Daniel J. Travanti

The highly regarded actor 'Daniel J. Travanti' (qv) was born Danielo Giovanni Travanty in the southeastern part of Wisconsin on March 7, 1940, but raised for a time in Iowa before returning to his native state. The youngest son of an American Motors auto worker, he showed both athletic and academic prowess in high school on both the football and debate teams.It was during the course of his studies at the University of Wisconsin that Dan first developed a strong, abiding interest in drama, appearing in many college plays while there. He, in fact, turned down top football scholarships in order to pursue his acting dream. Following training at the Yale School of Drama, he was glimpsed on stage as a messenger (billed as Dan Travanty) in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "Othello" starring 'James Earl Jones' (qv). The following year he co-starred as Nick with 'Colleen Dewhurst' (qv) in a touring company of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1965 and he was off and running. He later returned to Shakespeare in a much bigger role in 1977 as Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew." National tours of "Twigs" (1972, opposite 'Sada Thompson' (qv)) and "I Never Sang for My Father" (1987, opposite 'Harold Gould' (qv) and 'Dorothy McGuire' (qv)) would highlight his theatrical career.The following year Travanti relocated to Los Angeles, appearing in scores of TV roles as assorted buddies and villains while still billing himself under his actual last name of Travanty (until the early 1970s). Starting with his film debut in the sordid stalker drama _Who Killed Teddy Bear (1965)_ (qv) starring 'Sal Mineo' (qv) and 'Juliet Prowse' (qv), he found a sturdy, if routine, niche in drama with supporting roles in the films _The Organization (1971)_ (qv) and _St. Ives (1976)_ (qv), and TV guest spots on _Preston & Preston (1961)_ (qv), _Perry Mason (1957)_ (qv), _Judd for the Defense (1967)_ (qv), _The F.B.I. (1965)_ (qv), _Mannix (1967)_ (qv), _Cannon (1971)_ (qv), and _Barnaby Jones (1973)_ (qv).A consummate professional and chronic overachiever, he quickly approached burnout when he obtained only a measure of the success he expected of himself. Travanti turned to drinking to combat his career dissatisfaction. He finally was forced to seek professional help in 1973 after a collapse and breakdown on stage during the middle of a show in Indianapolis.Following extensive treatment, Travanti did an about-face. In 1978 he earned a master's degree in English literature at Loyola of Marymount in Los Angeles and the following year nabbed a six-month stint on the ABC daytime soap _General Hospital (1963)_ (qv). This renewed resurgence came to a peak came after being cast as the serious, somber-looking Capt. Frank Furillo for six seasons on the classic drama _Hill Street Blues (1981)_ (qv). The actor not only won both Emmy (twice) and Golden Globe awards, but developed unlikely sex-symbol status at the age of 41.This major showcase led to a host of highly acclaimed TV mini-movie parts, notably that of 'John Walsh' (qv), the father who turned activist after his child was murdered, in _Adam (1983)_ (qv) and its sequel, _Adam: His Song Continues (1986)_ (qv), and the title role of broadcast journalist 'Edward R. Murrow' (qv) in _Murrow (1986)_ (qv), earning a Cable ACE award nomination. Other penetrating TV-movies starring or co-starring Travanti included _A Case of Libel (1983)_ (qv), _Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder (1989)_ (qv), _Eyes of a Witness (1991)_ (qv), _Weep No More, My Lady (1992)_ (qv), _In the Shadows, Someone's Watching (1993)_ (qv),_My Name Is Kate (1994)_ (qv), _To Sir, with Love II (1996)_ (qv) and _Murder in My House (2006)_ (qv).Avoiding the limelight and focusing on theater endeavors, he found major stage roles both in London ("Les liaisons dangereuses" (1990), "The Aspern Papers") and here ("Wicked Songs (2000), All My Sons" (2002), "Major Barbara" (2003), "The Last Word..." (2007), The Touch of the Poet (2008)). Daniel eventually returned to guest dramatics on both TV crimers ("Prison Break," "Criminal Minds" and "The Defenders") and medical shows ("Grey's Anatomy," "Chicago Med").Travanti returned to series TV sporting a police badge briefly on _Missing Persons (1993)_ (qv), and had recurring roles on _Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996)_ (qv), _Boss (2011)_ (qv) and _NCIS: Los Angeles (2009)_ (qv). Sporadic filming in later years has included the moving drama _Something Sweet (2000)_ (qv), the dark-edged dramedy _Design (2002)_ (qv) and the romantic film comedy _One Small Hitch (2013)_ (qv).::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net