Ev Carreon remembers the day his black wig fell off.
”We were doing the fight scene with the fire-breathing dragon,” Carreon said. ”And the wig came off. The audience was shocked to see this full head of white hair underneath. I guess they didn`t realize how old I was.”
Carreon plays Conan the Barbarian, the superhero who clashes with the evil dragon and other opponents at least five times a day in ”The Adventures of Conan” show at Universal Studios Hollywood.
At 56 years old, Carreon is the oldest Conan at Universal. He has been playing the part, which he alternates with three other actors, for seven years now.
”They call me Daddy Conan,” said Carreon, who lives in North Hollywood. ”I love the role.”
Carreon performs about 16 shows a week during the winter and 30 to 35 shows a week in the summer.
”I`ve done more than 6,000 shows since I began,” he said.
The role includes not only the performances, but also personal appearances throughout Southern California, including the Hollywood Christmas Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Being the oldest Conan in the show sometimes makes him feel ”a little bit intimidated,” he said. ”Sometimes I think the audience might prefer seeing a younger Conan. No one has ever said anything to me. It`s just me being insecure.”
The one advantage he does have over the others is his physique, he said.
”I think it`s more Conan-like,” he said. ”You know, more muscular.” He keeps himself in superhero shape by working out for 1 1/2 hours six days a week.
Carreon works out not only for the role of Conan, but also because he is also a bodybuilder. He has won several titles. He was named Mr. New Orleans in 1983 and Mr. California in 1987 by the National Physiques Committee, an amateur bodybuilding organization. In 1986, he won the title of Mr. America from the American Athletic Union, another amateur bodybuilding organization.
Carreon landed the role of Conan after moving to Los Angeles from New Orleans in 1983.
”I was a respiratory therapist and a registered nurse before I decided to try acting,” Carreon said.
His exposure as Conan has enabled Carreon to get bit parts in television shows and commercials. But of all his jobs, he prefers playing Conan.
A typical day as the superhero begins with a fight rehearsal, then the first show and mingling with the audience and signing autographs after each performance.
He said he`s not quite ready to hang up his sword.
”Although I do have aches and pains, I think I`ll continue to be Conan until they close the show down,” Carreon said. ”There`s nothing like getting paid for playing swords. It`s like being a kid all over again.”
