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Jess Conrad

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Jess Conrad
OBE
Conrad in 2017
Born
Gerald Arthur James

(1936-02-24) 24 February 1936 (age 88)
Brixton, London, England
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Spouse
Renee Bergman
​
(m. 1963)​
Children2
Websitejessconrad.com

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]

Biography

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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.

Conrad in 2014

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

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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.

Personal life

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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]

Selected discography

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  • "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

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Film

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "Looking Back With Jess" (PDF). Jessconrad.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Colin Larkin (1997). Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music. Muze UK Ltd. p. 125. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
  3. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 297. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "VIDEO: Shane Richie talks panto from the spooky Hellfire caves". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  6. ^ "The Strange Story of Joe Meek". IMDb. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  7. ^ "BBC: Jess Conrad bites off fellow singer Heinz's nose". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  8. ^ Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: WHY is Al Haskey in BIG trouble?". What to Watch. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  9. ^ "All Water Rats". Gowr.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  10. ^ Ray Donn. "Chelsea Lodge No 3098". Chelsea-lodge.org.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Viewing Page 9 of Issue 59808". London-gazette.co.uk. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Jess Conrad Biography". Jessconrad.com. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  13. ^ Diana Dors: Britain's Blonde Bombshell (Television production). Channel 5. 24 September 2022.
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