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Conrad Janis (February 11, 1928 – March 1, 2022) was an American jazz trombonist and actor who starred in film and television during the Golden Age Era in the 1950s and 1960s, and continued acting right up until 2012. He played the role of Mindy McConnell's father Frederick in 53 episodes of Mork & Mindy, and appeared in many guest-starring roles on several notable television shows throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, such as the sitcoms Maude, The Golden Girls, and Frasier.
Janis's work on television included starring in "Fit to Kill" on The Web on November 19, 1950. He played the eldest son Edward on the sitcom Bonino in 1953. He subsequently appeared in an episode of Get Smart as a KAOS agent, guest-starred as a dance marathon emcee on The Golden Girls, and appeared in the sci-fi sitcoms Quark and Mork and Mindy. He was also featured in The Buddy Holly Story and the Goldie Hawn / George Segal comedy The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox. Janis made a brief appearance as himself in the jazz bar scene of Nothing in Common.
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.
Music
Janis was a longtime advocate of Trad 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.
Personal life and death
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.
Partial filmography
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 Quark Otto Bob Palindrome 8 episodes Mork & Mindy Frederick Fred McConnell 53 episodes 1978 The Buddy Holly Story Ross Turner 1980 Oh, God! Book II Charles Benson 1985 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
External links
Categories: Official Website, 1928 Births, 2022 Deaths, 20th-century American Male Actors, 20th-century American Male Musicians, 20th-century American Trombonists, 21st-century American Jews, 21st-century American Male Actors, 21st-century American Male Musicians, 21st-century American Trombonists, American Male Film Actors, American Male Jazz Musicians, American Male Stage Actors, American Male Television Actors, Male Actors From New York City, American Male Trombonists, Jazz Musicians From New York, Jewish American Male Actors, Jubilee Records Artists, Musicians From New York City
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