Cannon was truly a star vehicle. William Conrad had no other series regulars in this detective show, no family, no friends. We knew that he liked fine dining, he certainly had the girth to show for it.
A lot of people who've seen Conrad in films where he usually was a villain, don't know that he essayed another 20th Century hero. Before Gunsmoke came to television, Conrad was radio's Matt Dillon. That deep voice of his resonated well on radio and the casting potential was far greater.
As a villain for me his most memorable role was as the gunfighter who shot down Frank Sinatra's brother in Johnny Concho and sent Frank running out of town. Had it not been for Cannon, I think that role would have been his signature part.
Given his girth Cannon could not mix it up too much with the villains, but he was a dead shot with a pistol and he had great intuitive instincts which served him well putting together the pieces of a mystery to solve it. His girth didn't handicap in any way, just as Barnaby Jones's age didn't. In fact Buddy Ebsen as Barnaby Jones was introduced on a Cannon episode.
Cannon was good series television. I'm glad the MeTV network has brought it back.
A lot of people who've seen Conrad in films where he usually was a villain, don't know that he essayed another 20th Century hero. Before Gunsmoke came to television, Conrad was radio's Matt Dillon. That deep voice of his resonated well on radio and the casting potential was far greater.
As a villain for me his most memorable role was as the gunfighter who shot down Frank Sinatra's brother in Johnny Concho and sent Frank running out of town. Had it not been for Cannon, I think that role would have been his signature part.
Given his girth Cannon could not mix it up too much with the villains, but he was a dead shot with a pistol and he had great intuitive instincts which served him well putting together the pieces of a mystery to solve it. His girth didn't handicap in any way, just as Barnaby Jones's age didn't. In fact Buddy Ebsen as Barnaby Jones was introduced on a Cannon episode.
Cannon was good series television. I'm glad the MeTV network has brought it back.