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Respected 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 his studies at the University of Wisconsin that he first developed an interest in drama, appearing in many college plays. He turned down top football scholarships to pursue his acting dream. Following training at the Yale School of Drama, 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.
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 became known as a consummate professional. He found a sturdy, if routine, niche in crimers with supporting roles in the films The Organization (1971) and St. Ives (1976), and TV guest spots on "The Defenders," "Perry Mason," "Judd: For the Defense," "The F.B.I.", "Mannix," "Cannon" and "Barnaby Jones." A chronic overachiever and quickly approaching burnout, Travanti turned to drinking to combat the frustration and dissatisfaction with his life and so-so career. He finally sought professional help in 1973 after a collapse and breakdown on stage during the middle of a show in Indianapolis. |
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