Daniel J. Travanti
- Actor
- Soundtrack
The highly regarded actor Daniel J. Travanti 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. The following year he co-starred as Nick with
Colleen Dewhurst 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) and "I Never Sang for My Father" (1987, opposite Harold Gould and Dorothy McGuire) 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)
starring Sal Mineo and
Juliet Prowse, he found a sturdy, if
routine, niche in drama with supporting roles in the films
The Organization (1971) and
St. Ives (1976), and TV guest spots on
The Defenders (1961),
Perry Mason (1957),
Judd for the Defense (1967),
The F.B.I. (1965),
Mannix (1967),
Cannon (1971), and
Barnaby Jones (1973).
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).
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).
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, the father who turned
activist after his child was murdered, in
Adam (1983) and its sequel,
Adam: His Song Continues (1986),
and the title role of broadcast journalist
Edward R. Murrow in
Murrow (1986), earning a Cable ACE award nomination. Other penetrating TV-movies starring or co-starring Travanti included A Case of Libel (1983), Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder (1989), Eyes of a Witness (1991), Weep No More, My Lady (1992), With Harmful Intent (1993),My Name Is Kate (1994), To Sir, with Love II (1996) and Murder in My House (2006).
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), and had recurring roles on Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996), Boss (2011) and NCIS: Los Angeles (2009). Sporadic filming in later years has included the moving drama Something Sweet (2000), the dark-edged dramedy Design (2002) and the romantic film comedy One Small Hitch (2013).
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. The following year he co-starred as Nick with
Colleen Dewhurst 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) and "I Never Sang for My Father" (1987, opposite Harold Gould and Dorothy McGuire) 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)
starring Sal Mineo and
Juliet Prowse, he found a sturdy, if
routine, niche in drama with supporting roles in the films
The Organization (1971) and
St. Ives (1976), and TV guest spots on
The Defenders (1961),
Perry Mason (1957),
Judd for the Defense (1967),
The F.B.I. (1965),
Mannix (1967),
Cannon (1971), and
Barnaby Jones (1973).
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).
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).
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, the father who turned
activist after his child was murdered, in
Adam (1983) and its sequel,
Adam: His Song Continues (1986),
and the title role of broadcast journalist
Edward R. Murrow in
Murrow (1986), earning a Cable ACE award nomination. Other penetrating TV-movies starring or co-starring Travanti included A Case of Libel (1983), Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder (1989), Eyes of a Witness (1991), Weep No More, My Lady (1992), With Harmful Intent (1993),My Name Is Kate (1994), To Sir, with Love II (1996) and Murder in My House (2006).
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), and had recurring roles on Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996), Boss (2011) and NCIS: Los Angeles (2009). Sporadic filming in later years has included the moving drama Something Sweet (2000), the dark-edged dramedy Design (2002) and the romantic film comedy One Small Hitch (2013).