angeles of "Son of the Beach" (2000). Joan's career was featured on the biographical program,"Intimate Portrait: Joan Van Ark" (2002), on the Lifetime Channel for Women. She also played two cameo roles in the independent feature films,Net Games (2003) and the soon-to-be-released Diamond Zero (2005) with Tippi Hedren. Joan was featured in "The Vagina Monologues" at the Canon Theater in Beverly Hills. She also opened the national tour of "The Vagina Monologues" in Denver's Center for the Performing Arts.

In May, 2003, she was a celebrity guest actor in the Los Angeles production of "Blackout" at the McCadden Theater in Hollywood. She also appeared in the off-Broadway production of "The Exonerated" at the Bleeker Street Theater in New York. Last spring, Joan appeared in "Five by Tenn" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with Kathleen Chalfant, Patricia Clarkson and Sally Field. It was a world premiere of newly-found Tennessee Williams one-act plays. In addition, she played a regular role for much of last year on CBS Television's "The Young and the Restless" (1973).

Joan appeared in the world premier of Mark O'Donnell's new adaptation of "Private Fittings" by Georges Feydeau at the La Jolla Playhouse near San Diego. The production was directed by Des McAnuff, winner of two Tony Awards.

Joan is still married to her high school sweetheart, John Marshall, a former award-winning TV newsman, who now heads an on-line news service, eNewswires.com. Their daughter, Vanessa Marshall, is also an accomplished actress, director and comedian.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

7/21 Robert Conrad Talks with Dick Cavett - and YOU!

Television host, comedian, writer. Born Richard Alva Cavette on November 19, 1936 in Gibbon, Nebraska, USA, Dick Cavett studied drama at Yale, then moved to New York where he had various jobs, including being a copy editor at Time Magazine, before gaining work as a comedy scriptwriter. He is best known for his talk show which aired during the 1970s-1980s.

Cavett's success as a comedic writer, particularly for The Tonight Show and The Jerry Lewis Show brought him work as the host of ABC's This Morning (1968) and then for ABC television's late night show (1969–75). Despite critical acclaim, he ran third in the ratings behind his former colleague Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin, which resulted in gradually less frequent airings of the show. He later attracted a loyal following with The Dick Cavett Show on WNET, New York City's public television station (1977–82).

During the course of his career, Cavett has hosted and interviewed a wide range of guests from authors and political figures to musicians and singers and he enjoyed pairing controversial people with opposite views, to dicuss taboo subject matter. Some of his guests included Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Bobby Fischer, Groucho Marx, Lestor Maddox, Orson Welles, Gore Vidal, Marlon Brando, and Muhammad Ali.

John Lennon and Yoko gave Cavett their first interview after the break-up of the Beatles in September 1971, and the couple were featured in two subsequent episodes. Lennon was facing deporation from the U.S. at the time by the Nixon administration -- fueled by drug charges and spurred further by the couple's outspoken participation in anti-war rallies. Cavett went on to testify in John Lennon's defense at his deportation hearing. It was also revealed through Richard Nixon's secret White House tapes, that the president sought to oust Cavett over a debate-style interview between anti-Vietnam War representative John Kerry and pro-war respresentive John E. O'Neill. The tapes contained an exchange by Nixon asking his Chief of Staff how they can "screw" Cavett. Since their public release, this taped conversation can be found on YouTube and other internet sites.

Dick Cavett has also appeared many times as a stand-up comedian on a variety of talk shows, in commercials and occasional in theatre, such as Broadway's Otherwise Engaged and Into the Woods. Other notable appearances in person or clips from his talk show were featured in films such as Annie Hall, Forrest Gump, and in episodes of television series such as The Odd Couple, Cheers, and The Simpsons. Cavett continued his talk show hosting on General Electric's cable channel, CNBC, from 1989 into the 1990s. He's won three Emmy awards for his work. Additionally, he has co-authored two books with Christopher Porterfield. Currently Cavett is a contributing blogger to The New York Times.

During his life, Cavett has struggled with manic despression and has been treated with drugs and electroshock therapy. He openly discusses his condition calling it "the worst agony devised for man." He married actress Carrie Nye in 1964 and the couple remained so until her death in July 2006.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

7/14 Robert Conrad Talks with Peter Ford - and YOU!

Peter Ford - Son of Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell

Peter Ford had the good fortune of being the only child of two of Hollywood's most renowned stars, Eleanor Powell, one of MGM’s greatest musical stars, and Glenn Ford, Hollywood's number one box office star of 1958.

At the age of thirty-three, Eleanor Powell gave up her career to take on the new, and according to her, more important role of wife and mother. Giving up her career to be married to a little known actor by the name of Glenn Ford had studio moguls and fans in an uproar. It wasn't until three years after their marriage in 1946 that the public knew who Glenn Ford really was. It was that year that "Gilda" was released, starring Glenn and Rita Hayworth. Glenn Ford became a “star” overnight.

Born in Los Angeles, California on February 5th, 1945, Peter led a childhood of many privileges and opportunities. Peter recalls learning to swim, “When I was five my parents wanted me to learn to swim, so they built an Olympic sized pool in our back yard and my 'swim coach' was an old friend of Mother's, Johnny Weissmuller." For tennis lessons he went to the Beverly Hills Hotel to play with Pancho Segura. Peter honed his golf skills with under the tutelage of the legendary Ben Hogan who was also preparing Glenn to play him in the film, “Follow the Sun”.

In 1946, the family purchased a huge twenty-two room home on Cove Way in Beverly Hills. The previous owner had been Max Steiner, who composed and conducted music for countless films: King Kong, Gone with the Wind, and Casablanca among many others.

Peter recalls, "Because of my Mother’s earlier Broadway career, I met many luminaries of the stage. Eddie Cantor and Sophie Tucker were regular visitors, as was Al Jolson, who my Mother once briefly dated. One clear memory is of going to “Pickfair” as a child, the social 'watering hole' in those days, “and sitting on Mary Pickford's knee as she told me stories of the days of yore.”

Clark Gable, Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck would come to dinner. Neighbor James Mason was often his baby sitter and Charlie Chaplin, who lived next door, was not the “Little Tramp” but the villain of Peter’s young life when he accidentally killed Peter’s beloved dog, Bill. Pearl Bailey is Peter’s God Mother and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson is his God Father.

In a foot note to Rock and Roll history, Peter was responsible for the Bill Haley and the Comet’s song “Rock Around the Clock” used as the theme song of his father’s film, “Blackboard Jungle” in 1955. Musically precocious, young Peter’s record collection and his recommendations were the source that director Richard Brooks used for this MGM film. This song, that Dick Clark dubbed “the national anthem of rock and roll” ushered in the rock and roll revolution that was to significantly shape American culture.

Peter graduated from Chadwick High School in Palos Verdes, California in 1962. He received an Associates of Arts degree from Santa Monica College in 1966 while pursuing a career as an actor and singer. Under contract to Capitol Records Peter was mentored by the incomparable Nat “King” Cole. Later, recording for Phillips records the release of his single, “Blue Ribbons”, resulted in appearances on many teen music television shows of the era, including American Bandstand, Hullabaloo and Ninth Street West.

He eventually formed his own group, The Creations, who appeared in various local clubs, as well as the Whiskey a Go-Go in San Francisco and the El Cortez Club in Las Vegas.

It is almost a given that the only child of two people in “the business” would try his hand at the same profession. Peter did, working in nearly two dozen-film projects, as an actor and dialogue director. The first film which Father and son worked in together was “Gilda” in 1946 where director Charles Vidor used Peter’s photo to represent Johnny Farrell (Glenn’s role in the film) as a child, and later, “The Americano” in 1954. Peter’s first speaking role was in “The Gazebo” in 1959, one of Glenn's favorite comedies, co-starring Debbie Reynolds. He also appeared in “Pocketful of Miracles”, “Dear Heart”, “Advance to the Rear”, “Fate is the Hunter” and “The Rounders”.

Peter attended USC, and it was there he met his future wife, Lynda Gundersen. Both were English majors. In 1968, Peter graduated, cum laude, with a B.A degree in English. He was accepted at U.S.C. law school, but chose to continue working as an actor and singer. Lynda went on to receive a Masters in Education and became an elementary public school teacher.

Peter and Lynda were married in his Father’s home in December 1970. Their first home was a small apartment in West Hollywood. Peter soon began working at Twentieth Century Fox as a dialogue director and took acting roles on television as well. It was through this work that Peter and Lynda purchased their first home which they remodeled themselves.

Still at Fox in 1972, he was cast as a series regular as well as dialogue director of his father’s new T.V series, “Cade’s County.” Peter appeared as the forensic lab deputy, Peter Odom, in nearly every one of the twenty-four episodes.

In 1973, after Cade’s County ended, Peter joined the Photo Unit of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a Reserve Deputy. Peter rose to the rank of Lieutenant before he retired in 1996 after twenty-two years of public service.

Peter and Lynda’s first child, Aubrey Newton Ford, was born in January 1977. They sold their home and made enough profit to purchase another and remodel that one as well. Eventually it became a pattern. Peter and Lynda decided to put all their energies into buying, remodeling and selling homes. They eventually renovated seven different properties before settling down. Now a licensed contractor, Peter built many custom residential homes for clients.

Peter’s first major home building commission was for Walter and Rita Coblenz, producer of “All the President’s Men” and “The Onion Field”. He took a partner into his company and Blackoak Development Company was born. Peter went on to build and remodel homes for many well known client: producer Steve Tisch, actress Mary Kay Place, producer Jerry Belson, super agent Jeff Berg, Don Simpson, producer of “Top Gun” and “Beverly Hills Cop”, writers Chuck Shyer and Nancy Meyers who wrote “Private Benjamin”, actress Jo Beth Williams, health guru Richard Simmons, actress Sally Kellerman and Blake Edwards and Julie Andrews.

In August 1984, Ryan Welsie Ford was born and their daughter, Eleanor Powell Ford joined the family in July of 1988. In 1989 Peter took over the building company and operated it as a sole proprietorship until his retirement from building in 1996. That company, Blackoak/Ford, was a respected custom residential construction firm. His work has been published in architectural magazines throughout the world. The Schnable House, designed by noted architect Frank Gehry, was voted by the New York Times as one of the “Ten Contemporary American Homes that matter most to Architects”.

Today, Peter and Lynda support many charitable causes. Peter is a Trustee Emeritus of The Americanism Educational League. He’s a student and collector of Native American culture. He has compiled a massive family genealogy which includes many notable patriots from the colonial era. He's a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants, Society of Colonial Wars and the Society of the Sons of the Revolution. He collects movie memorabilia from Hollywood's Golden Age, and maintains The Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell Library and Archives. As a writer, he has published numerous articles. He is the author of Glenn Ford: A Life, a definitive biography of his father published by the University of Wisconsin Press.

Peter’s various interests led him to KIEV 870 AM radio, where for nearly three years he hosted a popular weekly nighttime political talk show. In the June, 2010 election Peter ran for public office was elected to the Los Angeles Republican Central Committee's 42nd Assembly District. The following December he was unanimously elected as the 2nd Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County.

Today, Peter and his wife Lynda, now married more than 40-years, reside in Beverly Hills, California.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

7/7 Robert Conrad Talks with Connie Stevens - and YOU!

Born in Brooklyn of Italian and native-American parentage with the unlikely name of Concetta Anna Ingolia, Connie Stevens was raised by grandparents when her parents (both jazz musicians) filed for divorced. She attended Catholic boarding schools in her formative years and a distinct interest in music led to her forming a vocal quartet called "The Foremost" which was comprised of Connie and three men. Those men later became part of The Lettermen.

In Hollywood from 1953, Connie formed yet another vocal group "The Three Debs" while trying to break into films as an extra. Although she managed to co-star in a few mediocre teen dramas such as Young and Dangerous (1957), Eighteen and Anxious (1957), The Party Crashers (1958), and Dragstrip Riot (1958), it was comedian Jerry Lewis who set things in motion by casting the unknown starlet in his comedy Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958). Warner Bros. signed her up for their hot detective series "Hawaiian Eye" (1959) and she was off.

As pert and pretty "Cricket Blake", a slightly flaky and tomboyish singer/photographer, Connie became an instant teen idol -- trendy and undeniably appealing.

A couple of record hits came her way including "Sixteen Reasons" and the novelty song "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb". Connie had the title role in Susan Slade (1961), Parrish (1961), Palm Springs Weekend (1963) and Two on a Guillotine (1965).

In the 1970s, she refocused on her voice and started lining up singing commercials (Ace Hardware) while subsisting in nightclubs and hotels. Connie eventually built herself up as a Las Vegas headlining act. She also starred on Broadway with "The Star-Spangled Girl" and won a Theatre World Award for her performance in 1967. Comedian Bob Hope's made her one of his regular entertainers on his USO tours. Sporadic films came her way every now and then. A TV-movie The Sex Symbol (1974) (TV) had her playing a tragic Marilyn Monroe type goddess.

There was also innocuous fun with Grease 2 (1982) and Back to the Beach(1987) with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. She also appeared in episodes of "Murder, She Wrote" (1984), "The Love Boat" (1977) and "Baywatch" (1989).

Once wed to actor James Stacy, she later married and divorced singer Eddie Fisher. From her union with Fisher came two daughters, Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher, both of whom became actors.

In the 1990s, the never-say-die personality began a new lucrative career in the infomercial game with skin-care and make-up products. Now a self-made tycoon with her own successful beauty line to boot, Connie is living proof that anything can happen in that wild and wacky world called show biz.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

6/30 Robert Conrad Talks with Elliott Gould - and YOU!

Elliot Gould was one of Hollywood's hottest actors of the early '70s and he remains a steadily employed supporting and character actor. Gould's lifelong involvement in show business is partially the result of his mother. She encouraged an eight-year-old Gould take numerous classes in performing,singing, and dance, including ballet. She enrolled him in Manhattan's Professional Children's School and then had him perform in hospitals, temples, and sometimes on television. Gould was also a child model. During summers, Gould performed at Catskill mountain resorts.

When he was 18, he made it into a Broadway chorus line. Working odd jobs in between minor stage gigs, Gould did not get his big break until he joined the chorus line of the musical Irma La Douce. From there he won the leading role opposite Barbra Streisand in I Can Get It for You Wholesale. Though the two leads got good reviews, the show did not and rapidly closed. During its short run, Gould and Streisand fell in love, and in 1963, married.

The following year, Gould made a feature-film debut playing a deaf-mute in The Confession (1964). He went on to make The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968). While his wife's popularity hit the stratosphere, and for a time, he helped arrange her television appearances. By 1967 Gould untied the knot with Streisand.

Gould became a star in 1969 when his co-starring role in the sex comedy Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination. After playing Trapper John in Robert_Altman's counterculture classic M*A*S*H, Gould at last made it to the big league. Tall, curly-haired, laid-back, unconventional, and sensitive, Gould was tremendously popular with young adults who strongly identified with the often confused and neurotic characters he played. Gould's subsequent few films, notably Getting_Straight (1970) and Little_Murders, reinforced his counterculture image.

A powerfully subtle performance as Philip Marlow in Altman's Long Goodbye (1973) proved that Gould had talent to spare. He was in films California Split and Capricorn One, S*P*Y*S and I Will, I Will for Now.

His son, Jason_Gould, is an actor, too.