Claude Akins : Claude's Grandson

Hello to all,
My name is Conrad Akins-Johnson and I am Claude Akins grandson. I see that someone posted a comment about his ethnicity. I believe he is part Cherokee Indian, which explains his dark complexion and hair. I told my mom about all your comments and she was happy to see people who loved him as much as us. Thanks to all for the nice comments.
Conrad Akins-Johnson

Hello Conrad. I was just now looking up things about Claude Akins because I was trying to tell my cousin that he was from here where we live Bedford, Indiana. I guess he was born elsewhere, and I'm sure that he lived somewhere else too when he got older, but I know he lived here for part of his life, and I think he had an aunt that lived here right up until she died. I don't know her name. We still have a golf tournament named after him at our golf course in Otis Park. It's called the Claude Akins Golf Classic, I think. Did you ever hear about any of your family talk about when he lived here?

Yeah I remember my mom telling me about Bedford. We visited there a long time ago when I was really young for the Claude Akins Golf Tournament. My Uncle spread his ashes on the 17th hole in Otis Park. (Not very many people know that, our secret.) He went to highschool in Bedford, and was born in Nelson, Georgia as far as I know. I would also like to tell you that his Wife Therese died on the 12 of this month. She was 76, she would have been 77 on June 20th. As asked prior to her death she was cremated and barried in a Catholic Cemetary near Monta Bello.

God Bless, Conrad Akins-Johnson

if ever their was a t.v. cop's hall of fame

claude akins would represent ' the sheriff' for sure!!!

all i have is good phrase for his career

My mother was two years behind him at Bedford (Indiana) Lawrence North High School. She graduated in, I believe, 1935 so he would have graduated in 1933.

hi conrad
my name is (sharon l akins) i have been a fan since moving on tv series and the movie merrills meuraders. when is the tv series on dvd.also the movie.

thank you
slf-a

p.s. miss him very much

Hi Conrad,

Very nice to meet you, I wondered what tribal ancestry he was of, thank you so much for the information. Claude was an awesome actor and a really sweet man I miss him so much.

Hi Claude:

I remember when your grandfather's TV show "Movin' On" was being shot in Atlanta at the old Camp Steel Works. I lived in a surrounding neighborhood and I meet him on the location. At that time, they were looking for more atmosphere people to appear in a scene, and he suggested that my friend and I be a part of the scene. I will always remember that moment.

Hello Conrad!


I am 36 and I remember watching "Lobo" often as a youth and your Grandpa is missed by his fans. Over the weekend I watched some episodes of "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" and "BJ and the Bear" that your grandpa STARRED in that I recorded back in 1995 off of the now defunct cable TV station WWOR, New York. Mr. Akins was GREAT! I also loved a performace of his opposite Joanna Moore(Tatum O'Neil's mother) in a 1964 episode of "The Fugitive"(the TV show that the 1993 Harrison Ford/Tommy Lee Jones movie was based upon) titled "NEVER STOP RUNNING" which WILL be released on DVD within a year's time since "The Fugitive" hits DVD shelves in August, 2007 and the first half of season one is going to be released first. Later, the second half of season one(which includes the season one episode with your late, great grandpa) will be released to the public!

Your 238grandfather was GREAT! I watched the 3 part "Sheriff Lobo/B.J and the Bear" crossover episode "Run for the Money" today and Mr. Akins was very, very excellent and humorous!

Hello, Conrad

I used to watch your grandfather on The Misadventures Of Sherriff Lobo, back in the late Seventies and early Eighties. I never missed a single episode. I thought it was a pretty cool show.

I also enjoyed his work in the films Inherit The Wind, Return Of The Magnificent Seven, The Devil's Brigade, and Battle For The Planet Of The Apes.

He was definately the hippest and the coolest when it came to playing tough and heroic characters. I certainly miss him and his work. He was truly an extraordinary man and a gentleman.

I also enjoyed his work on The Twilight Zone, too. Particularly the episode The Monsters On Maple Street. That was a classic.

Who could ever forget Claude Akins' work as Jake "Dodo" Ryan on the classic episode of "The Untouchables" entitled "The Unhired Assassin."

It's a double cross. It's a dirty, stinkin' double cross.

Hi Conrad. I'm stationed in Iraq and I've just finished watching your grandfather in an episode of "The Big Valley." He played an Irish immigrant named Jimmy Callahan. Once I saw him onscreen a smile crossed my face. He was great. He got into a great fight with Nick Barclay (Peter Breck). He wasn't a bad guy, just a man out to help his family and friends in the story.
I also enjoyed him in the "Twilight Zone" where he was the only neighbor who didn't succumb to the alien paranoia like everyone else. I thought it was cool I had the first name as his character, "Steve."
Anyway, just wanted to say I always liked your grandfather's work.

Hello Conrad. I was wondering if you know of a relative of yours named Aaron. He is 26 and lives in Georgia. Not sure exactly how he is related. Anyway, he is my best friend and we often talk about Claude Akins and his work.

Your grandfather was an amazing actor, he was truly brilliant in my favorite episode of The Twilight Zone "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street", you should be very proud. :)

That's one of my favorite movies Claude was in

Your Granddad was one of the all-time great Character Actors,and one of my all-time favorites. 'Movin' On' was (In my opinion) his greatest achievement, but he was great in anything he did, from 'From Here To Eternity' to 'Sheriff Lobo'. I met him way back in 1975, briefly, when he came to my hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, to do PR for Kenworth, and 'Movin' On'.

It's so nice to see all the people who appreciate your grandfather's work! I don't know how familiar you are with his roles, but there is one I've been trying to identify for a number of years.

It was a western comedy and I believe that Strother Martin was playing your grandfather's partner/friend. It could have been a TV movie or even an episode of a series (but I don't think it's the latter.)

There is one line that he had after shooting Strother Martin: with a super-sad expression he stared off and asked, "Why do I always kill the one I love?"

The way he said the line was absolutely hilarious, and I have remembered it many years and wanted to see it again. As I recall, the whole movie was quite well-written and funny.

Do you possibly have any idea? Could anyone else help me out?

Thanks,
Carolyn in Memphis

Carolyn in Memphis, the movie is The Great Bank Robbery from 1969, Claude Akins plays Slade.

He has another hilarious line when he is arrested for littering, ( had been drinking) and totally out of character for a really tough guy like Slade he sadly weeps while being put in a jail cell and in a high voice he whines "Is this going to go on my record?" And then he can't hold back his sobs. You have to see it, it is too funny! I always wondered if that line was in the script or ad lib. The dvd is available on amazon. Hope you can order it & enjoy this very funny film again :-)

I am trying to find good dvd's of the series Movin' On. My whole family used to watch that show together & we all loved it.

Claude Akins is stand out in anything he's in, a great actor. I've read here that he was also a very kind hearted man and that makes me admire him all the more.

I think he was one of the best actors on television, and underrated. I just wish the people in power would have given him better roles to play.

Ultimately is was the best gorilla general ever created, and the ultimate cowboy bad guy. And I liked him as a sheriff. I just think his best creative talents were never utilized.

Hi Conrad!
I am just sitting here watching your grandfather's Twilight Zone episode. What a wonderful actor. I have always loved him. He looks so much like my Uncle. I watch him every chance I get and have very fond remembrances. What a wonderful actor!

Hiya Conrad I wonder if you ever take a peek here at these letters about your Grandfather. I hope so.
Starting when I was a kid prb68obably younger than you and I was asked "Who is your favorite actor?" .. I would reply "Claude Akins !!!" and always got that "Who the heck is that?" response. It is so GREAT now to know that he is known, loved and missed by so many many people.
Sadly, most of the people seem to know him only as either Lobo or Sonny Pruitt. They are missing so much !!! I have made a collection of films, film clips and tapings of tv episodes . I have a scrapbooks with copies of posters and shots from almost all of his films and tv shows. Wouldn't that make a great "films of " book ???
I first noticed him in "Sister Ann", an old Loretta Young Show where he had a bandage on his face the whole show and didn't know he was falling in love with a nun His VOICE was so fantastic !!! Then I found "The Caine Mutiny"'s Horrible Guglash and the quest was on.
Anyway it would be hard for me to pick a "favorite" performance by your grandfather with so many to choose from BUT if pressed I really liked the preacher in "Inherit the Wind" one of his absolute meanest characters and another meany in "Falling From Grace" when he gets smacked with the frying pan !!!!! and then there was etc etc etc !