Conrad Nagel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Conrad Nagel
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Nagel in 1922
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| Born |
John Conrad Nagel
March 16, 1897 Keokuk, Iowa, U.S.
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| Died | February 24, 1970 (aged 72) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Resting place | Garden State Crematory |
| Education | Des Moines College Highland Park College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1918–1967 |
| Spouse(s) |
Ruth Helms
(m. 1924; div. 1934)Lynn Merrick
(m. 1945; div. 1948)Michael Coulson Smith
(m. 1955; div. 1956) |
| Children | 2 |
Conrad Nagel (born March 16, 1897 – died February 24, 1970) was a famous American actor. He starred in movies, on stage, and on radio and TV. People knew him as a popular leading man in the 1920s and 1930s. He received a special Academy Award in 1940. He also has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Contents
Conrad Nagel: A Star of Early Hollywood
His Early Years
Conrad Nagel was born in Keokuk, Iowa. His family was well-off. His father, Dr. Frank L. Nagel, was a musician. His mother, Frances, was a talented singer. Sadly, Conrad's mother passed away when he was young. He always felt that his family's love for art helped him become an artist.
When Conrad was three, his family moved to Des Moines. His father became the head of the music school at Highland Park College. After finishing college, Conrad moved to California. He wanted to become an actor in the new world of movies.
Studio bosses in Hollywood quickly noticed him. He was tall, with blue eyes and wavy blond hair. They saw him as a wholesome, all-American star. They believed his natural charm would appeal to movie fans.
Becoming a Film Star
Conrad Nagel quickly got movie roles. These roles helped him build his image as a "pure lover." His first film was Little Women in 1918. This movie made him famous in silent films. His big break came in 1920 with the movie The Fighting Chance. He starred alongside Swedish actress Anna Q. Nilsson. In 1918, he also joined The Lambs, a club for theater actors.
In 1927, Nagel appeared in the horror film London After Midnight. He starred with Lon Chaney Sr. and Marceline Day. This movie is now lost. Unlike many silent film stars, Conrad Nagel easily moved into movies with sound. His deep voice was perfect for sound films. He made about 30 movies in just two years. He called this time a "great adventure." He was so busy that he was in movies playing at three different theaters at once! He joked that he was "an epidemic." For many years, he was a successful character actor. He also became well-known on radio and television.
Helping the Film Industry
On May 11, 1927, Conrad Nagel helped create the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This group works to improve movie arts and sciences. Other famous actors like Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks also helped start it. Conrad Nagel was the president of the Academy from 1932 to 1933. He also helped start the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), a union for actors.
Conrad Nagel hosted the 3rd Academy Awards in 1930 and the 5th Academy Awards in 1932. He also co-hosted the 25th Academy Awards in 1953 with Bob Hope. The long time between his hosting jobs (21 years) is a record!
Radio and Television Work
Conrad Nagel was also popular on radio. In 1939, he was the announcer for Alec Templeton Time on NBC Radio. From 1937 to 1947, he hosted and directed the radio show Silver Theater.
Later, he moved to television. He hosted the game show Celebrity Time from 1948 to 1952. He also hosted Broadway to Hollywood from 1953 to 1954. From 1955 to 1956, he hosted Hollywood Preview. This show featured movie stars and clips of upcoming films.
In 1961, he acted in an episode of the TV show Perry Mason. He played an art collector. In 1962, he appeared in the TV Western Gunsmoke.
Personal Life
Conrad Nagel was married and divorced three times. He passed away in New York City in 1970. He was 72 years old. His death was due to natural causes, including a heart attack.
Awards and Honors
In 1940, Conrad Nagel received a special Honorary Academy Award. This was for his work with the Motion Picture & Television Fund. This fund helps people in the movie industry.
Conrad Nagel has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars honor his contributions to film, radio, and television. You can find them at 1719 Vine Street (for movies) and 1752 Vine Street (for radio and television).
Filmography (selected)
Silent
- Little Women (1918) as Laurie Laurence
- The Lion and the Mouse (1919) as Jefferson Ryder
- Redhead (1919) as Matthew Thurlow
- Romeo's Dad (1919, Short)
- The Fighting Chance (1920) as Stephen Siward
- Unseen Forces (1920) as Clyde Brunton
- Midsummer Madness (1921) as Julian Osborne
- Forbidden Fruit (1921) as Actor in play 'Forbidden Fruit' (uncredited)
- What Every Woman Knows (1921) as John Shand
- The Lost Romance (1921) as Allen Erskine, M.D
- Fool's Paradise (1921) as Arthur Phelps
- Saturday Night (1922) as Richard Prentiss
- Hate (1922) as Dick Talbot
- The Ordeal (1922) as Dr. Robert Acton
- Nice People (1922) as Scotty White
- The Impossible Mrs. Bellew (1922) as John Helstan
- Singed Wings (1922) as Peter Gordon
- Grumpy (1923) as Ernest Heron
- Bella Donna (1923) as Nigel Armine
- Lawful Larceny (1923) as Andrew Dorsey
- The Rendezvous (1923) as Walter Stanford
- Name the Man (1924) as Victor Stowell
- Three Weeks (1924) as Paul Verdayne
- The Rejected Woman (1924) as John Leslie
- Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1924) as Angel Clare
- Sinners in Silk (1924) as Brock Farley
- Married Flirts (1924) as Perley Rex
- The Snob (1924) as Herrick Appleton
- So This Is Marriage (1924) as Peter Marsh
- Excuse Me (1925) as Harry Mallory
- Cheaper to Marry (1925) as Dick Tyler
- Pretty Ladies (1925) as Maggie's Dream Lover
- Sun-Up (1925) as Rufe
- Lights of Old Broadway (1925) as Dirk de Rhonde
- The Only Thing (1925) as Harry Vane - the Duke of Chevenix
- Dance Madness (1926) as Roger Halladay
- Memory Lane (1926) as Jimmy Holt
- The Exquisite Sinner (1926) as Dominique Prad
- There You Are! (1926) as George Fenwick
- Tin Hats (1926) as Jack Benson
- Heaven on Earth (1927) as Edmond Durand
- Slightly Used (1927) as Major John Smith
- Quality Street (1927) as Dr. Valentine Brown
- The Girl from Chicago (1927) as Handsome Joe
- London After Midnight (1927) as Arthur Hibbs
- If I Were Single (1927) as Ted Howard
- Tenderloin (1928) as Chuck White
- The Crimson City (1928) as Ralph Blake
- Glorious Betsy (1928) as Jérôme Bonaparte
- Diamond Handcuffs (1928) as John
- The Michigan Kid (1928) as Michigan Kid / Jim Rowen
- The Mysterious Lady (1928) as Karl von Raden
- The Kiss (1929) as André
Sound
- Caught in the Fog (1928) as Bob Vickers
- State Street Sadie (1928) as Ralph Blake
- The Terror (1928) as Narrator of Spoken Credit Titles (uncredited)
- Red Wine (1928) as Charles H. Cook
- The Redeeming Sin (1929) as Dr. Raoul de Boise
- Kid Gloves (1929) as Kid Gloves
- The Idle Rich (1929) as William van Luyn
- The Thirteenth Chair (1929) as Richard Crosby
- The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929) as Himself - Master of Ceremonies
- The Sacred Flame (1929) as Col. Maurice Taylor
- Dynamite (1929) as Roger Towne
- The Ship from Shanghai (1930) as Howard Vazey
- Second Wife (1930) as Walter Fairchild
- Redemption (1930) as Victor Karenin
- The Divorcee (1930) as Paul
- One Romantic Night (1930) as Dr. Nicholas Haller
- Numbered Men (1930) as 26521
- A Lady Surrenders (1930) as Winthrop Beauvel
- Du Barry, Woman of Passion (1930) as Cosse de Brissac
- Today (1930) as Fred Warner
- The Right of Way (1931) as Charley 'Beauty' Steele
- East Lynne (1931) as Robert Carlyle
- Bad Sister (1931) as Dr. Dick Lindley
- Three Who Loved (1931) as John Hanson
- Son of India (1931) as William Darsay
- The Reckless Hour (1931) as Edward 'Eddie' Adams
- The Pagan Lady (1931) as Ernest Todd
- Hell Divers (1931) as Lieutenant D.W. "Duke" Johnson
- The Man Called Back (1932) as Dr. David Yorke
- Divorce in the Family (1932) as Dr. Shumaker
- Kongo (1932) as Kingsland
- Fast Life (1932) as Burton
- The Constant Woman (1933) as Walt Underwood
- Ann Vickers (1933) as Lindsey Atwell
- Dangerous Corner (1934) as Robert Chatfield
- The Marines Are Coming (1934) as Capt. Edward 'Ned' Benton
- One Hour Late (1934) as Stephen Barclay
- Death Flies East (1935) as John Robinson Gordon
- One New York Night (1935) as Kent
- Ball at Savoy (1936) as John Egan, posing as Baron Dupont
- The Girl from Mandalay (1936) as John Foster
- Wedding Present (1936) as Roger Dodacker
- Yellow Cargo (1936) as Alan O'Connor
- Navy Spy (1937) as Alan O'Connor
- The Gold Racket (1937) as Alan O'Connor
- Bank Alarm (1937) as Alan O'Connor
- The Mad Empress (1939) as Maximilian
- One Million B.C. (1940) as Narrator
- I Want a Divorce (1940) as David Holland, Sr.
- Forever Yours (1945) as Dr. Randall
- The Adventures of Rusty (1945) as Hugh Mitchell
- Stage Struck (1948) as Police Lt. Williams
- The Vicious Circle (1948) as Karl Nemesch
- All That Heaven Allows (1955) as Harvey
- Hidden Fear (1957) as Arthur Miller
- A Stranger in My Arms (1959) as Harley Beasley
- The Man Who Understood Women (1959) as G.K. Brody
Radio appearances
| Year | Program | Episode/source |
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| 1953 | Theater of Life | Three Miracles |
See also
In Spanish: Conrad Nagel para niños
