A Message from R. M. Cangey

The following is a message from R. M. Cangey, an Actor/Stuntman on the show, and a friend of Robert Conrad. If you would like to know more about him and his Wild Wild West adventures, he has a book out called Inside The Wild Wild West. I HIGHLY reccomend this book to any Wild West fan! You can also go to his Web site HERE.

Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 16:54:28 -0600 (CST)

From: Richard Cangey

As you know, I have been in touch with Bob almost on a daily basis. No conversation can pass without his mentioning his daughters, ten year old Chelsea and twelve year old Camille. Both girls have their mother LaVelda's beauty and their father's competitiveness. Both girls entered a ski competition a week or so ago. Camille won First Place by nearly three seconds ahead of her closest competitor and Chelsea lost First Place by less than half a second. Between priding himself in boasts about his family and their family life, we do manage to get into other matters.

I am livid about Will Smith being cast as James West. I find it insulting. I do not hesitate to say that it is very possible that person who made the decision, made it more for personal reasons and revenge than for the good of the show. Take the argument that a good actor can play any part and shove it. Based on that idiotic thinking, what's wrong with Denzel Washington, a very handsome man who happens to be a good actor, cast to play John F. Kennedy and myself as Martin Luther King Jr. I'm fat, have a big mouth, a mustache, and as an Italian, have dark skin (They can save on the make-up).

There are those who might agree with the casting and argue that people went in droves to see Will Smith in Men In Black. I ask, "Did they go to see Will Smith or did they go to see Tommy Lee Jones"? Space aliens and flying saucers are the fad today. I would bet they would have gone to see the picture even if I starred in it.

Bob (Conrad) has refused to comment publicly about the upcoming movie. To the best of my knowledge, and despite what you may have heard, Robert Conrad has never been offered a job in front of, or behind the camera regarding the movie. He has tied my hands with my "word" to repeat nothing we've discussed but assures me he will answer the most often asked questions in a posting on Gary's site.

The most often asked questions start with, "What's your opinion of the movie"? and "What's your opinion of the casting"?

Suffice it to say I believe Bob will answer those questions truthfully and without restraint. I believe it will be a mirror image of 96% of the opinions sent over the net. Bob won't comment now because he's enjoying time with his family. March 1st is his 63rd birthday and seems a good time to vent his feelings. Watch for it on Gary Lambert's site.

Cangey