Bill Travers is an amazing actor with charisma and individual ability to get used to the role, an environmentalist. A man who went through the Second World War and managed to achieve popularity in the film industry, which he did not even dream of in his youth.
Bill Travers (), full name is a renowned screenwriter and producer who has starred in adventure comedies, dramas and animal series. For euphonious pronunciation, the convenience of spelling the name in the credits, he used an abbreviated version of the name - Bill.
Biography
The future screen star was born on January 3, 1922 in the small town of Newcastle upon Tyne (Great Britain), in the family of a theater manager. The boy grew up active with a fighting character, read a lot and was interested in weapons. He received his secondary education at a local school, after which the eighteen-year-old teenager was taken into the army.
This was a difficult time for Trevers. 1940, the beginning of military events in the world - World War II. Travers is sent as a lieutenant to India, where he led a partisan detachment in the rear of the Japanese. For courage and strategic tactics of conducting combat, specialized actions, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire, and subsequently became an honorary member of this order. At the end of the war, he retired from the army with the rank of major and decided to try himself as an actor.
Career
The first steps to the pinnacle of fame were taken by a man in the television anthology series Kraft's Television Theater (1947). It existed until October 1958, viewers watched and listened to it with great pleasure, even the sale of the first televisions in Britain increased. It was a unique format for presenting disparate stories that happened to the heroes. The plots and artists were different, they acted out individual episodes that had their own meaning, the essence of the events, and their thoughts were voiced by the announcers.
In 1949 he made his film debut, starring in the American-British film "The Conspirator". This marked the beginning of his creative path, made a great contribution to further activities. Then there were several minor roles, small plots, until he was invited to the main role in the film "Browning" (1951). In it, Bill played an aging teacher disillusioned with family and teaching life.
1952 was marked by a series of films, where the artist starred in leading roles. Travers moves to Hollywood, signs a contract with Metro Golden Myers and records 5 films with his participation. The next few years were the most successful of his film career.
In the period from 1957 to 1961, the actor (who was starting at that time as a director and screenwriter) met his future wife Virginia McKenna, starred with her in films about the protection of animals, lyrical melodramas and other productions on television. Over time, interest in the game of Bill and Virginia cooled a little, they faded into the background, they took part in big films less and less.
Travers ended his career with the TV series Lovejoy in 1986, in the remaining years he wrote scripts, took part in the production of films, passed on experience to novice performers. In addition, he traveled a lot and collected materials about animals in unofficial zoos, about the fate and keeping of animals in them.
The actor has more than 52 successful films in his piggy bank, where he played characteristic, but very diverse characters. The best are: "Browning's Version" (1951), "Romeo and Juliet" (1954), "Footsteps in the Fog" (1955), "The Smallest Show in the World" (1957), "Green Helmet" (1961)), "Born Free" (1966), "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1968), "Circle of Pure Water" (1969). In addition, on his account there are documentaries, short films, television and radio appearances, theatrical and stage performances.
Personal life
The great actor lived a long and happy life. The events of the war years left an imprint on his individuality, self-control and reverent attitude towards nature, all living things. Despite his stern appearance, he was a cheerful and positive person who managed to convey the roles to the viewer simply and attractively. Even after finishing his acting career, he continued to do a good deed for British cinema, to protect wild animals in captivity, he created the animal charity "Born Free Foundation" together with his wife. The foundation is currently managed by his son Will Travers.
He was happy in his second marriage, despite the age difference, he always understood and supported his wife. Having met on the set of the film, they did not part until their death. They starred in a large number of films together, especially in television productions about animals. They raised three sons and a daughter, who, unfortunately, did not follow in the footsteps of their parents.
A wonderful man, an outstanding film director and producer, a loving husband and wonderful father, Bill Travers, passed away on March 29, 1994, in his house, in a dream. He is buried in the Dorking local cemetery (Surrey, England).
Wife Virginia McKenna survived Bill, continues her creative career, supports children and six grandchildren. In 2019, a short film about the fate of two friends during the period of hostilities was released. One of the main characters was played by Virginia herself, embodying the idea and plans of the late spouse about the events and relationships experienced during the war.
At the time of his death, the actor was 72 years old, most of them he devoted to art. He acted in films, wrote amazing scripts, organized the filming of films with many popular artists and left behind a great contribution to the film industry.
