William Conrad

William Conrad (Louisville, September 27, 1920) was an American film and radio actor.

He began working in radio in the late 1930s in California; later, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he continued working as a radio actor, a profession for which he was particularly well-suited thanks to his deep, resonant voice. His role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the Western radio drama Gunsmoke (1952–61) is particularly noteworthy. Other radio productions he worked on include Escape, Suspense and The Damon Runyon Theater. He appeared in the episode "Spokes" of The High Chaparral as 'China' Pierce (Francisco Rizzo 2/20/17).

He also worked in film, though only sporadically, with notable titles including The Killers (1946), alongside Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, Body and Soul (1947), Joan of Arc (1948) with Ingrid Bergman, and The Naked Jungle (1954), with Charlton Heston.

However, he is probably best remembered for his television work. He debuted in the medium in the 1960s. He appeared in series such as The Man and the Challenge and Target: The Corruptors! (1962) and was the narrator for the famous series The Fugitive (1963-1967). His most popular role was probably that of the obese detective who gave his name to the series Cannon, which aired on CBS between 1971 and 1976. He later starred in the series Nero Wolfe (1981) and Jake and the Fatman (1987–1992), with Joe Penny.

Radio career: 

Gunsmoke: He portrayed Matt Dillon in 480 episodes, becoming a voice synonymous with the West, though he didn't transition to television because he didn't physically fit the role. 

Escape and Suspense: He was a regular on these suspense programs, often narrating or portraying villains and heroes. In one episode of Suspense ("The Wax Works"), he played all the roles. 

Work Volume: It is estimated that he appeared on more than 7,500 radio programs. 
Style: Conrad used his baritone voice to create characters with great authority and nuance, beginning his career as an announcer, writer, and director at KMPC Los Angeles. 

Legacy: He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1997.

He died of heart failure on February 11, 1994, at the age of 73.