Many people have wondered if Pat Conway, the actor who played Sheriff Clay Hollister on the Western TV series Tombstone Territory, was related to Tim Conway, the comedian who starred on The Carol Burnett Show and many other shows and movies. The rumor has been circulating for years, but is there any truth to it? Here are some facts to clear up the confusion.
Pat Conway: A Cowboy Actor
Pat Conway was born Patrick Douglas Conway on January 9, 1931, in Los Angeles, California. He was the son of Jack Conway, a director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and the grandson of Francis X. Bushman, a silent film star. He grew up on a ranch where he learned horsemanship and cattle herding. He studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and the London Shakespearean theater at The Old Vic. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Pat Conway’s first role was in the 1951 movie Westward the Women as Sid Cutler. He also played Tim Dooley in the 1955 movie An Annapolis Story. His most famous role was as Tombstone Sheriff Clay Hollister on the TV series Tombstone Territory, which ran from 1957 to 1960. He also appeared in guest roles in many Western series, such as Gunsmoke, Rawhide, and Bonanza. He also had parts in two movies: Geronimo in 1962 and Brighty of the Grand Canyon in 1967. His final roles were in The Streets of San Francisco TV show in 1975, the TV movie The Abduction of Saint Anne in 1975, and two episodes of The Bullet in 1972 and The Endgame in 1973.
Pat Conway died of renal failure on April 24, 1981, at the age of 50.
Tim Conway: A Comedy Legend
Tim Conway was born Thomas Daniel Conway on December 15, 1933, in Willoughby, Ohio. He was the son of Daniel Conway, a groomer for polo ponies, and Sophia Murgoiu, a Romanian immigrant. He changed his stage name to Tim to avoid confusion with another actor named Tom Conway. He studied television and radio at Bowling Green State University and served in the U.S. Army.
Tim Conway started his career as a disc jockey and a writer for TV shows in Cleveland. He moved to New York City and became a regular on The Steve Allen Show. He then joined the cast of McHale’s Navy as Ensign Parker, a role he played from 1962 to 1966. He also starred in his own sitcoms, The Tim Conway Show (1970) and Ace Crawford, Private Eye (1983). He also appeared in many movies with Don Knotts, such as The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975), The Shaggy D.A. (1976), and The Private Eyes (1980).
Tim Conway’s most memorable role was as a cast member on The Carol Burnett Show from 1975 to 1978. He created many iconic characters, such as Mr. Tudball, the Oldest Man, and the Dumb Private. He was known for his improvisational skills and his ability to make his co-stars laugh uncontrollably. He won six Emmy Awards for his work on the show, four of them for writing.
Tim Conway also voiced Barnacle Boy on the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants from 1999 to 2012. He also appeared on many other shows and movies, such as The Golden Girls, Coach, Married… with Children, Dorf on Golf, and Air Bud 2: Golden Receiver.
Tim Conway died of complications from normal pressure hydrocephalus on May 14, 2019, at the age of 85.
Are They Related?
The short answer is no. Pat Conway and Tim Conway were not related by blood or by marriage. They just happened to share a common surname and a passion for acting.
However, they did have some connections. They both served in the U.S. Marine Corps and they both appeared on some of the same TV shows, such as Gunsmoke and Rawhide. They also had some mutual friends and colleagues in Hollywood.
One possible source of confusion is that Tim Conway had a son named Pat Conway (Patrick Thomas Conway), who is also an actor and a writer. He appeared on some episodes of The Carol Burnett Show with his father and also wrote for shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Rocko’s Modern Life.
Another possible source of confusion is that Pat Conway had a brother named Tom Conway (Thomas Charles Patrick Conway), who was also an actor and a producer. He appeared in some movies with his brother Pat and also produced some TV shows such as Mannix and The F.B.I.
Conclusion
Pat Conway and Tim Conway were two talented actors who entertained millions of people with their performances. They were not related, but they had some similarities and connections. They both left behind a legacy of laughter and joy.
