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British actor and singer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jess Conrad OBE (born Gerald Arthur James; 24 February 1936) is an English stage and screen actor and singer. As a boy he was nicknamed "Jesse" after American outlaw Jesse James; as there was already an actor named "Gerald James" in Actors' Equity, a drama teacher who was a fan of writer Joseph Conrad suggested the stage name of "Jess Conrad".[1]
Jess Conrad | |
|---|---|
Conrad in 2017 | |
| Born | Gerald Arthur James 24 February 1936 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Spouse |
Renee Bergman (m. 1963) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | jessconrad |
Conrad was born in Brixton, South London and started his career as a repertory actor and film extra, before being cast in a television play, Bye, Bye Barney, as a pop singer.[2] He was noticed by Jack Good, who included him in his TV series Oh Boy!.[2] Conrad then was signed to Decca Records and had a number of chart hits, including "Cherry Pie", "This Pullover", "Mystery Girl" and "Pretty Jenny"; also recording for Columbia, Pye President and EMI.[3]
Between the late 1950s and mid-1960s, Conrad appeared in a number of films such as Serious Charge (uncredited), The Boys, Rag Doll, (filmed in 1960, and released in 1961); K.I.L. 1 and Konga as well as Michael Powell's The Queen's Guards. Conrad played Danny Pace in an episode of The Human Jungle called "The Flip Side Man" in 1963.
During the 1970s, he spent some time in the stage shows Godspell and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and also featured in a cameo role in the Sex Pistols film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle.[2] In 1977 no fewer than seven of Conrad's singles were included in the 'World's Worst Record' list, chosen by listeners to Capital FM DJ Kenny Everett's show,[4] and "This Pullover", voted sixth worst song ever, later featured on The World's Worst Record Show, a 1978 LP dedicated to the songs voted for, together with two other Conrad recordings "Cherry Pie" and "Why Am I Living?" He also made an appearance in Are You Being Served as Mr Walpole, head of sporting equipment, in the episode "Memories Are Made of This".
Conrad also appeared in the 1984 TV series of Miss Marple, in the episode entitled The Body in the Library as Raymond Starr. He also starred in the 1993 film The Punk and the Princess.[5]
In the 1990s, Conrad made regular cameo appearances on Jim Davidson's revived version of The Generation Game on BBC1. In 1992, Conrad appeared in the Christmas Special of Big Break, also presented by Davidson and John Virgo. He was the "booby" prize of the show presented to actress Ruth Madoc.
Since then, Conrad has appeared in a number of documentaries and television programmes, often offering stories of violent encounters with other famous people. In a BBC Arena documentary about the record producer Joe Meek, Conrad boasted of biting off part of the nose of the singer Heinz during a confrontation backstage at a package show in the early 1960s.[6][7] In 2005, Conrad had a guest role in the sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.
In the 2009 film Telstar: The Joe Meek Story, Conrad is played by Nigel Harman. Conrad himself appears in one scene, depicting his backstage fight with Heinz and his biting of Heinz's nose. Conrad also plays the role of Larry Parnes in the film.[citation needed] In 2016 Jess appeared in Liam Galvin's Crime Thriller Film 'Mob Handed' playing a corrupt Judge. In October 2022, he appeared in the BBC soap opera Doctors as Alan Yates.[8] In 2023, Conrad filmed a leading role in the film Somebody's Daughter written by Zara Phillips and again directed by Liam Galvin.
Conrad is a member of the show business fraternity the Grand Order of Water Rats, having served as "King Rat".[9] He is also a Freemason and a member of Chelsea Lodge No. 3098, the membership of which is made up of entertainers.[10] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours for charitable services.[11] In 2018, he appeared in ITV's Last Laugh in Vegas.
Conrad is married to Renee and has two daughters, Sasha and Natalie.[12] He described the actress Diana Dors as "the best friend I ever had".[13]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | The Cockleshell Heroes | Sailor in Pub | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Who Done It? | Man Walking around Radio Show | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Wicked as They Come | Dancer in Club | Uncredited |
| 1956 | My Teenage Daughter | Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1956 | The Extra Day | Boxing Match Spectator | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Reach for the Sky | Cadet Pilot | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Further Up the Creek | Signalman | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Serious Charge | Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1959 | The Ugly Duckling | Bimbo | |
| 1959 | Friends and Neighbours | Buddy Fisher | |
| 1959 | Follow a Star | Theatre Heckler | Uncredited |
| 1960 | Too Young to Love | Peter Martin | |
| 1961 | Konga | Bob Kenton | |
| 1961 | Rag Doll | Shane | |
| 1961 | The Queen's Guards | Dankworth | |
| 1962 | K.I.L. 1 | Ted-o | |
| 1962 | The Boys | Barney Lee | |
| 1963 | Aliki | Barry Wilson | |
| 1964 | The Golden Head | Michael Stevenson | |
| 1965 | The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders | First Mohock | |
| 1967 | Hell Is Empty | Jess Shepherd | |
| 1969 | The Assassination Bureau | Angelo | |
| 1970 | Cool It Carol! | Jonathan | |
| 1972 | The Flesh and Blood Show | Young Actor | |
| 1980 | The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle | Jess | |
| 1985 | Claudia | Man at Deli | |
| 1986 | Absolute Beginners | Cappuccino Man | |
| 1989 | Tank Malling | Celebrity | |
| 1993 | The Punk | Rachel's Father | |
| 1995 | Sinderella Live | Prince Charming | |
| 2004 | Sinderella Comes Again | Prince Charming | |
| 2008 | Telstar: The Joe Meek Story | Larry Parnes | |
| 2011 | Zero | Lottery Presenter | |
| 2012 | Run for Your Wife | Piano Player | Cameo |
| 2016 | Mob Handed | The Judge | |
| 2024 | Somebody's Daughter | TBA |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | ITV Television Playhouse | Barnie Day | Episode: "Rock-a-Bye Barnie" |
| 1959 | Probation Officer | Lofty | Episode: #1.8 |
| 1959 | The Four Just Men | Carl Willett | Episode: "Panic Button" |
| 1960 | Someone Who Cares | Ricky | TV film |
| 1960 | The Odd Man | Cliff | 3 episodes |
| 1961 | Dixon of Dock Green | Mike Jarrod | Episode: "The Burn-Up" |
| 1962 | No Hiding Place | Johnny Burrows | Episode: "The Front Man" |
| 1963 | Armchair Theatre | Bell Hop | Episode: "The Paradise Suite" |
| 1963 | The Human Jungle | Danny Pace | Episode: "The Flip Side Man" |
| 1965 | Who Is Mary Morison? | Bobby | TV film |
| 1965 | No Hiding Place | Mick | Episode: "A Fistful of Trouble" |
| 1967 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Davo | Episode: "The Gun" |
| 1970 | From a Bird's Eye View | Clem Tiptree | 2 episodes |
| 1970 | Softly, Softly: Task Force | David Marks | Episode: "Who Wants Pride...?" |
| 1976 | Space: 1999 | Mark Sanders | Episode: "The Lambda Factor" |
| 1978 | Crossroads | Philip Bailey | 3 episodes |
| 1983 | Are You Being Served? | Mr. Walpole | Episode: "Memories Are Made of This" |
| 1984 | The Body in the Library | Raymond Starr | All 3 episodes |
| 1996 | Bodger and Badger | Mr. Jelly | Episode: "Here Comes Smarty Pants!" |
| 2005 | Last of the Summer Wine | Walker | Episode: "Who's That Mouse in the Poetry Group?" |
| 2018 | Last Laugh In Vegas | Himself | All 5 episodes |
| 2020 | Autopsy: The Last Hours of... | Adam West | Episode: "Adam West" |
| 2022 | Doctors | Alan Yates | Episode: "Safe Pair of Hands" |
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