{{Short description|American actor (born 1950)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox writer | image = | image_size = 100px | | name = Conrad Dunn | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1950|03|09}} | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, US | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actor }} }}
'''Conrad Dunn''' (born March 9, 1950)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jason47.com/days/oldcast2d.html#:~:text=Birthday%3A%20March%209%2C%201950.,appearances%20in%201981%20and%201984. |title=Days of Our Lives Former Cast Biographies |website=Jason47 |access-date=2025-07-20}}</ref> is an American actor. He began his screen career with the role of Francis "Psycho" Soyer in ''Stripes'' (1981). Working for some ten years under the name '''George Jenesky''', he achieved soap-opera stardom in ''Days of Our Lives'' as Nick Corelli, a misogynistic pimp who evolved from bad guy to romantic lead. He returned to the name Conrad Dunn and began working extensively in Canadian as well as U.S. film and television. He excels as a villain, and has found depth in such TV films as ''We the Jury'' (1996) and the miniseries ''The Last Don'' (1997–1998). For two seasons he portrayed the freelance detective Saul Panzer in the A&E TV series ''Nero Wolfe'' (2001–2002).
==Life and career== Born and raised in Los Angeles,<ref name="Logan"/>{{Rp|31}} Conrad Dunn studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles and with Stella Adler in New York. After seeing him on the stage, a casting director asked him to read for the role of Francis "Psycho" Soyer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/religion/os-famous-people-named-francis-pictures-017-photo.html |title=Pvt. Francis 'Psycho' Sawyer from 'Stripes'|website=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=2015-07-16 |quote=Pvt. Francis 'Psycho' Sawyer played by Conrad Dunn was a memorable character from the 1981 Bill Murray and Harold Ramis comedy 'Stripes.' }}</ref> in ''Stripes'' (1981), his first feature film.<ref name="CD Interview 2011"/>{{efn|Before working in ''Stripes'', Dunn filmed scenes for ''Evilspeak'' (1981) that did not appear in the final release.<ref name="Logan"/>{{Rp|31–32}}}} His introductory speech,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083131/quotes |title=Stripes (1981): Quotes |publisher=Internet Movie Database |access-date=2015-07-16 }}</ref> described by one reviewer as "Conrad Dunn's adroit tribute to Travis Bickle",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinepassion.org/Reviews/s/Stripes.html |title=Reviews: Stripes |last=Croce |first=Fernando F. |date=September 25, 2009 |website=CinePassion |access-date=2015-07-16 }}</ref> was singled out by film critic Roger Ebert: "The movie has especially good writing in several scenes. My favorite comes near the beginning, during a session when recruits in the new platoon get to know one another. One obviously psycho draftee, who looks like Robert De Niro, quietly announces that if his fellow soldiers touch him, touch his stuff, or interfere in any way with his person or his privacy, he will quite simply be forced to kill them."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/stripes-1981 |title=Stripes |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=January 1, 1981 |publisher=RogerEbert.com |access-date=2015-07-16}}</ref> The response from drill sergeant Hulka, played by Warren Oates—"Lighten up, Francis"—became a popular movie quote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/11/30/the-line-on-great-movie-quotes/ |title=The line on great movie quotes |last=Greenfield |first=Jimmy |date=November 30, 2004 |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=2015-07-16}}</ref>
Taking the name George Jenesky, Dunn performed over seven seasons (1981–1990) in the NBC daytime soap opera, ''Days of Our Lives''. His character, Nick Corelli, became a fan favorite, a despicable pimp who evolved into a romantic lead and one of the show's main characters.<ref name="Logan"/>{{Rp|34, 36}}<ref name="Russell"/>{{Rp|71, 191}} Nick's murder was one of the series' notable whodunits.<ref name="Russell"/>{{Rp|146–149}}
Dunn had his own theatre company,<ref name="CD Interview 2011"/> and his stage credits include a 1994 production of Edward Albee's ''The Zoo Story'' simultaneously performed in American Sign Language. "Notwithstanding the value of bringing this important work to a non-hearing audience, the energy of the gestures generated by the actors actually underscores the emotional impact of their fateful encounter," wrote ''Variety''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1994/legit/reviews/the-zoo-story-1200437502/ |title=Review: 'The Zoo Story'|last=Martinez |first=Julio |date=June 22, 1994 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-15 |quote=… The pulse of 'The Zoo Story' beats from the heart of Jerry. This strangely repulsive but hypnotic being is personified by Conrad Dunn. He is immediately dangerous but poetic, a loose cannon with the patience of a Buddhist monk. It is an amazing experience to watch this gifted performer use his words and his almost dancelike signing ability to frighten yet somehow give comfort to his newfound soulmate Peter.}}</ref>
He has made numerous appearances in films and on television, frequently as the villain.<ref name="CD Interview 2011"/> In the mid-1990s he returned to the name Conrad Dunn and began working extensively in Canada as well as the U.S. Notable TV roles include an antagonistic juror in the USA Network film, ''We the Jury'' (1996),<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Howard |author-link=Howard Rosenberg |date=October 16, 1996 |title=Deliberating Virtues, Vices of Three Timely TV Movies |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-16-ca-54228-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2015-07-15 }}</ref> a remorseless mobster in two CBS miniseries (1997–1998) adapted from Mario Puzo's ''The Last Don'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Farkash |first=Michael |date=April 30, 1998 |title=TV Review: The Last Don II |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |quote=Decent acting is in evidence, with standouts coming from two of the smaller roles—Robert Wuhl as Bobby Bantz, providing lively comic relief, and Conrad Dunn as Lia Vazzi, the most menacing of Cross' henchmen.}}</ref> and the arch villain in the 2000 pilot for TNT's supernatural drama series ''Witchblade''.<ref name="Turegano"/> In 2001 he joined the principal cast of the A&E TV series, ''Nero Wolfe'' (2001–2002), portraying the superlatively competent freelance detective Saul Panzer for two seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itsabouttv.com/2013/08/mitchells-top-ten-7-nero-wolfe.html |title=Mitchell's Top Ten, #7: ''Nero Wolfe'' |last=Hadley |first=Mitchell |date=August 27, 2013 |website=It's About TV |access-date=2015-07-15 }}</ref> His later film appearances include ''Chicago'' (2001),<ref name="Chicago"/> ''Owning Mahowny'' (2003)<ref name="AMG NYT"/> and Ving Rhames' ''Animal 2'' (2007).<ref name="Historical Dictionary"/>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1981 | ''Stripes'' | Francis "Psycho" Soyer | <ref name="CD Interview 2011">{{cite web|url=http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1970110043 |title=Back to the 80s: Interview with Conrad Dunn |date=February 6, 2011 |website=Kickin' it Old School |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729171452/http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1970110043 |archive-date=July 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=2016-11-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=56699 |title=Stripes |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films |publisher=American Film Institute |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1981 | ''Days of Our Lives'' (TV series) | Nick Corelli | as George Jenesky<ref name="Russell">{{cite book |last=Russell |first=Maureen |date=1995 |title=Days of Our Lives: A Complete History of the Long-Running Soap Opera |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=0-7864-0112-5 }}</ref>{{Rp|191}} |- | 1983 | ''T.J. Hooker'' (TV series) | Douglas Nelson | "Too Late for Love"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ctva.biz/US/Crime/TJHooker_01_%281982-83%29.htm |title=T.J. Hooker, Season 1 |publisher=Classic TV Archive |access-date=2016-03-07}}</ref> |- | 1983 | ''Buffalo Bill'' (TV series) | | "Woody Quits"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1983 | ''Alice'' (TV series) | Customer | "The Robot Wore Pink"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1984 | ''Days of Our Lives'' | Nick Corelli | as George Jenesky<ref name="Russell"/> |- | 1985 | ''Hill Street Blues'' (TV series) | Sonny Murdo | "You're in Alice's"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1986 | ''Stewardess School'' | Referee | as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1986 | ''Jumpin' Jack Flash'' | Man with Umbrella at Phone Booth | as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1986 | ''Amazing Stories'' (TV series) | Gas Station Attendant<br>Warden's Guard | "Gather Ye Acorns", as George Jenesky<br>"Life on Death Row", as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1986 | ''Hunter'' (TV series) | Rocket | "The Set Up", as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1986–1990 | ''Days of Our Lives'' | Nick Corelli | as George Jenesky<ref name="Russell"/> |- | 1988 | ''Alien Nation'' | Quint | as George Jenesky<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=55730 |title=Alien Nation |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films |publisher=American Film Institute |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1989 | ''True Believer'' | Slim Jim | as George Jenesky<ref name="Logan">{{cite journal |last=Logan |first=Michael |date=July 11, 1989 |title=Phantom of the Soap Opera |journal=Soap Opera Digest |volume=14 |issue=14 |pages=30–31, 33–36, 38}}</ref>{{Rp|31}} |- | 1988 | ''Hunter'' | Tommy Orlowski | "Presumed Guilty", as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1990 | ''Death Warrant'' | Konefke | as George Jenesky<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/AbbrView.aspx?s=&Movie=58470&Display=C |title=Death Warrant |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films |publisher=American Film Institute |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1990 | ''Dark Justice'' (TV series) | Ted | "Prime Cuts", as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1992 | ''Tequila and Bonetti'' (TV series) | Wayne | "Mama", as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1993 | ''Inside Edge'' | Hip-Hop | as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1993 | ''Without Warning: Terror in the Towers'' (TV) | Mohammed Salameh | as George Jenesky<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1995 | ''Highlander: The Series'' (TV series) | Matthew | "Blind Faith"<ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 1995 | ''The Marshal'' (TV series) | Louie-Louie | "Rainbow Comix"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ctva.biz/US/Crime/Marshal.htm |title=The Marshal |publisher=Classic TV Archive |access-date=2016-03-07}}</ref> |- | 1995 | ''Due South'' (TV series) | Siracusa | "The Witness"<ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 1996 | ''Side Effects'' (TV series) | Dr. Irwin Pfaff | "Behind the Scenes"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1996 | ''Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice'' (TV) | Henry Gore | <ref name="AMG NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/ed-mcbain-s-87th-precinct-ice-1200444984/ |title=Review: 'Ed Mcbain's 87th Precinct Ice'|last=Scott |first=Tony |date=February 15, 1996 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1996 | ''Mask of Death'' | Frank Dallio | <ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 1996 | ''Silent Trigger'' | Klein "Supervisor" | <ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 1996 | ''We the Jury'' (TV) | Rafael Ramos | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/we-the-jury-1200447254/ |title=Review: 'We the Jury'|last=Sandler |first=Adam |date=October 16, 1996 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1996 | ''Kung Fu: The Legend Continues'' (TV series) | Mr. Marsden | "Who Is Kwai Chang Caine?"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1997 | ''The Last Don'' (TV miniseries) | Lia Vazzi | <ref name="AMG NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/reviews/mario-puzo-s-the-last-don-1117341511/ |title=Review: 'Mario Puzo's the Last Don'|last=Richmond |first=Ray |date=May 11, 1997 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1997 | ''F/X: The Series'' (TV series) | | "Script Doctor"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1997 | ''Goosebumps'' (TV series) | Grimm | "The Barking Ghost"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1997 | ''The New Ghostwriter Mysteries'' (TV series) | Harry | "Designer Crime"<ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 1998 | ''Mr. Headmistress'' | Farley | <ref name="AMG NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/wonderful-world-of-disney-1200453143/ |title=Review: 'Wonderful World of Disney' (Mr. Headmistress)|last=Horst |first=Carole |date=March 11, 1998 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1998 | ''The Last Don II'' (TV miniseries) | Lia Vazzi | <ref name="AMG NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/the-last-don-ii-2-1200453805/ |title=Review: 'The Last Don II'|last=Richmond |first=Ray |date=May 4, 1998 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 1999 | ''Traders'' (TV series) | | "Eat the Loss"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1999 | ''Vendetta'' (TV) | Pasquale Corte | <ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 1999 | ''The Famous Jett Jackson'' (TV series) | Marley | "Saving Mr. Dupree"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 1999 | ''Black and Blue'' (TV) | Enrique | <ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 1999 | ''Execution of Justice'' (TV) | Gay Teacher | <ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 2000 | ''Harry's Case'' (TV) | | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/wolfe.html |title=Harry Decker |last=Smith |first=Kevin Burton |website=The Thrilling Detective |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 2000 | ''La Femme Nikita'' (TV series) | The Director of Red Cell | "Sleeping with the Enemy"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2000 | ''Witchblade'' (TV) | Tommy Gallo | <ref name="Turegano">{{cite news |last=Turegano |first=Preston |date=August 27, 2000 |title='Witchblade' rattles along without a clue |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |quote=The best performance in ''Witchblade'' is delivered by Conrad Dunn as the sociopathic Gallo.}}</ref><ref name="AMG NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/reviews/witchblade-1200463715/ |title=Review: 'Witchblade'|last=Oxman |first=Steven |date=August 21, 2000 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 2000 | ''Turn It Up'' | Urie | <ref name="AMG NYT"/> |- | 2001 | ''Haven'' (TV miniseries) | Josef | <ref name="AMG NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/reviews/haven-2-1200466894/ |title=Review: 'Haven'|last=Oxman |first=Steven |date=February 7, 2001 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 2001–2002 | ''Nero Wolfe'' (TV series) | Saul Panzer<ref name="Van Dover">{{cite book |last=Van Dover |first=J. Kenneth |year=2003 |orig-year=1991 |title=At Wolfe's Door: The Nero Wolfe Novels of Rex Stout |edition=2nd |location=Rockville, Maryland |publisher=James A. Rock & Company |page=101 |isbn=091873651X }}</ref> | {{efn|Appearances in episodes of ''A Nero Wolfe Mystery'' are as follows: "The Doorbell Rang", "Champagne for One", "Prisoner's Base", "Eeny, Meeny, Murder, Moe", "Disguise for Murder", "Door to Death", "Christmas Party", "Over My Dead Body", "Death of a Doxy", "The Next Witness", "Motherhunt", "Too Many Clients", "Before I Die" and "The Silent Speaker".<ref name="IMDb"/>}} |- | 2002 | ''Witchblade'' (TV series) | Tommy Gallo | "Emergence"<ref name="IMDb"/><br>"Hierophant"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2002 | ''Martin and Lewis'' (TV) | Lou Perry | <ref name="AMG NYT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/reviews/martin-and-lewis-1200544764/ |title=Review: 'Martin and Lewis'|last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=November 19, 2002 |website=Variety |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 2002 | ''Chicago'' | Doctor | <ref name="Chicago">{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/AbbrView.aspx?s=&Movie=53997&Display=C |title=Chicago |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films |publisher=American Film Institute |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |- | 2003 | ''Control Factor'' (TV) | Thrillkill | <ref name="AMG NYT">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/conrad-dunn-p20606 |title=Conrad Dunn |publisher=AllMovie |access-date=2017-03-04}}</ref> |- | 2003 | ''Owning Mahowny'' | Edgar | <ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2003 | ''Blue Murder'' (TV series) | Kenney Roswell | "John Doe"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2003 | ''Veritas: The Quest'' (TV series) | Moondawg | "Skulls"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2004 | ''Direct Action'' | Captain Stone | <ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2004 | ''Zeyda and the Hitman'' | Mr. Valenti | <ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2004 | ''Clubhouse'' (TV series) | Defense Lawyer | "Road Trip"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2004 | ''The Eleventh Hour'' (TV series) | | "Megan Ice Cream"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2005 | ''Cool Money'' (TV) | City | <ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2006 | ''Puppets Who Kill'' (TV series) | Plumber | "Mr. Big"<ref name="IMDb"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Strachan |first=Alex |date=March 16, 2006 |title=Does music have charms to soothe the savage puppet? |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |quote=Veteran stage actors Michael Rhoades, Tony Munch, Bill MacDonald, Joe Pingue and Conrad Dunn make cameo appearances, and they're clearly having a blast.}}</ref> |- | 2006 | ''At the Hotel'' (TV series) | Señor Arioso | "Modern Solutions to Modern Problems"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2006 | ''Covert One: The Hades Factor'' (TV miniseries) | Ghalib Hassan | <ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2006 | ''Jeff Ltd.'' (TV series) | Vincent | "Ali Baba and the 40 Carpets"<ref name="IMDb"/><br>"Nightmare on Stevens Street"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2007 | ''Animal 2'' | Kasada | <ref name="CD Interview 2011"/><ref name="Historical Dictionary">{{cite book |last1=Berry |first1=S. Torriano |last2=Berry |first2=Venise T. |date=2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8NJbCQAAQBAJ&q=Animal+2&pg=PA508 |location=Lanham, Maryland |edition=2nd |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=32 |isbn=978-1442247017 |access-date=2015-07-13 }}</ref> |- | 2007 | ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' (TV series) | Vlad | "Don't You Want Me?"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2007 | ''The Dead Zone'' (TV series) | Frankie Toro | "Drift"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2009 | ''Murdoch Mysteries'' (TV series) | Professor Otranto | "Snakes and Ladders"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2011 | ''XIII: The Series'' (TV series) | Peralta | "Costa Verde"<ref name="IMDb"/> |- | 2012 | ''Suits'' (TV series) | Oscar Mendoza | "Break Point"<ref name="IMDb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420718/ |title=Conrad Dunn |publisher=Internet Movie Database |access-date=2015-07-13}}</ref> |}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|id=0420718|name=Conrad Dunn}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunn, Conrad}} Category:1950 births Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:Living people Category:American male television actors Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male soap opera actors Category:American male film actors