Conrad Janis

• Name — Conrad Janis • Born — 11 February 1928 • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Died — 1 March 2022 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — * Actor • trombonist • Years Active — 1945–2012 • Children — 2

Janis was born in Manhattan on February 11, 1928. His father, Sidney, was an art dealer and writer; his mother, Harriet (Grossman), was also a writer. He had one brother, Carroll. Janis successfully auditioned as an actor for a road company at the age of 13 and consequently spent the next two years with them. He also began doing radio voice work during this time.

Janis was a longtime advocate of traditional jazz. He assembled a band of jazz musicians in 1949 ("all of the guys that I idolized"), consisting of James P. Johnson (piano), Henry Goodwin (trumpet), Edmond Hall (clarinet), Pops Foster (bass), and Baby Dodds (drums), with himself on trombone. During the late 1970s, he formed the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, which appeared multiple times on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and gave eight sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall.

Janis's first marriage was to Vicki Quarles. Together, they had two children: Christopher and Carin. They later divorced. His second marriage to Ronda Copland also ended in divorce. Janis married his third wife, Maria Grimm, in 1987. They remained married until her death in September 2021. Janis died on March 1, 2022, aged 94, in Los Angeles. His death was announced by his business manager Dean A. Avedon, who was also the executor of his estate.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • |1945 — Snafu — Ronald Stevens — Alternative title: Welcome Home • |1946 — Margie — Johnny 'Johnikins' Green • 1947 — The Brasher Doubloon — Leslie Murdock — Alternative title: The High Window • That Hagen Girl — Dewey Koons • |1948 — Beyond Glory — Raymond Denmore, Jr. • |1958 — Let's Rock — Charlie — Alternative title: Keep It Cool • |1965 — Get Smart — Victor — (Season 1, Episode 12) • |1966 — My Favorite Martian — Chad Foster — TV or Not TV (Season 3, Episode 19) • |1972 — Banacek — Video Technician — Let's Hear it for a Living Legend (Season 1 Episode 1) • 1974 — Airport 1975 — Arnie • Cannon — Larry Warshaw — Daddy's Little Girl • |1975 — The Happy Hooker — Fred • 1976 — Happy Days — Mr. Kendall — (Season 4, Episode 7) • The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox — Gladstone • Maude — Lyle Bellamy (Game Show Host) — (Season 5, Episode 8) • 1977 — Roseland — George • 1977–1978 — Quark — Otto Bob Palindrome — 8 episodes • 1978–1982 — Mork & Mindy — Frederick Fred McConnell — 53 episodes • 1978 — The Buddy Holly Story — Ross Turner • 1980 — Oh, God! Book II — Charles Benson • 1985 — V: The Series — Dr. David Atkins — Episode: "War of Illusions" • Brewster's Millions — Businessman in Car • Highway to Heaven — C.J. Barabbas — Episode: "The Devil and Jonathan Smith" • 1986 — Nothing in Common — Conrad Janis and the Unlisted Jazz Band • 1987 — The Golden Girls — Dance Marathon Emcee — (Season 3, Episode 2) • 1988 — Murder She Wrote — Miles Hatcher — (Season 5, Episode 2 'A Little Night Work') • 1989 — Caddie Woodlawn — Rev. Tanner • Sonny Boy — Doc Bender • 1992 — Mr. Saturday Night — Director • 1995 — The Feminine Touch — Frank Donaldsonn — Also director; alternative title: The November Conspiracy • 1996 — The Cable Guy — Father 'Double Trouble' • 1997–2002 — Frasier — Albert — 3 episodes • 2009 — Maneater — Doc Gramm • 2012 — Bad Blood — Lawrence — Also director