Post by zimmerman on Apr 4, 2023 14:21:59 GMT -5
There is not much new information in this article. However, I did want to post it for the site's archives; this originally appeared in the March 7, 2023 edition of the Chicago Tribune:
"Where did trails leaf for stars of Western series 'Wild Wild West?"
By Rich Heldenfels
Tirbune News Service.
Q: What happened to the original stars of 'The Wild WIld West'?
A: Fans well remember the 1965-69 adventure series starring Robert Conrad as James T. West "the James Bond of Westerns", according to one book, and Ross Martin as his master-of-disguise partner Artemus Gordon.
This was Conrad's second series, following "Hawaiian Eye" in 1959-63. He would go on to star in diferent TV series in the 1950's, '60's, '70's, '80's, and '90's. He was famous as well for his Eveready battery commercials and for TV movies, including "Will," where he played G. Gordon Liddy, and the miniseries "Centenniol." He & Martin also reunited for two WIld Wild West TV-movies.
But not all was good in his life. As the New York Times reported, in 2003, he "Was charged with driving drunk after his car crashed into another vehicle, seriously injuring the other driver and hinself. Mr. Conrad, who was left with some right arm and hand paralysis, was fined and sentenced to six months of house arrest." He died of heart failure at age 84 in 2020.
Born in Poland and educated as a lawyer, Ross Martin's skilled TV work before and after "West" was mainly in guest roles; he also did some stage and movie work. He had health problems along the way, at one point taking a break from "West" following a heart attack (Charles Aidman filled in as another character.) He died at age 61 in 1981 after another heart attack.
"Where did trails leaf for stars of Western series 'Wild Wild West?"
By Rich Heldenfels
Tirbune News Service.
Q: What happened to the original stars of 'The Wild WIld West'?
A: Fans well remember the 1965-69 adventure series starring Robert Conrad as James T. West "the James Bond of Westerns", according to one book, and Ross Martin as his master-of-disguise partner Artemus Gordon.
This was Conrad's second series, following "Hawaiian Eye" in 1959-63. He would go on to star in diferent TV series in the 1950's, '60's, '70's, '80's, and '90's. He was famous as well for his Eveready battery commercials and for TV movies, including "Will," where he played G. Gordon Liddy, and the miniseries "Centenniol." He & Martin also reunited for two WIld Wild West TV-movies.
But not all was good in his life. As the New York Times reported, in 2003, he "Was charged with driving drunk after his car crashed into another vehicle, seriously injuring the other driver and hinself. Mr. Conrad, who was left with some right arm and hand paralysis, was fined and sentenced to six months of house arrest." He died of heart failure at age 84 in 2020.
Born in Poland and educated as a lawyer, Ross Martin's skilled TV work before and after "West" was mainly in guest roles; he also did some stage and movie work. He had health problems along the way, at one point taking a break from "West" following a heart attack (Charles Aidman filled in as another character.) He died at age 61 in 1981 after another heart attack.