Spoiler : Born in Keokuk, Iowa 3/16/1897; found dead 2/24/1970 of a heart attack complicated by emphysema at his New York City apartment. Married and divorced to actress Ruth Helms (1924-1935); actress Lynn Merrick (1945-1949; Michael Coulson (1955-?). Nagel enrolled at Des Moine's Highland Park College at age 15, two years later he had earned a BA degree there. Nagel began his career with the Princess Stock in Des Moines (1914). He enlisted in the US Navy in 1917, he was on an admiral's staff when the armistice was signed. Screen debut playing Laurie Laurence in Little Women (1918).

Spoiler : Nagel was host of the Academy Awards in 1930 and 1932, then was co-host for the Awards with Bob Hope in 1953. One of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), was president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1932 to 1933. His participation AMPAS infuriated the Hollywood hierarchy, especially MGM's Louis B. Mayer, and he was tacitly blacklisted by the major studios for many years. He received a special Oscar plaque in 1939 for his efforts on behalf of the Motion Picture Relief Fund. By the middle 1940s, he had moved to New York, and was active on Broadway, as well as radio and, in later  years, live television. Last movie was playing G.K. Brody in The Man Who Understood Women (1959).

Spoiler : Announcer for Alec Templeton Time on NBC-Radio (1939). Host of radio programs including The 76 Review on station KFI-Los Angeles (1937); The Silver Theater (also director) on CBS (1937- 1942); Seventy-Six Revue with Conrad Nagel (sponsored by Union Oil) on NBC (1938); The Passing Parade on NBC and CBS (1938-1941, ca 1943, ca 1944, 1948-1951); Radio Reader's Digest on CBS (1942-1945); syndicated program, Proudly We Hail (also actor 1941, ca 1948-1957).

Spoiler : Host of television programs including Riddle Me This on CBS (1948-1949); Celebrity Time on CBS and ABC (1948-1949, 1952); Silver Theater on CBS )1949-1950); Broadway To Hollywood-Headline Clues on DuMont (1953-1954); syndicated dramatic anthology series, Conrad Nagel Theater (1955).