Born Aug. 17, 1967 in Pittsburgh, PA, Conrad was raised in Pittsburgh by parents Jim Conrad, an engineer, and Margaret Conrad, a librarian. Growing up the youngest of three boys, Conrad attended the all-boys preparatory school, The Kiski School, in nearby Saltsburg, PA. Conrad went on to attend Brown University in Providence, RI as an undergrad student in college, where he began to focus on studying drama and theater. He later went on to study at New York’s prestigious Julliard School. While a student at Juilliard, the young actor appeared in a stage adaptation of John Irving's novel
The Cider House Rules, written by Peter Parnell and co-directed by actor Tom Hulce.After making his feature film debut with a small role in the 1994 film “Under Heat,” Conrad continued with the arduous task of auditioning; though he tried out for the TV pilots “Partners" (FOX, 1995-96) and “Public Morals” (CBS, 1996), he lost out on both. Finally, in 1996, he won a breakout role on the Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz-produced series “Relativity” (ABC, 1996-97). Though the role provided a key opportunity to advance his television career, Conrad was already committed to a Pittsburgh production of the Tom Stoppard play, “Arcadia.” Because the producers felt Conrad was right for the part, production on the series was later scheduled to accommodate Conrad’s work on the play – unheard of for an unknown actor. Portraying Leo, a twenty-something Jewish house painter and aspiring architect who wins over the high-strung Isabel (Kimberly Williams), Conrad found his leading man niche with his first starring role on the dramatic series. Though Conrad and Williams’ chemistry propelled the show to critical reviews, the series lasted only one season due to poor ratings. Undaunted, Conrad went on to appear opposite Sigourney Weaver in "Snow White: A Tale of Terror" (Showtime, 1997), a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, and opposite Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche in the tragic feature film, “Return to Paradise” (1998).Continuing with his stage career, Conrad made his Broadway debut as Blythe Danner's much younger lover in a revival of Terrence Rattigan's “The Deep Blue Sea” in 1998. The devoted thespian reportedly turned down auditions for both “Boogie Nights” (1997) and “Deep Impact” (1998) – both, big film hits – in an effort to focus on theater. Conrad went on to appear in off-Broadway productions of “Troilus and Cressida," "Richard II” and Tom Stoppard’s “Indian Ink.” Returning to the screen in 1999, Conrad appeared in the ensemble TV drama “The Weekend” with Gena Rowlands and Brooke Shields, as well as the Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm, “A Season for Miracles.” Next, Conrad portrayed a naval lieutenant alongside Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in the biographical naval drama, “Men of Honor” (2000) and also appeared in recurring roles on the popular WB series “Roswell” (1999-2002) and Fox’s critically-acclaimed dramatic series “Boston Public” (2000-2005). In 2003, Conrad appeared in a small role in the lackluster Woody Allen comedy “Anything Else” and was cast as Detective Ed Exley in the network adaptation of “L.A. Confidential” (FOX, 2003); though the pilot was not picked up to series, Conrad soon found work on another series. Cast as Michael Mendelsohn on NBC’s “Miss Match” (2003), Conrad tried to win the heart of professional matchmaker Kate Fox (Alicia Silverstone). Though the series showed promise with viewers, its Friday-night time slot eventually led to the show’s demise – though 18 episodes were shot, the series was pulled after airing only 11.Conrad went on to find even greater success, however after long paying his Hollywood dues. In 2005 he appeared in the hit comedy “Wedding Crashers” with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, as well as landed a series regular role on the CBS drama “Ghost Whisperer” (2005- ). In what proved to Conrad’s first role on a successful series, he portrayed Jennifer Love Hewitt’s paramedic husband, Jim Clancy. Though the series was also given a Friday-night slot, unlike Conrad’s previous ill-fated projects, it proved a major success, becoming one of CBS network’s top-rated shows.
