Jess Conrad (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".

Biography 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. He was noticed by Jack Good, who included him in his TV series Oh Boy!. 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.

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. In 1977, 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, 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?"

Conrad 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.

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. In a BBC Arena documentary about the record producer Joe Meek, Conrad said that he bit off part of the nose of the singer Heinz during a confrontation backstage at a package show in the early 1960s. 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 also plays the role of Larry Parnes in the film. In 2016 Conrad 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. In 2023, Conrad filmed a leading role in the film Somebody's Daughter written by Zara Phillips.

Awards Conrad is a member of the show business fraternity the Grand Order of Water Rats, having served as "King Rat". He is also a Freemason and a member of Chelsea Lodge No. 3098, the membership of which is made up of entertainers. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours for charitable services. In 2018, he appeared in ITV's Last Laugh in Vegas.

Personal life Conrad is married to Renee; the couple have two children. He described the actress Diana Dors as "the best friend I ever had".

Selected discography "Cherry Pie" / "There's Gonna Be A Day" 1960 "Out of Luck" / "Unless You Mean It" Decca UK 1960 "Mystery Girl" / "Just The Two of Us" / "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" / "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 Film Year Title Role Notes1955 The Cockleshell Heroes Sailor in Pub Uncredited1956 Who Done It? Man Walking around Radio Show Uncredited1956 Wicked as They Come Dancer in Club Uncredited1956 My Teenage Daughter Dancer Uncredited1956 The Extra Day Boxing Match Spectator Uncredited1956 Reach for the Sky Cadet Pilot Uncredited1958 Further Up the Creek Signalman Uncredited1959 Serious Charge Dancer Uncredited1959 The Ugly Duckling Bimbo 1959 Friends and Neighbours Buddy Fisher 1959 Follow a Star Theatre Heckler Uncredited1960 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 Parnes2011 Zero Lottery Presenter 2012 Run for Your Wife Piano Player Cameo2016 Mob Handed The Judge 2024 Somebody's Daughter TBA

Television Year Title Role Notes1959 ITV Television Playhouse Barnie Day Episode: "Rock-a-Bye Barnie"1959 Probation Officer Lofty Episode: 1.81959 The Four Just Men Carl Willett Episode: "Panic Button"1960 Someone Who Cares Ricky TV film1960 The Odd Man Cliff 3 episodes1961 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 film1965 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 episodes1970 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 episodes1996 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 episodes2020 Autopsy: The Last Hours of... Adam West Episode: "Adam West"2022 Doctors Alan Yates Episode: "Safe Pair of Hands"

References

External links Jess Conrad discography

Official Conrad website