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'''Russ Conway''' (April 25, 1913 – January 12, 2009) was a [[Canada|Canadian]]-[[United States|American]] character actor who appeared on [[film]] and [[television]] between 1947 and 1975. He was the younger brother of Canadian-born actor Donald Woods.​

'''Russ Conway''' (April 25, 1913 – January 12, 2009) was a [[Canada|Canadian]]-[[United States|American]] character actor who appeared on [[film]] and [[television]] between 1947 and 1975. Conway He was best known for his role in the serial, "The Hardy Boys" on the [[ABC]] ''Mickey Mouse Club'' series. He was the younger brother of Canadian-born actor Donald Woods.​

==Background==

==Background==

Born '''Russell Clarence Zink''' in Brandon in the province of [[Manitoba]], Conway earned a bachelor's degree in 1937 from the [[University of California, Los Angeles]]. Years later, he procured a master's degree in theatre arts from UCLA as well as teaching credentials.<ref name=lat>{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries/browse_thread/thread/4dbfd7b84f6e0b30|title=Russell Zink obituary|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]''|title=Russ Conway obituary|accessdate=March 8, 2009}}</ref>​

Born '''Russell Clarence Zink''' in Brandon in the province of [[Manitoba]], Conway earned a bachelor's degree in 1937 from the [[University of California, Los Angeles]]. Years later, he procured a master's degree in theatre arts from UCLA as well as teaching credentials.<ref name=lat>{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries/browse_thread/thread/4dbfd7b84f6e0b30|title=Actor, Russell Zink, 95 - Played father in 'The Hardy

Boys'|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]''|title=Russ Conway obituary|accessdate=October 30, 2019}}</ref>​

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During [[World War II]], he served in the [[United States Army]], attached to the Special Services entertainment unit. For several months, he was entertainment director at the since defunct Fort Ord on Monterey Bay in [[California]] before he was sent to the [[Philippines]] and then [[Japan]]. He worked as a producer and announcer for Armed Forces Radio.<ref name=lat/>​

During [[World War II]], he served in the [[United States Army]], attached to the Special Services entertainment unit. For several months, he was entertainment director at the since defunct Fort Ord on Monterey Bay in [[California]] before he was sent to the [[Philippines]] and then [[Japan]]. He worked as a producer and announcer for Armed Forces Radio.<ref name=lat/>​

Though most of his work after 1953 was on television, Conway also appeared in notable films. He was [[Elvis Presley]]'s friend Ed Galt in Presley's 1956 screen debut ''[[Love Me Tender]].'' He also played the police officer who discovered [[Joan Crawford]]'s body on the beach at the end of ''What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'' (1962). He played the Reverend Bethany in the 1953 film, ''The War of the Worlds.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/21367/t/Russ-Conway.html|title=''Russ Conway: Final Farewells''|publisher=Monster Kid Classic Horror Forum|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref>​

Though most of his work after 1953 was on television, Conway also appeared in notable films. He was [[Elvis Presley]]'s friend Ed Galt in Presley's 1956 screen debut ''[[Love Me Tender]].'' He also played the police officer who discovered [[Joan Crawford]]'s body on the beach at the end of ''What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'' (1962). He played the Reverend Bethany in the 1953 film, ''The War of the Worlds.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/21367/t/Russ-Conway.html|title=''Russ Conway: Final Farewells''|publisher=Monster Kid Classic Horror Forum|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref>​

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Conway became best known for his multiple television appearances, beginning with "Sheep Thieves", the first of four episodes between 1950 and 1954, of the classic western, ''The Lone Ranger.'' The other episodes featuring Conway are "Sinner by Proxy," "A Son by Adoption," and "The Bounty Hunter."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.tripod.com/~ClaytonMoore/lrnews.html|title=''The Lone Ranger News''|publisher=tripod.com|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref> In 1951, Conway appeared on the detective series ''Boston Blackie.'' He then guest starred in three 1952-1953 episodes of Jack Webb's original ''Dragnet'' series on [[NBC]]. Later, he guest starred on Reed Hadley's second [[CBS]] series, ''The Public Defender.''<ref name=imdb/>​

Conway became known for his multiple television appearances, beginning with "Sheep Thieves", the first of four episodes between 1950 and 1954, of the classic western, ''The Lone Ranger.'' The other episodes featuring Conway are "Sinner by Proxy," "A Son by Adoption," and "The Bounty Hunter."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.tripod.com/~ClaytonMoore/lrnews.html|title=''The Lone Ranger News''|publisher=tripod.com|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref> In 1951, Conway appeared on the detective series ''Boston Blackie.'' He then guest starred in three 1952-1953 episodes of Jack Webb's original ''Dragnet'' series on [[NBC]]. Later, he guest starred on Reed Hadley's second [[CBS]] series, ''The Public Defender.''<ref name=imdb/>​

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==Western roles==​

==Western roles==​

Over the years, Conway guest-starred in many television westerns, including a forgotten 1953 episode "McCoy of Abilene," about the 1860s cattleman Joseph McCoy in Abilene and Dodge City, [[Kansas]], a segment of ''The Hallmark Hall of Fame,'' then on NBC. Conway's co-stars on ''Hallmark'' were Frances Bavier, Marjorie Lord, Leo Penn, James Best, and George Nader as Joseph McCoy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0595325/|title=''Hallmark Hall of Fame'': McCoy of Abilene|publisher=Internet Movie Database|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref>​

Over the years, Conway guest-starred in many television westerns, including a forgotten 1953 episode "McCoy of Abilene," about the 1860s cattleman Joseph McCoy in Abilene and Dodge City, [[Kansas]], a segment of ''The Hallmark Hall of Fame,'' then on NBC. Conway's co-stars on ''Hallmark'' were Frances Bavier, Marjorie Lord, Leo Penn, James Best, and George Nader as Joseph McCoy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0595325/|title=''Hallmark Hall of Fame'': McCoy of Abilene|publisher=Internet Movie Database|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref>​

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He appeared in the syndicated]] westerns, ''Hopalong Cassidy'' and twice on the Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo series, ''The Cisco Kid,'' in the roles of an [[outlaw]] in "Cisco Meets the Gorilla" and as E. W. Akers in "The Ventriloquist." He portrayed a character named "Stirling" in the 1957 episode "Judith" of the syndicated  ''The Gray Ghost'', an [[American Civil War]] drama based on the life of [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[cavalry]] officer [[John Singleton Mosby]]. He appeared in 1957 and 1958 on [[CBS]]'s ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'' in the episodes "No Man Living"  and "The Accuser."<ref name=imdb/>​

He appeared in the syndicated westerns, ''Hopalong Cassidy'' and twice on the Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo series, ''The Cisco Kid,'' in the roles of an [[outlaw]] in "Cisco Meets the Gorilla" and as E. W. Akers in "The Ventriloquist." He portrayed a character named "Stirling" in the 1957 episode "Judith" of the syndicated  ''The Gray Ghost'', an [[American Civil War]] drama based on the life of [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[cavalry]] officer John Singleton Mosby. He appeared in 1957 and 1958 on [[CBS]]'s ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'' in the episodes "No Man Living"  and "The Accuser."<ref name=imdb/>​

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In 1957, he guest starred as Jared Martin (also the name of a subsequent actor) in the episode "Show of Force" on CBS's ''Have Gun – Will Travel'' starring Richard Boone. He further appeared as the character Frank Russell in the episode "Girl in the Cab" of the syndicated  ''Casey Jones,'' starring Alan Hale, Jr., in the title role of railroad engineer John Luther "Casey" Jones. Conway was cast in two 1958 segments, "Diamonds in the Rough" and "When the Cat's Away" of Rod Cameron's ''State Trooper'' modern western crime drama.<ref name=imdb/>​

In 1957, he guest starred as Jared Martin (also the name of a subsequent actor) in the episode "Show of Force" on CBS's ''Have Gun – Will Travel'' starring Richard Boone. He further appeared as the character Frank Russell in the episode "Girl in the Cab" of the syndicated  ''Casey Jones,'' starring Alan Hale, Jr., in the title role of railroad engineer John Luther "Casey" Jones. Conway was cast in two 1958 segments, "Diamonds in the Rough" and "When the Cat's Away" of Rod Cameron's ''State Trooper'' modern western crime drama.<ref name=imdb/>​

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==Disney roles==​

==Disney roles==​

Some of Conway's most memorable roles were on the [[Walt Disney]] anthology series. He appeared in fifteen of the nineteen episodes of the ''Mickey Mouse Club'' serial ''The Hardy Boys.'' The next year, he starred in the Hardy Boys' "The Mystery of the Ghost Farm, as Fenton Hardy, the father of teenagers Frank and Joe Hardy, played respectively by Tim Considine, later on ''My Three Sons,'' and Tommy Kirk, later the Disney characters ''The Shaggy Dog'' and Merlin Jones.<ref name=imdb/>​

Some of Conway's most memorable roles were on the [[Walt Disney]] anthology series. He appeared in fifteen of the nineteen episodes of ''The 'Mickey Mouse Club'' serial, ''The Hardy Boys.'' The next year, he starred in the Hardy Boys' "The Mystery of the Ghost Farm, as Fenton Hardy, the father of teenagers Frank and Joe Hardy, played respectively by Tim Considine, later on ''My Three Sons,'' and Tommy Kirk, later the Disney characters ''The Shaggy Dog'' and Merlin Jones.<ref name=imdb/>​

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In 1959, Conway appeared as the father, Monty Morgan, of ABC's ''Disneyland'' series in the two-part episode, "Moochie of the Little League,'' with 10-year-old Kevin Corcoran (1949-2015) in the title role. Actor James Brown appeared in the miniseries too as Andy Clinton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0561116/|title=''Disneyland'': "Moochie of the Little League"|publisher=IMDB|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref> In 1960, he appeared in another two-part Disney episode starring Kevin Corcoran, "[[Moochie of Pop Warner Football]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203697/|title=''Disneyland'': "Moochie of Pop Warner Football"|publisher=IMDB|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref> ​

In 1959, Conway appeared as the father, Monty Morgan, of ABC's ''Disneyland'' series in the two-part episode, "Moochie of the Little League,'' with 10-year-old Kevin Corcoran (1949-2015) in the title role. Actor James Brown appeared in the miniseries too as Andy Clinton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0561116/|title=''Disneyland'': "Moochie of the Little League"|publisher=IMDB|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref> In 1960, he appeared in another two-part Disney episode starring Kevin Corcoran, "Moochie of Pop Warner Football".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203697/|title=''Disneyland'': "Moochie of Pop Warner Football"|publisher=IMDB|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref> ​

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In September 1968, Conway starred as a rancher in the ''Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' two-part episode, "Boomerang, Dog of Many Talents." His co-stars were Patricia Crowley, Darby Hinton, and Darren McGavin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0560996/|title=''Disneyland'': "Boomerang, Dog of Many Talents"|publisher=IMDB|accessdate=March 7, 2009}}</ref>​

In September 1968, Conway starred as a rancher in the ''Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' two-part episode, "Boomerang, Dog of Many Talents." His co-stars were Patricia Crowley, Darby Hinton, and Darren McGavin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0560996/|title=''Disneyland'': "Boomerang, Dog of Many Talents"|publisher=Internet Movie Database|accessdate=October 30, 2019}}</ref>​

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==Historical roles==​

==Historical roles==​

Conway appeared in historical roles on CBS's ''[[You Are There (series)|You Are There]]'', narrated by [[Walter Cronkite]] and aired between 1953 and 1955. The episodes included "The [[Boston Tea Party]]", "The Assassination of [[Julius Caesar]]", "The Resolve of [[Patrick Henry]]", and "Washington Crosses the Delaware", with Conway portraying [[General (rank)|General]] [[George Washington]] in the December 25, 1776, crossing of the [[Delaware River]] from [[Pennsylvania]] into [[Trenton, New Jersey]].​

Conway appeared in historical roles on CBS's ''You Are There,'' narrated by [[Walter Cronkite]] and aired between 1953 and 1955. The episodes included "The [[Boston Tea Party]]", "The Assassination of [[Julius Caesar]]", "The Resolve of [[Patrick Henry]]", and "Washington Crosses the Delaware," with Conway portraying [[General]] [[George Washington]] in the December 25, 1776, crossing of the [[Delaware River]] from [[Pennsylvania]] into [[Trenton]], [[New Jersey]].​

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In 1969, Conway played Maxy Parker, bewildered father of the rebellious 16-year-old George Leroy Parker ([[Michael Margotta]]), in the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] series, ''[[Death Valley Days]]'', hosted by [[Robert Taylor (actor)|Robert Taylor]] not long before Taylor's own death. Young Parker leaves home in search of riotous living, first in [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]]. He takes the name [[Butch Cassidy]] from an older rustler acquaintance, Mike Cassidy  ([[Tony Russel]]). The episode aired the same year as the popular [[Paul Newman]] and [[Robert Redford]] film, ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959695/?ref_=tt_ep_nx|title=Drop Out on ''Death Valley Days''|publisher=[[Internet Movie Data Base]]|date=April 25, 1969|accessdate=July 16, 2015}}</ref>​

In 1969, Conway played Maxy Parker, bewildered father of the rebellious 16-year-old George Leroy Parker (Michael Margotta), in the syndicated series, ''Death Valley Days,'' then hosted by Robert Taylor not long before Taylor's own death. Young Parker leaves home in search of riotous living, first in [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]]. He takes the name [[Butch Cassidy]] from an older rustler acquaintance, Mike Cassidy  (Tony Russel). The episode aired the same year as the popular [[Paul Newman]] and [[Robert Redford]] film, ''[[Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959695/?ref_=tt_ep_nx|title=Drop Out on ''Death Valley Days''|publisher=Internet Movie Database|date=April 25, 1969|accessdate=July 16, 2015}}</ref>​

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His dramatic guest appearances included the role of 41-year-old Doug Parish in the 1954 episode "Climax" of the NBC crime drama, ''[r. and Mrs. North''. That same year, he appeared as Clemson in "The Horn That Blew Too Long" of Rod Cameron's first syndicated series, ''City Detective.''​

His dramatic guest appearances included the role of 41-year-old Doug Parish in the 1954 episode "Climax" of the NBC crime drama, ''[r. and Mrs. North''. That same year, he appeared as Clemson in "The Horn That Blew Too Long" of Rod Cameron's first syndicated series, ''City Detective.''​

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