FILMOGRAPHY: "CLIPPED WINGS" (1953) "JAIL BAIT" (1954, uncredited) Medical Attendant/Photographer. "PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE" (1958) Policeman "THE SINISTER URGE" (1961) Connie "THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS" (1961) Man in overalls "POLISH VAMPIRE IN BURBANK" (1985) "DEATHROW GAMESHOW" (1987) Judge "CURSE OF THE QUEERWOLF" (1988) "TEST TUBE TEENS FROM THE YEAR 2000" (1994) Janitor "ED WOOD: LOOK BACK IN ANGORA" (1994) himself "CONRAD BROOKS VS. THE WEREWOLF" (1994) himself "ED WOOD" (1994) himself "THE HAUNTED WORLD OF ED WOOD, JR." (1995) "BIKINI DRIVE-IN" (1995) Oscar "TOAD WARRIOR" (1996) Swamp farmer "SHOTGUN BOULEVARD" (1996) Rinaldi "GHOST TAXI" (1996) "MISFIT PATROL" (1997) "I WOKE UP EARLY THE DAY I DIED" (1998) "GUNS OF EL CHUPACABRA" (1998) Deputy Rains "ICE SCREAM" (1998) "IRONBOUND VAMPIRE" (1998) Butler "ALIEN AGENDA: UNDER THE SKIN" (1998) Mob leader "CREATUREALM: FROM THE DEAD" (1998) himself
BIOGRAPHY: Conrad was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He went to Los Angeles in the good old days, 1948. He was visiting and ended up staying in California for a couple of years.
Q: HOW DID YOU FALL INTO MOVIEMAKING?:
I happened to know the right guy, Ed wood. I met him at a coffee shop, right in Hollywood. At the time he was a radio producer, four years away from doing a movie. I was inspired by Bela Lugosi and working with other actors.
Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT ED WOOD THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW?
He was good person, but he loved to drink. I don't think he used it as an escape, he simply loved to drink. His trying to get into showbiz was his downfall. The poor guy really had to struggle. Yet, he struggled for the love of it.
Q: HOW MANY MOVIES HAVE YOU BEEN IN?
I've been in two hundred films-it should have done 500! I do pictures because people approach me and, if I like the people, I go out and play a role in their film and do my best. Lately I've been mentioned in a few New York City papers, called the "John Barrymore of Low budget films" and the King of the B's.
Q: WHAT TYPE OF ROLES DO YOU PREFER?
I enjoy them all-comedies, I never turn a job down.
Q: WHAT IS SOME RECENT WORK, DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS?
I've been staying busy, very busy. I played Oscar in Fred Olen Ray's BIKINI DRIVE-IN, I was the butler in IRONBOUND VAMPIRE. Whether it's a low budget film or an "A" movie I give it my best. I try to finish on time. If a man is going to put me in his picture the only thing I can do is my best. There's also I SCREAM and Ron Ford's HOLLYWOOD MORTUARY-that was a good one. I was pretty good in that picture, I was surprised. I'm getting better tall the time!
There's also MISFIT PATROL, a 35mm comedy directed by Anthony Cardozza, in which I play Officer Murphy. I got top billing, along with actor Vernon Welles. I always thought I was a dramatic actor, and when the director first called me and told me it was a comedy I told him, "I don't do comedies". He said I was funny, that I didn't realize it, but I was good. He said, "Conrad, you don't realize it but you're funny. Just to look at you is funny at times". I was surprised I was good. From the beginning Cardozza wanted me for this picture. There were lots of stops and starts with the production and when he finally called me for the movie he wanted me to fly there. I said I wouldn't take a plain, I don't like flying. I like taking the train because I feel much safer traveling like that. When I got off the train he throws the script at me and says a lot of changes were made-and that we're shooting the next day. There wasn't enough time to read the script-to this day I still haven't read it. I kind of winged the picture…just read my part! But it worked out real good. It's a damn good movie, out on video now.
Q: WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
I'm working on a movie of my own called JACK GOW, the Beast from the East. It's gonna be a great one. I directed it. It's nothing fancy but a lot of work. The guy who plays the beast looks like Rondo Hatten. He's terrific. Terrific!
Q: WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON A MOVIE?
Everything! Every time I do a picture there's something. Nothing bothers me, I'm easy going, happy go lucky. They're usually weird movies, what do you expect?
Q: IF YOU NEVER GOT INTO MOVIE MAKING WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I love to travel, I'm always traveling. I'd probably work out at sea.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO ACTORS LOOKING TO GET INTO MOVIES?
Stay with it. If that's your love, stay with it. Ed wood proved it. Make sure your six shooter is loaded all the time. I've met people who got married who complain they gave up their career, et cetera. Well, if you really wanted that career they shouldn't have gotten married! I never lived for high hopes, because if things never go your way there's a long drop to the bottom. I'm always looking up, because if things don't go my way there's not a long way to fall!
Q: ADVICE TO DIRECTORS?
If you're a good man you can do anything in this business. Who needs people who are so important they can't be bothered? Also, if you use me in your picture I'll help sell the movie! It's good to have a name. Also, if you have something that is done right, that people will enjoy, it will make money.
