Born: October 5, 1950 – Died: May 27, 2011
Jeff Conaway, the talented actor best known for his iconic roles in "Grease" and "Taxi," was born on October 5, 1950, in the vibrant city of New York, USA. Raised in the heart of the entertainment world, he embarked on a remarkable journey that left an indelible mark on Hollywood. Jeff's parents, Charles F. Conaway, and his sibling Michele Conaway, surely played a role in shaping his destiny. With a New York accent that became his trademark, Jeff Conaway became a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, leaving a legacy that continues to captivate audiences to this day.
Early Life and Career
Jeff Conaway's childhood was undoubtedly immersed in the world of entertainment, given his New York City upbringing. He embarked on his acting journey at a young age. His first professional role likely came in the early 1970s, paving the way for his subsequent success.
However, it was Jeff's role as Kenickie in the iconic musical "Grease" in 1978 that catapulted him into stardom. The film became a cultural phenomenon, and Jeff's portrayal of Kenickie made him a household name. His performance in "Taxi" as Bobby Wheeler further solidified his status in Hollywood.
Throughout his career, Jeff Conaway earned recognition for his talents, including one win and two nominations. While his professional life was flourishing, his personal life saw its share of ups and downs. He was married to Kerri Young and divorced in 2000. Unfortunately, he battled with personal demons and struggled with substance abuse.
Despite the challenges he faced, Jeff Conaway's impact on Hollywood remains significant. He is remembered for his contributions to the entertainment industry and the enduring legacy of his memorable roles. His New York accent and charismatic presence continue to resonate with audiences, making him a beloved figure in the world of entertainment.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dante's Hell Animated (Short) | Circles Introduction (English version, voice) |
| 2012 | Planet Houston (TV Series) | Scareglow | Additional Characters (voice) |
| 2011 | Dark Games | Tom Doyle |
| 2010 | Ladron | Commander Hill |
| 2010 | Wally the Waffle (Short) | Bob the Bacon (voice) |
| 2010 | Dante's Inferno: Abandon All Hope (Short) | Narrator (voice) |
| 2008 | Wrestling | Franklin Conner |
| 2006 | The Utah Murder Project | Sheriff Dan Patterson |
| 2006 | Living the Dream | Dick |
| 2005 | From Behind the Sunflower | Leo |
| 2005 | The Pool 2 | Agent Frank Gun |
| 2004 | The Corner Office (Short) | Dick |
| 2004 | Pan Dulce | Gabriel Levine |
| 2004 | Y.M.I. | Digger's Dad |
| 2004 | She Spies (TV Series) | Zachary Mason |
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Jeff Conaway |
| 2002 | The Biz | Gavin Elliot |
| 2002 | Naked Movie | Jeff Conaway |
| 2002 | Curse of the Forty-Niner | Reverend Sutter |
| 2001 | Do You Wanna Know a Secret? | Agent Owen Sacker |
| 2000 | S Club 7 in L.A. (TV Series) | Jerry Parker (as Jeff Conway) |
| 1999 | Man on the Moon | Jeff Conaway (uncredited) |
| 1999 | Jawbreaker | Marcie's Father |
| 1999 | Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (TV Movie) | Zack Allan |
| 1998 | Tannenbaum (Short) | Hunter #1 |
| 1994–1998 | Babylon 5 (TV Series) | Zack Allan | Security Chief Zack Allan | Zack Allen |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: The River of Souls (TV Movie) | Zack Allen |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: Thirdspace (TV Movie) | Zack Allen |
| 1998 | Shadow of Doubt | Bixby |
| 1997 | Dumb Luck in Vegas | Peter Dunn |
| 1997 | The Last Embrace | Jagger |
| 1997 | George & Leo (TV Series) | Van Passenger |
| 1996 | The Russian Godfather | Daniel |
| 1996 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith (TV Series) | Rich Edwards |
| 1995 | Hope & Gloria (TV Series) | Bud Green |
| 1995 | Burke's Law (TV Series) | Dr. Alex Kenyon |
| 1995 | Gentlemen's Club (Video) | Unknown |
| 1984–1994 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) | Tom Powell | Nolan Walsh | Howard Griffin |
| 1994 | 2002: The Rape of Eden | Reverend |
| 1993 | It's Showtime | Rinaldi |
| 1986–1993 | Matlock (TV Series) | Slick | Waiter | Daniel Ward |
| 1993 | Sunset Strip | Tony |
| 1993 | L.A. Goddess | Sean |
| 1993 | In a Moment of Passion | Werner Soehnen |
| 1993 | Alien Intruder (Video) | Borman |
| 1992 | Bikini Summer II | Stu Stocker |
| 1992 | Eye of the Storm | Tom Edwards |
| 1992 | Almost Pregnant (Video) | Charlie Alderson |
| 1992 | Mirror Images | Jeffrey Blair |
| 1991 | A Time to Die | Frank |
| 1991 | Total Exposure | Peter Keynes |
| 1990 | Shades of LA (TV Series) | Richard |
| 1990 | Good Grief (TV Series) | Winston Payne |
| 1989–1990 | The Bold and the Beautiful (TV Series) | Mick Savage |
| 1990 | The Sleeping Car | Bud Sorenson |
| 1989 | The Banker | Cowboy |
| 1989 | Ghost Writer | Tom Farrell |
| 1989 | Tale of Two Sisters | Taxi driver |
| 1989 | Freddy's Nightmares (TV Series) | Buddy Powers |
| 1989 | Monsters (TV Series) | Phil |
| 1988 | Elvira: Mistress of the Dark | Travis |
| 1988 | The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (TV Movie) | Sgt. Holt |
| 1987 | Bay Cove (TV Movie) | Josh McGwin |
| 1987 | Stingray (TV Series) | Ty Gardner |
| 1987 | Hotel (TV Series) | Eric Madison |
| 1987 | Tales from the Darkside (TV Series) | Peter Prentice |
| 1984–1987 | The New Mike Hammer (TV Series) | Harry Farris | Owen Goddard |
| 1986 | The Patriot | Mitchell |
| 1985 | Stephen King's Golden Tales (Video) | Peter Prentice (segment "My Ghostwriter - The Vampire") |
| 1985 | Berrenger's (TV Series) | John Higgins |
| 1985 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | Randy Jackson |
| 1985 | Who's the Boss? (TV Series) | Jeff |
| 1983 | Covergirl | T.C. Sloane |
| 1983 | Making of a Male Model (TV Movie) | Chuck Lanyard |
| 1983 | Wizards and Warriors (TV Series) | Prince Erik Greystone |
| 1978–1982 | Taxi (TV Series) | Bobby Wheeler | Skip | Louie De Palma |
| 1981 | The Nashville Grab (TV Movie) | Buddy Walker |
| 1980 | For the Love of It (TV Movie) | Russ |
| 1979 | Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (TV Movie) | Roy Fletcher |
| 1978 | Grease | Kenickie |
| 1978 | Having Babies (TV Series) | Bill |
| 1978 | Kojak (TV Series) | Bert Gaines |
| 1977 | Pete's Dragon | Willie |
| 1977 | I Never Promised You a Rose Garden | Lactamaeon |
| 1977 | Delta County, U.S.A. (TV Movie) | Terry Nicholas |
| 1976–1977 | Barnaby Jones (TV Series) | Jeff Saunders | Taylor Chappell |
| 1976 | The Eagle Has Landed | Frazier |
| 1976 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) | Kenny Stevens |
| 1975 | Joe Forrester (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1975 | Movin' On (TV Series) | Mike Miller | Mike |
| 1975 | Happy Days (TV Series) | Rocko |
| 1974 | From Sea to Shining Sea (TV Series) | Jamie |
| 1971 | Jennifer on My Mind | Minstrel #2 |
| 1963 | The Doctors (TV Series) | Lenny Miller |