Friday, August 15, 2008

Happy Birthday Mike Connors!

Today reliable actor Mike Connors turns 83! I looked him up and saw his last appearance was in 2007 on the sitcom Two and a Half Men. Nice to see Mr. Connors is still out there, pleasing audiences.

Connors is probably best remembered for his role as private eye Joe Mannix on the hit television series Mannix, which ran from 1967 - 1975. Connors was in his early 40s at that time (remember when they hired actors because of talent and were not discriminated because of their age? I also think of James Garner in The Rockford Files, but he was also way super hot, so I'm sure that factored in!). Mannix was created by Richard Levinson & William Link who were the extraordinary duo behind the creation of other popular crime shows like Columbo and Ellery Queen. Connors was nominated for four Golden Globes & four Emmys for his portrayal of this character (He won one Golden Globe).


There goes Mike, being all handsome!

He doesn't have a ton of Made for Television Movie credits under his belt, but Connors was a welcome face in a slew of wildly divergent titles that crossed every genre from crime to disaster to melodrama to comedy.

With well over five decades in the business (and counting!), I thought it would be nice to acknowledge such a likeable, professional mainstay of television on his birthday. Not that he'll read this, but it makes me feel good! So there!

Happy Birthday Mike Connors! And MANY more!!!

Mike Connors' Television Movie Filmography (70s & 80s):

Beg, Borrow or Steal (1973)
The Killer Who Wouldn't Die (1976)
Revenge for a Rape (1976)
Long Journey Back (1978)
The Death of Ocean View Park (1979)
High Midnight (1979)
The Bureau (1981)
Earthlings (1984)
Glitter (1984)



Mike Connors and Dick Van Dyke during their Diagnosis Murder days

2 comments:

Craig Edwards said...

Mike Connors started out in low budget B movies in the 50's under the name Touch Connors - check some of them out if you get the chance. Mannix was the show that Bruce Geller created after Mission: Impossible. It was not a show I saw more than fleetingly when it was airing - but now knowing it came from the mind of Geller - I want to see every episode!

That Diagnosis Murder picture is from an episode of the series with Mike Connors back as Mannix in a sequel to an episode of the original series! In fact, on the DM DVD boxset they include the Mannix episode as a bonus!

Amanda By Night said...

Lots of great trivia there Craig! Thanks for sharing!!!