Mork and Mindy star Conrad Janis dies aged 94

Conrad Janis has died, aged 94 (Pictures: Getty)

Conrad Janis has died, at the age of 94.

The actor, best known for his roles in Mork and Mindy and the Golden Girls, died at Cedars-Sinai hospital in LA, on March 1.

His business manager Dean Avedon confirmed the news to the Hollywood Reporter, explaining that his cause of death was organ failure. 

Janis began his decades-long acting career in the 1940s, with his first appearance on Broadway show Dark of the Moon in 1945.

In that same year, he made his big screen debut in Snafu, playing a teenager who snuck into the military to serve.

From this, he went on to star in That Hagen Girl, Let’s Rick and Airport 1975 – as well as cameos in The Cable Guy and Brewster’s Millions.

Conrad Janis began his Hollywood career in the 1940s (Picture: Getty)

His biggest role was on Mork and Mindy (Picture: ABC)

Some of his most memorable roles came on the small screen, including a stint on The Golden Girls, Happy Days in 1976, and most recently on Frasier.

His most famous part came as Fred McConnell in Mork & Mindy, in 1978, starring opposite Robin Williams and on-screen daughter Pam Dawber in the titular roles.

The series ran for four seasons, before being cancelled in 1982.

Conrad was also an acclaimed jazz musician (Picture: Getty)

As well as this, he was a decorated musician and a legendary jazz trombonist, skills he honed from a young age.

Throughout his career, the late star performed at Carnegie Hall – and recorded several albums with his band, The Tailgate Five.

Discussing what sparked his passion for music in a previous interview, he credited this to listening to Kid Ory and his band perform live.

More: Showbiz

‘In the course of going eight or nine months and listening to him every night, I inadvertently memorized every one of his solos,’ he said.

‘When I finally got hold of a trombone [some time later], I started playing and could play — very badly and stumbling — but I had it in my ear.’

Janis is survived by his two children from his first marriage, Christopher and Carin, and two grandchildren.

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