Daniel J. Travanti

" (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").

Appearing in a 30-second television commercial for a law firm seeking mesothelioma victims. [October 2006]

Appearing on stage in 'Major Barbara' at the Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre [June 2003]

He was nominated for a 1999 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Old Wicked Songs", at the Apple Tree Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

In June of 1995, he sold his home in Pacific Palisades to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver.

Inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Arts Hall of Fame in 1994.

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).

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. . .

Murrow in Murrow (1986), earning a Cable ACE award nomination.

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.

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), In the Shadows, Someone's Watching (1993),My Name Is Kate (1994), To Sir, with Love II (1996) and Murder in My House (2006).

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.

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.

He later returned to Shakespeare in a much bigger role in 1977 as Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew.

Ives (1976), and TV guest spots on The Defenders (1961), Perry Mason (1957), Judd for the Defense (1967), The F. B. I.

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.

" 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).

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.

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.

(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.

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.