Editing Mike Connors

{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Short description|American actor (1925–2017)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Mike Connors
| image        = Mike Connors Mannix 1968.JPG
| caption      = Connors as Joe Mannix, 1968
| birth_name   = Krekor Ohanian
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1925|08|15}}
| birth_place  = [[Fresno, California]], U.S.
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|2017|01|26|1925|08|15}}
| death_place  = [[Tarzana, Los Angeles|Tarzana]], California, U.S.
| other_names  = Touch Connors
| alma_mater   = [[University of California, Los Angeles]]
| occupation   = Actor
| years_active = 1952–2007
| party        = [[Republican party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse       = {{marriage|Mary Lou Willey|1949}}
| children     = 2
}}

'''Krekor Ohanian''' (August 15, 1925 – January 26, 2017), known professionally as '''Mike Connors''', was an American actor. He was best known for playing private detective Joe Mannix in the [[CBS]] television series ''[[Mannix]]'' from 1967 to 1975. This role earned him a [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]] in 1970, the first of six straight nominations, as well as four consecutive [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Emmy]] nominations from 1970 to 1973. He starred in the short-lived series ''[[Tightrope!]]'' (1959–1960) and ''[[Today's FBI]]'' (1981–1982). Connors' acting career spanned 56 years. In addition to his work on television, he appeared in numerous films, including ''[[Sudden Fear]]'' (1952), ''[[Good Neighbor Sam]]'' (1964), ''[[Situation Hopeless... But Not Serious]]'' (1965), ''[[Stagecoach (1966 film)|Stagecoach]]'' (1966), ''[[Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die]]'' (1966), and ''[[Too Scared to Scream]]'' (1985), which he also produced.

==Early life==
Connors was born Krekor Ohanian Jr. ({{langx|hy|Կրեկոր Օհանիան -Գրիքոր Օհանյան}}) on August 15, 1925, in [[Fresno, California]], to [[Armenians|Armenian]] parents Krekor and Alice (née Surabian; {{langx|hy|Ալիս Սուրաբյան Օհանյան}}) Ohanian. His father had escaped the [[Armenian genocide]]. They married in 1915 and had six children: Paul I (died in childhood), Paul II, Dorothy M., Arpesri A., Krekor, and Eugene.<ref name="Grode nytimes">{{cite news |last=Grode |first=Eric |title=Mike Connors, Long-Running TV Sleuth in 'Mannix', Dies at 91 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 27, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/arts/mike-connors-mannix-dies.html |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> His father was an attorney and represented many Armenians who had little money and could not speak English.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=17}} Connors spoke three languages: [[Armenian language|Armenian]], English, and French.<ref>{{cite web |title=MANNIX: THE SECOND SEASON |last=Anderson |first=Troy |website=AndersonVision |date=December 17, 2008 |url=https://andersonvision.com/mannix-the-second-season/ |access-date=January 28, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804020004/https://andersonvision.com/mannix-the-second-season/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020}}</ref> Connors was a cousin of French-Armenian singer [[Charles Aznavour]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mike Connors, l'interprète de Mannix est mort à l'âge de 91 ans |language=fr |work=[[La Dépêche du Midi]] |date=January 27, 2017 |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2017/01/27/2505594-mike-connors-interprete-mannix-est-mort-age-91-ans.html |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cinq infos insolites que vous ignorez (peut-être) sur Charles Aznavour |language=fr |work=[[Le Dauphiné libéré]] |date=October 1, 2018 |url=https://www.ledauphine.com/france-monde/2018/10/01/cinq-infos-insolites-que-vous-ignorez-(peut-etre)-sur-charles-aznavour |access-date=October 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Charles Aznavour: des amis, beaucoup d'amour et une très grande famille |language=fr |work=[[Le Figaro]] |date=October 2, 2018 |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/2018/10/02/03006-20181002ARTFIG00239-charles-aznavour-des-amis-beaucoup-d-amour-et-tres-une-grande-famille.php |access-date=October 2, 2018}}</ref>

Connors was an avid basketball player in high school, nicknamed "Touch" by his teammates. During [[World War II]], he served as an enlisted man in the [[United States Army Air Forces]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kelsey |first=Juliett |title=Famous and Formerly Enlisted |magazine=Air Force Magazine |publisher=[[Air Force Association]] |date=April 1999 |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1999/April%201999/0499famous.pdf |access-date=May 31, 2018}}</ref> After the war, he attended the [[University of California at Los Angeles]] on both a basketball scholarship and the [[G.I. Bill]], where he played under coach [[John Wooden]]. Connors went to law school, where he studied to become an attorney, taking after his father. He was a member of the [[Phi Delta Theta]] fraternity.<ref>UCLA Yearbook (1947), pages 454–455</ref>

After a basketball game, coach [[Wilbur Johns]] introduced Connors to his friend, director [[William A. Wellman]], who liked Connors' voice and expressive face while he was playing basketball, and encouraged him to consider acting.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=17}} He was considered for the role of [[Tarzan]] by casting director Ruth Burch, who found him an acting coach.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|pp=17–18}}

After Connors became an actor, his agent [[Henry Willson]] thought the name "Ohanian" was too similar to the actor [[George O'Hanlon]] and gave him the stage name "Touch Connors" based on his basketball nickname. Willson considered "Connors" to be a "good all-American name."<ref>{{cite interview |interviewer=Mike Connors |title=Actor Mike Connors radio interview with Mike Connors - 2014 |work=Connors' Corner |date=May 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvAdsGsonUg |access-date=January 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/bvAdsGsonUg |archive-date=December 22, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Connors later stated he hated the name "from day one" and considered not using his real name the only big regret of his career. After getting the starring role in ''Tightrope!'', Connors wanted to be credited as Ohanian, but [[Columbia Pictures]] told him that he had already done too much work as Connors, though he was allowed to change his first name to Mike.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|pp=19–20}}

==Career==

===Early roles===
[[File:Tightrope Mike Connors 1960.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Connors with [[Leigh Snowden]] (left) and [[Claire Kelly]] in a publicity photo for ''Tightrope!'', 1960]]
Connors's film career started in the early 1950s, when he made his acting debut in a supporting role opposite [[Joan Crawford]] and [[Jack Palance]] in the thriller ''[[Sudden Fear]]'' (1952). He had initially been rejected for an audition by producer Joseph Kaufman due to his lack of experience, but after sneaking into [[Republic Pictures]] and meeting director [[David Miller (director)|David Miller]], Connors was given a chance to read the script and was offered the part.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|pp=20–21}}

Connors was cast in the [[John Wayne]] film, ''[[Island in the Sky (1953 film)|Island in the Sky]]'', in which he played a crewman on one of the search-and-rescue planes. In 1956, he played an [[Amalekite]] herder in [[Cecil B. DeMille]]'s ''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]''.<ref name="Barnes hollywoodreporter">{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Mike |title=Mike Connors, Principled Private Detective on 'Mannix', Dies at 91 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 26, 2017 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mike-connors-dead-star-mannix-was-91-969213 |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref>

Connors appeared in numerous television series, including the co-starring role in the 1955 episode "Tomas and the Widow" of the [[anthology series]] ''[[Frontier (1955 TV series)|Frontier]]''. He guest-starred on the early [[situation comedy|sitcoms]], ''[[Hey, Jeannie!]]'' and ''[[The People's Choice (TV series)|The People's Choice]]'' and in two [[Rod Cameron (actor)|Rod Cameron]] [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[crime drama]]s, ''[[City Detective (TV series)|City Detective]]'' and the Western-themed ''[[State Trooper (TV series)|State Trooper]]'', and played the villain in the first episode filmed (but second one aired) of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC's]] smash hit ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'', opposite [[James Garner]] in 1957.<ref name="Lentz 2018">{{cite book |last=Lentz III |first=Harris M. |title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2017 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |page=80 |isbn=978-1-4766-7032-4 |date=2018 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FspZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT94}}</ref>

Connors had roles in several of the earliest films [[Roger Corman]] directed: ''[[Five Guns West]]'' (1955), ''[[Day the World Ended|The Day the World Ended]]'' (1955), ''[[Swamp Women]]'' (1956), and ''[[The Oklahoma Woman]]'' (1956).<ref name="filmtalk 2015">{{cite web |title=Mike Connors: "I didn't want to just walk through the part of Mannix when it was so successful" |website=Film Talk |date=December 22, 2015 |url=https://filmtalk.org/2015/12/22/mike-connors-i-didnt-want-to-just-walk-through-the-part-of-mannix-when-it-was-so-successful/ |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> Connors starred in and was the executive producer of ''[[Flesh and the Spur]]'' (1956). He raised $117,000 for the film.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=24}}

In 1958, Connors appeared in the title role of the episode "Simon Pitt", the series finale of the NBC Western ''[[Jefferson Drum]]'', starring [[Jeff Richards (baseball player/actor)|Jeff Richards]] as a frontier newspaper editor. He appeared in another NBC Western series, ''[[The Californians (TV series)|The Californians]]''. That same year, Connors was cast as Miles Borden, a corrupt US Army lieutenant bitter over his $54 monthly pay, on NBC's ''[[Wagon Train]]'' in the episode "The Dora Gray Story" with [[Linda Darnell]] in the title role. About this time, he also appeared on an episode of NBC's Western series ''[[Cimarron City (TV series)|Cimarron City]]''.<ref name="Lentz 2018"/>

Other syndicated series in which he appeared were ''The Silent Service'', based on true stories of the [[submarine]] section of the [[United States Navy]]; ''[[Sheriff of Cochise]]'', a Western series; ''[[Whirlybirds]]'', an aviation adventure series; and ''[[Rescue 8]]'', based on stories of the [[Los Angeles County Fire Department]]. An episode of ''[[Studio 57]]'' starring Connors and titled "Getaway Car" was proposed as a pilot for a series about the CHP to be called ''Motorcycle Cop''.<ref name="Terrace2013">{{cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Encyclopedia of Television Pilots, 1937–2012 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=McFarland & Company |page=105 |isbn=978-0-7864-7445-5 |date=2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHsjAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA105}}</ref>

Connors starred as an undercover police officer who infiltrated organized crime in ''[[Tightrope (TV series)|Tightrope!]]'' (1959–1960). Despite the show's popularity, it was canceled after only one season. Connors stated in an interview that the show's primary sponsor, J.B. Williams, refused [[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]] president [[James T. Aubrey|James Aubrey]]'s request to move it to a later time slot on a different day. The sponsor dropped ''Tightrope!'' and underwrote another program on another network.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=29}} Connors also did not agree with the suggested change to add a [[sidekick]], to be played by Don Sullivan.<ref>Interview by Paul & Donna Parla''SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS IN HOLLYWOOD'' An Interview with 'B' Monster Movie Hero Don Sullivan copyright 2008 Paul Parla/Anthony Di Salvo</ref> He thought the program would lose the suspense element, "Because the whole premise was this guy, all by himself, 'on a tightrope.' ... When he gets a sidekick, it loses the threat and the danger, and the whole premise is in the toilet."{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=30}}

Later, he was cast in the episode "The Aerialist" of the anthology series, ''[[Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond]]''. In 1963, he guest-starred as Jack Marson in the episode "Shadow of the Cougar" on the NBC modern Western series, ''[[Redigo (TV series)|Redigo]]'', starring [[Richard Egan (actor)|Richard Egan]].<ref name="Lentz 2018"/> In 1964, Connors appeared in a pinch-hit role for [[Raymond Burr]] as attorney Joe Kelly in the ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' episode, "The Case of the Bullied Bowler". Connors was invited to take on a lead role in the series on an ongoing basis, but the producers had actually wanted to pressure Burr into resigning his contract with the series.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=30}}

In 1964, Connors had a role in the [[Jack Lemmon]] comedy ''[[Good Neighbor Sam]]'', and was the leading man to [[Susan Hayward]] and [[Bette Davis]] in ''[[Where Love Has Gone (film)|Where Love Has Gone]]''. He co-starred with [[Robert Redford]] in one of his earliest film roles, the World War II black comedy ''[[Situation Hopeless... But Not Serious]]'' (1965), in which Connors and Redford played American soldiers taken prisoner by a German villager played by [[Alec Guinness]]. Connors played the card sharp in the remake of ''[[Stagecoach (1966 film)|Stagecoach]]'' (1966).<ref name="Barnes hollywoodreporter"/>

Connors was strongly considered to play [[Matt Helm]] in ''[[The Silencers (film)|The Silencers]]'' (1966), but that role had eventually gone to [[Dean Martin]]. However, his audition had impressed Columbia Pictures, so Connors was instead cast in the similar [[James Bond]] spoof film ''[[Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die]]'' (1966). Connors himself performed the stuntwork of dangling from a rope ladder attached to a helicopter flying off the [[Christ the Redeemer (statue)|Christ the Redeemer]] statue in [[Rio de Janeiro]] when the local stuntman refused to do it.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=33}}

===''Mannix''===
[[File:Mike Connors Gail Fisher Mannix 1970.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Connors with [[Gail Fisher]] in a publicity photo for ''Mannix'', 1970]]
Connors became best known for playing the [[private investigator]] Joe Mannix in the detective series ''[[Mannix]]''. The series ran for eight seasons from 1967 to 1975. During the first season of the series, Joe Mannix worked for Intertect, a large Los Angeles detective agency run by his superior Lew Wickersham ([[Joseph Campanella]]). From the second season onward, Mannix opened his own detective agency and is assisted by his secretary Peggy Fair ([[Gail Fisher]]).<ref name="Barnes hollywoodreporter"/>

''Mannix'' was originally produced by [[Desilu Productions]] (later absorbed by [[Paramount Television]]). Then-president [[Lucille Ball]] pushed for CBS to keep the show on the air by removing the high-tech computers and making Mannix an independent detective. This move enabled the show to become a long-running hit for the network.<ref name="Paul 2014">{{cite book |last=Paul |first=JoAnn M. |chapter=1 |title=And Now, Back to Mannix |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mlY_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT26 |location=Duncan, Oklahoma |publisher=BearManor Media |isbn=978-1-59393-565-8 |date=2014}}</ref>
Connors performed his own stunts on the series. During the filming of the pilot episode, he broke his wrist and dislocated his shoulder.<ref name="Paul 2014"/>

Joe Mannix was an Armenian American, like Connors. He spoke [[Armenian language|Armenian]] in a number of episodes and often quoted Armenian proverbs.<ref name="Paul 2014"/>

In 1970, Connors won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama]]. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award six times from 1970 to 1975 and was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]] four times from 1970 to 1973.<ref name="Barnes hollywoodreporter"/>
[[File:Mike Connors Eddie Egan Mannix 1972.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Connors with [[Eddie Egan]] in a publicity photo for ''Mannix'', 1972]]
When discussing the success of the series in an interview, Connors stated: "The show itself started a whole new era of detective shows, because this wasn't the usual cynical private eye ''à la'' [[Humphrey Bogart]]. It was more a show about an all-round normal human being. The character of Joe Mannix could be taken advantage of by a pretty face, he could shed a tear on an emotional level, he was very close to his father and his family, so he was more a normal personality with normal behavior."<ref name="filmtalk 2015"/>

Connors was able to work with his boss Lucille Ball on-screen during a cross-promotion episode of her ''[[Here's Lucy]]'' series in 1971. The episode, which opened Lucy's fourth season, is titled "Lucy and Mannix are Held Hostage". This was notable as the first episode shot at Universal Studios, after Ball ceased producing her program at Paramount Studios.<ref name="Grode nytimes"/>

''Mannix'' remained a hit show through its final season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bowie |first=Stephen |title=The long-running private eye series Mannix was brutal, stylish comfort food |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=May 27, 2014 |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-long-running-private-eye-series-mannix-was-brutal-1798268895 |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> The show was taken off the air due to a dispute between CBS and Paramount.<ref name="filmtalk 2015"/> Paramount had sold the rights to air ''Mannix'' reruns to rival network ABC without informing CBS. When CBS discovered the deal, the executives quickly decided to cancel ''Mannix'' to avoid losing viewership for new episodes to the reruns.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Johnny Carson indirectly caused the death of 'Mannix' |website=[[MeTV]] |date=October 5, 2017 |url=https://www.metv.com/stories/how-johnny-carson-caused-the-death-of-mannix |access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>

He later reprised the role of Joe Mannix in a 1997 episode of ''[[Diagnosis: Murder]]'' and in the 2003 comedy film ''Nobody Knows Anything!''<ref name="Pedersen deadline">{{cite news |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |title=Mike Connors Dies: 'Mannix' Star Was 91 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=January 26, 2017 |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/mike-connors-dead-mannix-star-1201895325/ |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref>

===Later career===
[[File:Genevieve Gilles Mike Connors Mannix 1973.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Connors with [[Genevieve Gilles]] in a publicity photo for ''Mannix'', 1973]]
He narrated [[J. Michael Hagopian]]'s 1975 documentary film ''The Forgotten Genocide'', one of the first full-length features on the [[Armenian genocide]]. The documentary was nominated for two [[Emmy Award|Emmys]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitehorn |first=Alan |title=The Armenian Genocide: The Essential Reference Guide |location=Santa Barbara, California |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |page=45 |isbn=978-1-61069-687-6 |date=2015 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0vrnCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA45}}</ref> In 1995, Connors narrated another Armenian documentary by Hagopian, ''Ararat Beckons''.<ref name="Grode nytimes"/>

In 1976, Connors played Karl Ohanian in the television film ''The Killer Who Wouldn't Die''. Producers and writers [[Ivan Goff]] and [[Ben Roberts (writer)|Ben Roberts]], who were also producers for ''Mannix'', wanted the character to have Connors' real last name.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=20}} The film was intended to be the pilot for a new ABC series titled ''Ohanian'', about an Armenian-American former homicide detective who is now a charter-boat skipper.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Vernon |title=Armenian Part Just The Thing For Mike |work=[[The Desert Sun]] |date=March 30, 1976 |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DS19760330.2.163&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> However, the series was not picked up.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=20}}

Connors had roles in the thriller films ''[[Avalanche Express]]'' (1979) and ''[[Nightkill]]'' (1980).<ref name="filmtalk 2015"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Canby |first=Vincent |author-link=Vincent Canby |title=Film: 'Avalanche Express':Snow Job |work=The New York Times |date=October 19, 1979 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/19/archives/film-avalanche-expresssnow-job.html |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> He starred as a bureau veteran who mentors a team of agents in ''[[Today's FBI]]'' (1981–1982). The series only lasted one season.<ref name="Pedersen deadline"/> Connors both starred in and produced the independent horror film ''[[Too Scared to Scream]]'' (1985).{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=34}}

He played Colonel Harrison "Hack" Peters in the 1988 miniseries ''[[War and Remembrance (miniseries)|War and Remembrance]]''. Connors hosted the 1989 series ''Crimes of the Century''. He voiced the character Chipacles in the [[Disney]] animated series ''[[Hercules (1998 TV series)|Hercules]]'' from 1998 to 1999.<ref name="Barnes hollywoodreporter"/>

Connors' final appearance was in a 2007 ''[[Two and a Half Men]]'' episode, as a love interest of Evelyn Harper's ([[Holland Taylor]]).<ref name="Pedersen deadline"/>
{{Clear|left}}

==Personal life==
Connors married Mary Lou Willey on September 10, 1949, when they were both [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]] students.<ref name="Pedersen deadline"/> They had two children, a son, Matthew Gunnar Ohanian, and a daughter, Dana Lee Connors. Matthew was diagnosed with [[schizophrenia]] at age 15. Matthew predeceased his father, dying of heart failure in 2007.<ref name="Hamilton 50plusworld">{{cite web |title=Celebrating Seniors - Mike Connors Turns 90 |last=Hamilton |first=Anita |website=50 Plus World |date=January 27, 2017 |url=https://50plusworld.com/celebrating-seniors-mike-connors-turns-90/ |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> Through his daughter Dana, he had one granddaughter.<ref name="Pedersen deadline"/>

After his son's diagnosis, Connors became active in charitable organizations for patients diagnosed with mental disorders. He was a spokesperson for the [[National Alliance on Mental Illness]]. In 1998, the [[University of California, Irvine School of Medicine|UC Irvine College of Medicine]]'s Brain Imaging Center Committee awarded Connors the Silver Ribbon Award for his contributions.<ref name="Hamilton 50plusworld"/>

Connors made a public service announcement for the Armenian Eye Care Project.{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=35}}

Connors was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref>{{cite web |title=GOP Convention, Day 1, Session 2 |website=AP Archive |date=July 14, 1980 |url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/GOP-CONVENTION-DAY-1-SESSION-2-REPUBLICAN-NATIONAL/633f675236d14b73927705e399e0a31f?query=CELEBRITY+NEWS&current=7&orderBy=Relevance&hits=26&referrer=search&search=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3DCELEBRITY%2520NEWS%26allFilters%3DSINGERS%3AKeyword%2CWayne%2520Newton%3APeople&allFilters=SINGERS%3AKeyword%2CWayne+Newton%3APeople&productType=IncludedProducts&page=1&b=e0a31f |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> He endorsed [[Ronald Reagan]] for President in [[1980 United States presidential election|1980]] and [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] and endorsed [[George Deukmejian]] for [[Governor of California]] in [[1982 California gubernatorial election|1982]] and [[1986 California gubernatorial election|1986]].{{sfn|Weaver|2003|p=34}}

==Death==
Connors died in [[Tarzana, California]], at the age of 91 on January 26, 2017, a week after being diagnosed with [[leukemia]].<ref name="Grode nytimes"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Saperstein |first=Pat |title=Mike Connors, 'Mannix' Star, Dies at 91 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |issn=0042-2738 |date=January 26, 2017 |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/mike-connors-dead-dies-joe-mannix-1201971140/ |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1952
| ''[[Sudden Fear]]''
| Junior Kearney
|
|-
| 1953
| ''[[The 49th Man]]''
| Lt. Magrew
|
|-
| 1953
| ''[[Sky Commando]]''
| Lt. Hobson Lee
|
|-
| 1953
| ''[[Island in the Sky (1953 film)|Island in the Sky]]''
| Gainer
|
|-
| 1954
| ''[[Day of Triumph]]''
| Andrew
|
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Five Guns West]]''
| Hale Clinton
|
|-
| 1955
| ''[[The Twinkle in God's Eye]]''
| Lou
|
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Day the World Ended]]''
| Tony Lamont
|
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Jaguar (1956 film)|Jaguar]]''
| Marty Lang
|
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Swamp Women]]''
| Bob Matthews
|
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The Oklahoma Woman]]''
| Tom Blake
|
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Flesh and the Spur]]''
| Stacy Doggett
| Also executive producer
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]''
| Amalekite Herder
| as Touch Connors
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Shake, Rattle & Rock! (1956 film)|Shake, Rattle & Rock!]]''
| Garry Nelson
|
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Voodoo Woman]]''
| Ted Bronson
|
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Suicide Battalion]]''
| Major Matt McCormack
|
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Live Fast, Die Young (film)|Live Fast, Die Young]]''
| Rick
|
|-
| 1960
| ''The Dalton That Got Away''
| Russ Dalton
|
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Panic Button (1964 film)|Panic Button]]''
| Frank Pagano
|
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Good Neighbor Sam]]''
| Howard Ebbets
|
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Where Love Has Gone (film)|Where Love Has Gone]]''
| Major Luke Miller
|
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Harlow (Paramount film)|Harlow]]''
| Jack Harrison
|
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Situation Hopeless... But Not Serious]]''
| Sgt. Lucky Finder
|
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Stagecoach (1966 film)|Stagecoach]]''
| Hatfield
|
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die]]''
| Kelly
|
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Avalanche Express]]''
| Haller
|
|-
| 1980
| ''[[Nightkill]]''
| Wendell Atwell
|
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Too Scared to Scream]]''
| Lt. Alex Dinardo
| Also producer
|-
| 1989
| ''Fist Fighter''
| Billy Vance
|
|-
| 1993
| ''Public Enemy #2''
| Himself
|
|-
| 1994
| ''William Saroyan: The Man, the Writer''
| Narrator
| Voice
|-
| 1994
| ''Downtown Heat''
| Steve
|
|-
| 1997
| ''James Dean: Race with Destiny''
| [[Jack L. Warner|Jack Warner]]
|
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Gideon (film)|Gideon]]''
| Harland Greer
|
|-
| 2000
| ''[[The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave]]''
| Grandpa Osborne
| Uncredited
|-
| 2003
| ''Nobody Knows Anything!''
| Joe Mannix
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1954
| ''[[Ford Theatre|The Ford Television Theatre]]''
| Christopher Ames
| Episode: "Yours for a Dream"
|-
| 1954
| ''[[Mr. and Mrs. North#Television|Mr. & Mrs. North]]''
| Mark Willard
| Episode: "Murder for Sale"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[City Detective]]''
| Massey
| Episode: "Baby in the Basket"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[The Lineup (TV series)|The Lineup]]''
|
| Episode: "The Messenger Case"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Frontier (1955 TV series)|Frontier]]''
| Tomas
| Episode: "Tomas and the Widow"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Schlitz Playhouse of Stars]]''
| Mel Dunlap / Lou Renaldi
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1955
| ''[[The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp]]''
| Pat Smith
| Episode: "The Big Baby Contest"
|-
| 1956
| ''Have Camera Will Travel''
| Larry
| Television film
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal]]''
|
| Episode: "The Diana Story"
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The Millionaire (TV series)|The Millionaire]]''
| Victor Volante
| Episode: "The Victor Volante Story"
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The Loretta Young Show]]''
| Al Kiner
| Episode: "Now a Brief Word"
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The Adventures of Jim Bowie]]''
| Rafe Bradford
| Episode: "Broomstick Wedding"
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Gunsmoke]]''
| Bostick
| Episode: "The Mistake" (credited as Touch Connors)
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The People's Choice (TV series)|The People's Choice]]''
| Bob Staples
| Episode: "Sock and the Law"
|-
| 1956–1959
| ''[[State Trooper (TV series)|State Trooper]]''
| Jim Madison / Jim Herndon
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Hey, Jeannie!]]''
| Lash Connor
| Episode: "Jeannie, the Westerner"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Sheriff of Cochise]]''
| Jess Stiles
| Episode: "Husband and Wife"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Code 3 (TV series)|Code 3]]''
| Bill Dalhart
| Episode: "The Water Skier"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Lux Video Theatre]]''
| Glen Kramer
| Episode: "The Latch Key"
|-
| 1957
| ''The Silent Service''
| Don Melhop
| Episode: "The Ordeal of S-38"
|-
| 1957
| ''Those Whiting Girls''
| Hotel Guest
| Episode: "The Trio"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[M Squad]]''
| Pete Wikowlski
| Episode: "Pete Loves Mary"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Have Gun – Will Travel]]''
| Johnny Dart
| Episode: "The Bride"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[The Gale Storm Show]]''
| Jerry Moss
| Episode: "Mardi Gras"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]''
| Sheriff Barney Fillmore / Ralph Jordan
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1957
| ''[[The Walter Winchell File]]''
| Dave Hopper
| Episode: "The Steep Hill"
|-
| 1957–1959
| ''[[Whirlybirds]]''
| Tom Grimaldi / Wally Otis
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Wagon Train]]''
| Lt. Miles Borden
| Episode: "The Dora Gray Story"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Telephone Time]]''
| Cy Yedor
| Episode: "The Checkered Flag"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Official Detective]]''
| Martin Whiting<ref>{{cite web |title=''The Cover-Up'' |publisher=Classic TV Archives |url=http://ctva.biz/US/Crime/thecoverup |access-date=October 21, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
| Episode: "The Cover-Up"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Studio 57]]''
| Patrolman Jeff Saunders / Hap Gordon
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Cheyenne (TV series)|Cheyenne]]''
| Roy Simmons
| Episode: "Dead to Rights"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Target (U.S. TV series)|Target]]''
|
| Episode: "Death Makes a Phone Call"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[The Texan (TV series)|The Texan]]''
| Larry Enright
| Episode: "The Edge of the Cliff"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Cimarron City (TV series)|Cimarron City]]''
| Bill Thatcher
| Episode: "Hired Hand"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Rescue 8]]''
| Joe Starky
| Episode: "Find That Bomb!"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Jefferson Drum]]''
| Simon Pitt
| Episode: "Simon Pitt"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]''
| Hal Daniels
| Episode: "Lady in Question"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[The Rough Riders (TV series)|The Rough Riders]]''
| Randall Garrett
| Episode: "Wilderness Trace"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Bronco (TV series)|Bronco]]''
| Hurd Elliott
| Episode: "School for Cowards"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond]]''
| Mario Patruzzio
| Episode: "The Aerialist"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[The Californians (TV series)|The Californians]]''
| Charles Cora
| Episode: "The Bell Tolls"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1958 TV series)|Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer]]''
| Marty / Lou Torrey
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1959–1960
| ''[[Tightrope!]]''
| Nick Stone (undercover agent)<ref name="BrooksMarsh">{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Tim |author-link=Tim Brooks (television historian) |last2=Marsh |first2=Earle F. |title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present |location=New York |publisher=[[Random House]] |page=1394 |isbn=978-0-307-48320-1 |date=2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&pg=PA1394}}</ref>
| 37 episodes
|-
| 1962
| ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]''
| Eddie O'Gara
| Episode: "The Eddie O'Gara Story"
|-
| 1962
| ''The Expendables''
| Mike
| Television film
|-
| 1963
| ''[[Redigo (TV series)|Redigo]]''
| Jack Marston
| Episode: "Shadow of the Cougar"
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]''
| Joe Kelly
| Episode: "The Case of the Bullied Bowler"
|-
| 1967–1975
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| Joe Mannix
| 194 episodes<br>[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama]] <small>(1970)</small><br>Nominated—[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama]] <small>(1971–1975)</small><br>Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]] <small>(1970–1973)</small>
|-
| 1968–1970
| ''[[The Red Skelton Show]]''
| Plastic Surgeon / Airline Pilot / Henry Pringle / Himself / Federal Witness
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Here's Lucy]]''
| Joe Mannix
| Episode: "Lucy and Mannix Are Held Hostage"
|-
| 1973
| ''Beg, Borrow, or Steal''
| Vic Cummings
| Television film
|-
| 1973
| Bob Hope Special
| Joe Mannix
| Private Eyes spoof skit with Hope as "Cannon"
|-
| 1976
| ''The Killer Who Wouldn't Die''
| Karl Ohanian
| Television film
|-
| 1976
| ''Charo''
| [[George Washington|Gen. George Washington]]
| Television film
|-
| 1976
| ''Revenge For A Rape''
| Travis Green
| Television film
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]''
| Curtis 'Manny' Mandell
| Episode: "Stigma"
|-
| 1978
| ''Long Journey Back''
| Vic Casella
| Television film
|-
| 1979
| ''The Death of Ocean View Park''
| Sam Jackson
| Television film
|-
| 1979
| ''High Midnight''
| Capt. Lou Mikalich
| Television film
|-
| 1980
| ''[[Casino (1980 film)|Casino]]''
| Nick
| Television film
|-
| 1981–1982
| ''[[The Love Boat]]''
| Mark Hayward / Sidney Sloan
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1981–1982
| ''[[Today's FBI]]''
| Ben Slater
| 18 episodes
|-
| 1984
| ''Earthlings''
| Captain Jim Adams
| Television film, unsold pilot<ref>{{cite web |website=TV Archives: Unsold Pilots |title=Earthlings (ABC unsold pilot) |date=Summer 1984 |url=https://sites.google.com/site/ajmtvarchives/unsold-pilots}}</ref>
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Glitter (American TV series)|Glitter]]''
|
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 1984
| ''[[The Fall Guy]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Private Eyes"
|-
| 1988–1989
| ''[[War and Remembrance (miniseries)|War and Remembrance]]''
| Col. Harrison 'Hack' Peters
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985 TV series)|Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]''
| Robert Logan
| Episode: "Driving Under the Influence"
|-
| 1989–1995
| ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
| Boyce Brown / Walter Murray
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1993
| ''Armen and Bullik''
| Joe 'Uncle Do Do' Armen
| Television film
|-
| 1993
| ''[[The Commish]]''
| James Hayden
| Episode: "Scali, P.I."
|-
| 1993
| ''Hart to Hart Returns''
| Bill McDowell
| Television film
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Burke's Law (1994 TV series)|Burke's Law]]''
| Jack Duncan
| Episode: "Who Killed the Anchorman?"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Diagnosis: Murder]]''
| Joe Mannix
| Episode: "Hard-Boiled Murder"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]''
| Judge Arthur McSpadden
| Episode: "Code of the West"
|-
| 1998–1999
| ''[[Hercules (1998 TV series)|Hercules]]''
| Chipacles (voice)
| 10 episodes
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Two and a Half Men]]''
| Hugo
| Episode: "Prostitutes and Gelato"
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
|-
| 1970
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 1970
| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1971
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1971
| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1972
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1972
| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1973
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1973
| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1974
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1975
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| ''[[Mannix]]''
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Weaver |first=Tom |year=2003 |title=Eye on Science Fiction: 20 Interviews with Classic SF and Horror Filmmakers |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=0-7864-1657-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jFkWaFYqzuQC&pg=PA29}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0175528|name=Mike Connors}}
* [https://www.aveleyman.com//ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=3497 Mike Connors] (Aveleyman)

{{Golden Globe Award Best Actor TV Drama}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|California|Film|Television}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Connors, Mike}}
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[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
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[[Category:American people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:Armenian male actors]]
[[Category:Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (television) winners]]
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[[Category:Western (genre) television actors]]