Robert Conrad Raised Eight Children, And Details About His Old-School Parenting Have Come To Light
If you’re old enough to remember the days of black and white television, then you’ll no doubt be more than familiar with Robert Conrad. The actor starred in one of the most popular 1960s TV westerns, The Wild Wild West, and also enjoyed a second career as a pop crooner. You may not know, though, that Robert had no fewer than eight children!
Strict father
And Robert wasn’t exactly the most laid-back of fathers, either. In an interview with People magazine during the late 1980s, his kids revealed that the tough guy you saw on screen definitely wasn’t an act. And the Hollywood star’s parenting techniques definitely had an impact on his offspring.
Thriving kids
That’s right: all of Robert’s eight children appear to be thriving in their respective careers. Some have followed in his showbiz footsteps, while others have carved out their own paths. And no doubt they all learned a lot from their famous father’s strong work ethic. In fact, Robert was often a double threat.
Double threat
For example, in his early years Robert performed in a Chicago-based cabaret while also earning a living as a milk truck driver. His path to Hollywood began in 1957 when he struck up a friendship with a fellow actor. Nick Adams helped the aspiring star to bag several minor roles, which ultimately led to a Warner Bros. contract.
The Wild Wild West
In 1959 Robert bagged the role of private investigator Tom Lopaka on Hawaiian Eye, an adventure drama that stayed on air for four years. He went on to add to his resume with appearances in Palm Springs Weekend, 77 Sunset Strip, and Young Dillinger. Robert’s career-defining part, though, came in 1965 when he was cast in The Wild Wild West as James West, a secret agent.
