5 Years After His Death, Robert Conrad’s Widow FINALLY Breaks Her Silence | HO

For decades, Robert Conrad was the face of American television toughness—a man who did his own stunts, challenged critics to their faces, and never apologized for a life lived on his own terms. But behind the scenes, the star of The Wild, Wild West guarded his privacy as fiercely as he threw a punch on screen. Now, five years after his passing, the woman who stood by his side in his later years is ready to share her truth. What she reveals may forever change the way the world remembers Robert Conrad.

The Making of a Hollywood Tough Guy

Born Conrad Robert Falk in Chicago, 1935, Robert Conrad’s life began far from the glamour of Hollywood. His parents were little more than children themselves—his mother just 15, his father 17. The family struggled, and Conrad grew up fast, dropping out of high school at 15 to work a string of blue-collar jobs. He loaded freight, drove a milk truck, and hustled to make ends meet.

But Conrad’s mother, Alice Jacqueline Hartman, would become a music industry powerhouse, and her connections nudged her son toward show business. After a bit part in Juvenile Jungle (thanks to a chance meeting with actor Nick Adams at James Dean’s grave), Conrad landed a Warner Brothers contract. He soon found himself starring in hit TV shows like Maverick, Lawman, and Hawaiian Eye. By the early 1960s, he was also releasing singles—his “Bye-Bye Baby” even charted on Billboard.

But it was The Wild, Wild West that made Robert Conrad a household name. As secret agent James West, he became legendary for performing his own stunts—even after suffering serious injuries. Fans saw him as fearless, unbreakable, and always in control.

The Real Man Behind the Mask

Off camera, Conrad’s life was far more complicated. He was intensely private, fiercely loyal to those he loved, and often at odds with Hollywood’s power brokers. He married twice—first to Joan Kenlay, with whom he had five children, and later to LaVelda Ione Fann, whom he met while hosting a pageant she won. Together, they had three more children.

“He was the kind of man who would defend you to the end if you were in his circle,” recalls Phoebe Dorin, a Wild, Wild West co-star. “But if you crossed him, you’d know it.”

Conrad’s family was his anchor. He worked alongside his sons and daughters in various TV projects, kept his ex-wives close, and shielded his personal life from the tabloids. But his reputation for being tough wasn’t just an act. He challenged TV critics, sparred with network executives, and never backed down from a fight—on or off screen.

“He was the kind of man who would defend you to the end if you were in his circle,” recalls Phoebe Dorin, a Wild, Wild West co-star. “But if you crossed him, you’d know it.”

The Scars of Hollywood

Conrad’s take-no-prisoners attitude brought him both fame and friction. He famously promoted his portrayal of G. Gordon Liddy as “no bull” and openly criticized critics for being out of touch with ordinary Americans. “I’ve always called myself a man of lower-class mentality,” he once joked, “because I know what real people want from TV.”

He brought that same energy to his business dealings. In 1985, Conrad was sued for $1.25 million after allegedly backing out of a lucrative commercial deal with Midas Canada. The case vanished from public records, but it revealed a side of Conrad seldom seen—a celebrity who could be as tough in the boardroom as he was on the set.

The Crash That Changed Everything

For all his bravado, Robert Conrad was not invincible. On March 31, 2003, his life took a tragic turn. Driving his Jaguar on California’s Highway 4, Conrad crossed the center line and collided with another car. The other driver, 26-year-old Kevin Burnett, survived but suffered devastating injuries. Conrad’s blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.

The legal fallout was swift. Conrad pleaded no contest to felony drunk driving, received six months’ house arrest, five years’ probation, and was ordered to pay fines and restitution. The accident left him partially paralyzed and with permanent brain injuries. Burnett, who struggled with ongoing health problems, died just two years later. His family always believed the trauma from the crash contributed to his decline.

For Conrad, the accident marked a painful new chapter—one defined by physical limitations and public scrutiny. But through it all, his second wife LaVelda stood by him.

The Woman Behind the Legend

For years, LaVelda Conrad remained silent about her husband’s struggles. Now, at last, she’s ready to talk.

“Robert was never just the tough guy you saw on TV,” she says quietly. “He was a man who loved fiercely, who was loyal to his family, and who tried to do the right thing—even when he made mistakes.”

LaVelda describes the years after the accident as some of the hardest of their lives. “He lost so much of his independence. He was frustrated, angry, and, at times, deeply sad. But he never gave up. He fought every day to recover, to stay present for his children and grandchildren.”

She remembers the softer side of the man America thought it knew. “He’d sit for hours with our kids, telling stories, helping with homework. He’d call his friends just to check in. He wasn’t perfect, but he cared so deeply.”

The Truth About Robert Conrad’s Final Years

After the accident, Conrad retreated from public life, focusing on his family and his health. He continued to host a radio show, The PM Show with Robert Conrad, until 2019. In his final years, he relied on a wheelchair and required constant care.

“He was proud,” LaVelda says. “He hated asking for help. But he learned to accept it, and in those moments, you saw the real Robert—the man who could laugh at himself, who could be vulnerable.”

Conrad’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated at $10 million. It was a modest fortune by Hollywood standards, built on decades of hard work, smart real estate investments, and a diverse career that spanned acting, producing, and music. But for LaVelda, his true legacy was not money, but the family he built and the lives he touched.

The Untold Story of Loyalty and Regret

LaVelda reveals that Conrad’s greatest regret was the pain he caused others—especially Kevin Burnett’s family. “He never forgave himself for that night,” she says. “He carried that guilt with him. He tried to make amends, but some things you can’t undo.”

She also speaks candidly about the rumors that swirled around their marriage. “People always wanted to know if we were happy, if we stayed close. The truth is, we had our ups and downs like any couple. But we loved each other. We stood by each other. That’s all that matters.”

LaVelda’s decision to speak now, five years after Conrad’s death, is driven by a desire to set the record straight. “He wasn’t perfect. He was stubborn, sometimes difficult. But he was also generous, loving, and fiercely loyal. I want people to remember that side of him, too.”

The Legacy He Left Behind

Robert Conrad died peacefully in Malibu on February 8, 2020, surrounded by family. He was 84. The world mourned the loss of a TV icon, but for those who knew him best, it was the loss of a father, grandfather, and husband.

“He lived a big life,” LaVelda says. “He made mistakes, but he tried to learn from them. He loved his family more than anything. That’s the Robert Conrad I want people to remember.”

As new generations discover his work—whether as James West, Pappy Boyington, or the man who dared you to knock a battery off his shoulder—LaVelda hopes they’ll see beyond the tough-guy image. “He was more than an action hero. He was a real man, with real struggles and real love.”

Five Years Later: The Final Word

Five years after his death, Robert Conrad’s story is still evolving. Thanks to the courage of his widow, we now see a fuller portrait of the man behind the legend—a man defined not just by his toughness, but by his humanity.

“He always said he felt like the Energizer Bunny,” LaVelda laughs. “He just kept going and going. And in a way, he still does. His legacy is alive in his children, his work, and the memories we all share.”

In the end, Robert Conrad’s greatest role may have been the one he played off camera—a man who loved, who failed, who tried, and who, in the words of those who loved him, never stopped fighting for what mattered most.