Conrad Phillips

Conrad Philip Havord, known professionally as Conrad Phillips, was an English television and film actor. He is best known for playing William Tell in the adventure series The Adventures of William Tell.

Life and career

Phillips was born Conrad Philip Havord in London, the son of Horace Havord, who was a journalist and a writer of detective stories. Conrad attended St John's Bowyer School, Clapham, in south London, then worked for an insurance company.
Phillips altered his date of birth on his ration book so that he could join the Royal Navy at the age of 17. In his three years of service during the Second World War, he saw action in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea, and survived the mining of a landing craft.
Phillips called himself Bill in the Navy because his shipmates kept ridiculing the name Conrad. He did not adopt the name Conrad Phillips until he started acting. His father had used the name for some of the thrillers he wrote and suggested that his son use it as his stage name. In his autobiography, Aiming True, Conrad wrote that he regretted doing so.
Phillips studied at RADA, and then appeared in repertory theatre and in the West End. He is probably best known for portraying William Tell in the popular ITV television series The Adventures of William Tell, which ran for 39 episodes from 1958 to 1959. He was in a wheelchair during the filming of the last episode of the series because he had broken his ankle on location. Even the fighting shots were done in this way. He also played Tell's mentor Stefan in Crossbow in 1987. Severe back pain, two replacement knees and a replacement hip brought an end to his career, and he retired in 1991.
Phillips met his second wife, Jennie, in April 1968. In January 1972, they set about restoring a Scottish hill farm called Skeoch.
They eventually went to live in Chippenham, Wiltshire.
Phillips published his autobiography, Aiming True, in 2013.
Phillips died at his home in Chippenham on 13 January 2016, at the age of 90.

Other TV appearances

The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel episode 17 – Gentlemen of the Road. Character – Latour.

“The Adventures of Robin Hood” The Shell Game. Character - A soldier.The Invisible Man – Series 2, Episode 12 – Shadow Bomb. Character – Captain Finch.Richard the Lionheart – episode 21 – A Marriage of Convenience. Character – Guy.The Avengers episode – Silent Dust. Character – Mellors.Callan episode – Jack on Top. Character – Wilson.The Prisoner episode – "The General"UFO episode – Reflections in the Water. Character – Skipper.Fawlty Towers episode – The Wedding Party. Character – Mr LloydCribb episode – Mad Hatter's Holiday. Character – Dr. ProtheroThe Return of Sherlock Holmes episode – The Abbey Grange. Character – Sir Eustace BrackenstallHannay episode - Double Jeopardy. Character – Dirk Huysman.

Other TV shows: The Count of Monte Cristo, The New Adventures of Charlie Chan, The Newcomers, Sutherland's Law, Howards' Way, Never the Twain, The Gaffer, Sorry! and Emmerdale Farm. Mini-series: Into the Labyrinth and The Master of Ballantrae.

Selected filmography

A Song for Tomorrow – Lieutenant FentonThe Temptress – Captain GreenLilli Marlene – Security OfficerThe Last Page – Detective Todd It Started in Paradise – 1st Photographer Three Steps to the Gallows – Clerk – Travel Agent Mantrap – BarkerThe Diamond – Policeman Johnny on the Spot – Police Sergeant The Secret Tent – Detective SergeantThe Last Man to Hang – Dr. MasonCircus Friends – LarryThe Battle of the River Plate – Lt. Washbourne – Gunnery Officer, HMS Achilles Zarak – Johnson – Young OfficerA Question of Adultery – MarioThe White Trap – Sgt. MorrisonWitness in the Dark – Inspector CoatesThe Desperate Man – CurtisCircus of Horrors – Insp. Arthur AmesSons and Lovers – Baxter DawesThe Fourth Square – Bill LawrenceNo Love for Johnnie – DrakeThe Secret Partner – Dr. Alan RichfordShadow of the Cat – Michael LatimerMurder, She Said – HaroldA Guy Called Caesar – TonyThe Durant Affair – Julian ArmourDead Man's Evidence – David BaxterDon't Talk to Strange Men – RonImpact – Jack MoirThe Switch – John CurryHeavens Above! – P.R.O.Stopover Forever – Eric CunninghamDateline Diamonds – Tom JenkinsThe Murder Game – Peter ShanleyWho Killed the Cat? – Inspector BrutonThe Ghost of Monk's Island – Eli Oakes.