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 |
Biography
editConrad 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.
Awards
editConrad 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.
Personal life
editConrad 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]
Selected discography
edit- "Cherry Pie" / "There's Gonna Be A Day" 1960
- "Out of Luck" / "Unless You Mean It" Decca UK 1960
- "Mystery Girl" A2: Just The Two of Us B1: (I Wanna) Love My Life Away B2: Maybe You'll Be There 1961 EP
- "Mystery Girl" / "The Big White House" 1961
- "This Pullover" / "Why Am I Living" 1961
- "I See You" / "Oh! You Beautiful Doll" 1961
- "Every Breath I Take" / "Walk Away" 1961
- "Twist My Wrist" / "Hey Little Girl" 1961
Filmography
editFilm
edit| 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 |
Television
edit| 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" |
References
edit- ^ "Looking Back With Jess" (PDF). Jessconrad.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin (1997). Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music. Muze UK Ltd. p. 125. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 297. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ Bill Bailey. "Kenny Everett's World's Worst Wireless Show, Kenny Everett, World's Worst Records, Worlds Worst Records". Chronoglide.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "VIDEO: Shane Richie talks panto from the spooky Hellfire caves". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
- ^ "The Strange Story of Joe Meek". IMDb. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ "BBC: Jess Conrad bites off fellow singer Heinz's nose". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: WHY is Al Haskey in BIG trouble?". What to Watch. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "All Water Rats". Gowr.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ Ray Donn. "Chelsea Lodge No 3098". Chelsea-lodge.org.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Viewing Page 9 of Issue 59808". London-gazette.co.uk. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ "Jess Conrad Biography". Jessconrad.com. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ Diana Dors: Britain's Blonde Bombshell (Television production). Channel 5. 24 September 2022.