Born Kreker Ohanian, he earned the nickname "Touch" for his basketball prowess in high school. Following a stint in the U.S Army Air Forces, he would earn a basketball scholarship to UCLA and played under the legendary John Wooden. It was while playing basketball at UCLA that he was discovered by Hollywood director William A. Wellman (best known for earning the first Best Director Oscar for Wings). During his first years as an actor, he was credited as Touch Connors (including a small role in The Ten Commandments) before becoming Michael Connors in 1957 and eventually shortened to Mike Connors during his Mannix success.
Following Mannix, Connors appeared in shows like Police Story, The Love Boat, The Commish and Murder, She Wrote. His final TV appearance came in 2007 on Two and a Half Men.
Of Armenian heritage, here is a short video of Connors describing how Christmas is celebrated in Armenia.
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