Showing a diverse range on stage and usually cast as tough guys and working blokes on TV and film, Conway has been toiling for more than 25 years in all three media, becoming one of those faces people recognize on the street, but whose name may prove elusive. He trained with famed coach Uta Hagen, and scoring his first success in the New York and Stockbridge, MA, production of "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" (1973). He Went on to co-star in many prestigious productions including "Of Mice and Men" with James Earl Jones, "The Elephant Man" (as Dr. Treves) and "Other People's Money". Conway made his feature film debut in the forgettable "Believe in Me" (1971) and subsequently portrayed the sullen Weary in "Slaughterhouse Five" (1972). He subsequently co-starred as gangsters opposite Sylvester Stallone in "F.I.S.T." and "Paradise Alley" (both 1978). After appearances in a few undistinguished films (e.g. "The Funhouse" 1984, "Flashpoint" 1984), he made his feature directorial debut with the political drama "El Sol y la Luna/The Sun and the Moon" (1987) which starred his wife, Mila Burnette. He was the doctor who suggested sterilization to cure Laura Dern's problems in Martha Coolidge's "Rambling Rose" (1991) and was Sgt. Buster Kilrain, one of the few non-officers featured in the epic "Gettysburg" (1993). Conway co-starred with Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman in Sam Raimi's "The Quick and the Dead" (1995).
Conway was already playing second leads in 70s TV-movies, such as "The Deadliest Season" (CBS, 1977) and "Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye" (NBC, 1977), but in the 80s he became a frequent player in TV longforms with key roles in such efforts as "Sidney Sheldon's 'Rage of Angels'" (NBC, 1983) and the acclaimed "Something About Amelia" (ABC, 1984). He also played Chillingworth opposite Meg Foster's Hester Prynne in the PBS miniseries "The Scarlet Letter" (1979) and co-starred with Bruce Davison in the first PBS TV-movie "The Lathe of Heaven" (1980). He reprised his stage role of Dr. Frederick Treves opposite Philip Anglim's "The Elephant Man" (ABC, 1983). Conway won higher profile roles in the 90s with the Disney Channel movie, "The Whipping Boy" (1994) and "Larry McMurtry's 'Streets of Laredo'" (CBS, 1995).
Profession(s):
Actor, director
Sometimes Credited As:
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" 1974
Outer Critics Circle Award Best Actor in a Play "Other People's Money" 1974
OBIE Award Distinguished Performance "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" 1973 - 1974
2006 Cast as Mark Wahlberg's father in the sports drama, "Invincible"
2003 Cast in "Gods and Generals," a prequel to the 1993 hit "Gettysburg"
2000 Cast in the political drama, "Thirteen Days"
1999 - 2003 Cast as Seamus O'Reily on the HBO prison drama, "Oz"
1995 Cast as Eugene Dred in Sam Raimi's "The Quick and the Dead"
1995 - 2002 Cast as the Control Voice in the Showtime series, "The Outer Limits"
1991 Played Lieutenant Danny Quinn, opposite Michael Keaton in "One Good Cop"
1987 Co-produced, starred in and directed the independent feature, "The Sun and the Moon"
1983 Recreated stage role of Dr Frederick Treves in "The Elephant Man" (ABC)
1980 Directorial debut, "Mecca"
1979 PBS miniseries "The Scarlett Letter" as Roger Chillingworth
1978 Co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in "F.I.S.T." and "Paradise Alley"
1977 TV-movie debut, "The Deadliest Season" (CBS)
1973 First TV pilot "RX for the Defense" (ABC)
1971 Film debut, "Believe in Me"
1969 Broadway debut, "Indians"
1968 Off-Broadway debut, "Muzeeka", Provincetown Playhouse
1967 Stage debut, "The Impossible Years", Denver, CO
Cast in "Invincible," based on the true story of Eagles football player Vince Papale