Daniel J. Travanti

Actor

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Daniel J. Travanti talks about his early years breaking into television as a guest star on shows including Route 66, The Defenders, and Gunsmoke. He speaks in detail about the role for which he is most well-known, "Captain Frank Furillo" on Hill Street Blues. He also discusses the production of this series and some of the key series storylines. Travanti then talks about his later work, including the television movies Adam and Murrow, and the police drama series Missing Persons. He concludes with a discussion of his difficulty finding good scripts. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 13, 2004 in Chicago, IL.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

“If it's good writing and it's going to be made, it means that the people making it have good taste. And if the people making it have the good sense to hire me, I’m completely on board.”

People Talking About ...

Daniel J. Travanti

Highlights

Daniel J. Travanti on his appearance on an episode of The Bob Newhart Show

00:57

Daniel J. Travanti on his character, "Captain Frank Furillo's," function on Hill Street Blues

05:45

Daniel J. Travanti on his reluctance to discuss Hill Street Blues, and on his acting career

05:55

Daniel J. Travanti on his reluctance to do a series, and then accepting the role of "Captain Frank Furillo" on Steven Bochco's Hill Street Blues

05:06

Daniel J. Travanti on the final episode of Hill Street Blues, and on the end of the series

02:43

Daniel J. Travanti on the challenge of playing characters based on real people, like Edward R. Murrow

06:23

Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his early interest in acting; on his early acting career

On his earliest experiences with television; on early theater roles

Chapter 2

On his distaste for doing interviews; on his television debut, guest-starring on the Route 66 episode "Child of the Night," and on his reluctance to do television; on being cast on Route 66 for being a James Dean type

On appearing on Flipper, and on his issues with early episodic television; on appearing on The Defenders with Robert Redford; on The Defenders director Stuart Rosenberg

Chapter 3

On working with Stuart Rosenberg on The Defenders; on appearing on East Side/West Side with Moses Gunn

On his guest appearance on an episode of Lost in Space; on his early struggles as an actor

On his guest appearances on Gunsmoke; on his appearance on an episode of The Bob Newhart Show; on playing himself on an episode of Newhart

Chapter 4

On working with Sada Thompson on various projects, including Family; on moving to Los Angeles for his acting career, and on appearing in commercials; on appearing on The Doctors and General Hospital

On his reluctance to do a series, and then accepting the role of "Captain Frank Furillo" on Steven Bochco's Hill Street Blues; on Steven Bochco finding him to play "Captain Frank Furillo" on Hill Street Blues

Chapter 5

On the casting process of Hill Street Blues, and for the role of "Captain Frank Furillo"; on meeting Steven Bochco and Grant Tinker when he read for Hill Street Blues

On the experience of reading with Barbara Bosson for Hill Street Blues for Steven Bochco; on waiting to hear if he was cast after his audition for Hill Street Blues, and on being approved by Fred Silverman to be cast

Chapter 6

On finding out he was cast on Hill Street Blues; on the premise of Steven Bochco's Hill Street Blues, and on the quality of the writing; on his opinion of the notion that Hill Street Blues was the most realistic show on television

On his character, "Captain Frank Furillo's," function on Hill Street Blues; on Hill Street Blues' Emmy wins; on the production of Hill Street Blues

On the ensemble cast of Hill Street Blues; on Veronica Hamel as "Joyce Davenport" on Hill Street Blues; on Michael Conrad as "Phil Esterhaus" on Hill Street Blues, and on the death of the actor

Chapter 7

On Michael Warren as "Officer Bobby Hill" and Bruce Weitz as "Sgt. Mick Belker" on Hill Street Blues; on the ensemble cast of Hill Street Blues; on his relationship with the writers of Hill Street Blues

On his Hill Street Blues character, "Captain Frank Furillo's," alcoholism; on the Hill Street Blues episode "Remembrance of Hits Past," where his character "Captain Frank Furillo" is shot; on the final episode of Hill Street Blues, and on the end of the series

On appearing in A Case of Libel, and on playing "John Walsh" in Adam; on starring as "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow

Chapter 8

On playing "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow; on the challenge of playing characters based on real people, like Edward R. Murrow; on starring in Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder and various feature films

On appearing on American Playhouse in the episode "I Never Sang for My Father"; on starring in the series Missing Persons and Poltergeist: The Legacy; on the life of an actor

Chapter 9

On guest-starring on The Outer Limits; on moving to Chicago; on career highlights

On advice to aspiring actors, and on career highlights and regrets; on his reluctance to discuss Hill Street Blues, and on his acting career

Shows

Adam

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing in A Case of Libel, and on playing "John Walsh" in Adam

07:13

American Playhouse

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on American Playhouse in the episode "I Never Sang for My Father"

00:59

Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78)

Daniel J. Travanti on his appearance on an episode of The Bob Newhart Show

00:57

Defenders, The

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on The Defenders with Robert Redford

06:25

Daniel J. Travanti on The Defenders director Stuart Rosenberg

01:21

Daniel J. Travanti on working with Stuart Rosenberg on The Defenders

01:16

Doctors, The

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on The Doctors and General Hospital

03:41

East Side/West Side

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on East Side/West Side with Moses Gunn

10:28

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Daniel J. Travanti on Hill Street Blues' Emmy wins

01:32

Family

Daniel J. Travanti on working with Sada Thompson on various projects, including Family

01:29

Flipper

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on Flipper, and on his issues with early episodic television

02:26

General Hospital

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on The Doctors and General Hospital

03:41

Gunsmoke

Daniel J. Travanti on his guest appearances on Gunsmoke

03:58

Hill Street Blues

Daniel J. Travanti on his reluctance to do a series, and then accepting the role of "Captain Frank Furillo" on Steven Bochco's Hill Street Blues

05:06

Daniel J. Travanti on Steven Bochco finding him to play "Captain Frank Furillo" on Hill Street Blues

14:41

Daniel J. Travanti on the casting process of Hill Street Blues, and for the role of "Captain Frank Furillo"

04:45

Daniel J. Travanti on meeting Steven Bochco and Grant Tinker when he read for Hill Street Blues

08:33

Daniel J. Travanti on the experience of reading with Barbara Bosson for Hill Street Blues for Steven Bochco

08:48

Daniel J. Travanti on waiting to hear if he was cast after his audition for Hill Street Blues, and on being approved by Fred Silverman to be cast

06:45

Daniel J. Travanti on the premise of Steven Bochco's Hill Street Blues, and on the quality of the writing

06:33

Daniel J. Travanti on Hill Street Blues' Emmy wins

01:34

Daniel J. Travanti on the production of Hill Street Blues

01:40

Daniel J. Travanti on finding out he was cast on Hill Street Blues

02:37

Daniel J. Travanti on his opinion of the notion that Hill Street Blues was the most realistic show on television

03:19

Daniel J. Travanti on his character, "Captain Frank Furillo's," function on Hill Street Blues

05:45

Daniel J. Travanti on the ensemble cast of Hill Street Blues

01:28

Daniel J. Travanti on Veronica Hamel as "Joyce Davenport" on Hill Street Blues

03:51

Daniel J. Travanti on Michael Conrad as "Phil Esterhaus" on Hill Street Blues, and on the death of the actor

02:14

Daniel J. Travanti on Michael Warren as "Officer Bobby Hill" and Bruce Weitz as "Sgt. Mick Belker" on Hill Street Blues

02:25

Daniel J. Travanti on the ensemble cast of Hill Street Blues

06:45

Daniel J. Travanti on his relationship with the writers of Hill Street Blues

03:03

Daniel J. Travanti on his Hill Street Blues character, "Captain Frank Furillo's," alcoholism

02:15

Daniel J. Travanti on the Hill Street Blues episode "Remembrance of Hits Past" where his character, "Captain Frank Furillo," is shot

01:39

Daniel J. Travanti on the final episode of Hill Street Blues, and on the end of the series

02:43

Daniel J. Travanti on his reluctance to discuss Hill Street Blues, and on his acting career

05:55

Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder

Daniel J. Travanti on starring in Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder and various feature films

04:17

Lost in Space

Daniel J. Travanti on his guest appearance on an episode of Lost in Space

00:46

Missing Persons

Daniel J. Travanti on starring in the series Missing Persons

09:03

Murrow

Daniel J. Travanti on starring as "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow

02:03

Daniel J. Travanti on playing "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow

03:19

Newhart

Daniel J. Travanti on playing himself on an episode of Newhart

04:55

Outer Limits, The (1995-2002)

Daniel J. Travanti on guest-starring on The Outer Limits

01:32

Poltergeist: The Legacy

Daniel J. Travanti on starring in Poltergeist: The Legacy and his semi-retirement

03:30

Route 66

Daniel J. Travanti on his television debut, guest-starring on the Route 66 episode "Child of the Night," and on his reluctance to do television

06:09

Daniel J. Travanti on being cast on Route 66 for being a James Dean type

07:13

Topics

Advice

Daniel J. Travanti on advice to aspiring actors, and on career highlights and regrets

06:26

Characters & Catchphrases

Daniel J. Travanti on his character, "Captain Frank Furillo's," function on Hill Street Blues

05:45

Emmy Awards

Daniel J. Travanti on Hill Street Blues' Emmy wins

01:34

First Big Break

Daniel J. Travanti on finding out he was cast on Hill Street Blues

02:37

Pivotal Career Moments

Daniel J. Travanti on finding out he was cast on Hill Street Blues

02:37

Pop Culture

Daniel J. Travanti on his character, "Captain Frank Furillo's," function on Hill Street Blues

05:45

Television Industry

Daniel J. Travanti on advice to aspiring actors, and on career highlights and regrets

06:26

Professions

Actor

View Profession

Daniel J. Travanti on the challenge of playing characters based on real people, like Edward R. Murrow

06:23

Daniel J. Travanti on the life of an actor

00:56

Performers

View Profession

Daniel J. Travanti on the challenge of playing characters based on real people, like Edward R. Murrow

06:23

Daniel J. Travanti on the life of an actor

00:56

Genres

Classic Anthology Series

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on American Playhouse in the episode "I Never Sang for My Father"

00:59

Daniel J. Travanti on guest-starring on The Outer Limits

01:32

Comedy Series

Daniel J. Travanti on his appearance on an episode of The Bob Newhart Show

00:57

Daniel J. Travanti on playing himself on an episode of Newhart

04:55

Commercials

Daniel J. Travanti on moving to Los Angeles for his acting career, and on appearing in commercials

03:37

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Daniel J. Travanti on playing "Captain Frank Furillo" on Hill Street Blues

14:41

Daniel J. Travanti on the casting process of Hill Street Blues

28:57

Daniel J. Travanti on starring on Hill Street Blues

29:03

Daniel J. Travanti on playing "Captain Frank Furillo" on Hill Street Blues

18:50

Daniel J. Travanti on starring in the series Missing Persons

09:03

Daytime/Primetime Serials

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on The Doctors and General Hospital

03:41

Drama Series

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on Route 66

13:22

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing on East Side/West Side with Moses Gunn

10:28

Daniel J. Travanti on starring in Poltergeist: The Legacy and his semi-retirement

03:30

Legal Dramas

Daniel J. Travanti on working with Stuart Rosenberg on The Defenders

01:16

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing in A Case of Libel, and on playing "John Walsh" in Adam

07:14

Daniel J. Travanti on starring as "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow

02:03

Daniel J. Travanti on playing "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow

09:42

Daniel J. Travanti on starring in Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder and various feature films

04:17

Western Series

Daniel J. Travanti on his guest appearances on Gunsmoke

03:58

People

Bob Newhart

View Interview Page

Daniel J. Travanti on his appearance on an episode of The Bob Newhart Show

00:57

Edward R. Murrow

View Person Page

Daniel J. Travanti on starring as "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow

02:03

Daniel J. Travanti on playing "Edward R. Murrow" in Murrow

09:42

Fred Silverman

View Interview Page

Daniel J. Travanti on waiting to hear if he was cast after his audition for Hill Street Blues, and on being approved by Fred Silverman to be cast

06:45

Grant Tinker

View Interview Page

Daniel J. Travanti on meeting Steven Bochco and Grant Tinker when he read for Hill Street Blues

08:33

John Walsh

View Interview Page

Daniel J. Travanti on appearing in A Case of Libel, and on playing "John Walsh" in Adam

07:14

Lucille Ball

View Person Page

Daniel J. Travanti on briefly meeing his idol Lucille Ball

00:59

Michael Warren

View Person Page

Daniel J. Travanti on Michael Warren as "Officer Bobby Hill" and Bruce Weitz as "Sgt. Mick Belker" on Hill Street Blues

02:25

Sada Thompson

View Person Page

Daniel J. Travanti on working with Sada Thompson on various projects, including Family

01:29

Steven Bochco

View Interview Page

Daniel J. Travanti on his reluctance to do a series, and then accepting the role of "Captain Frank Furillo" on Steven Bochco's Hill Street Blues

05:06

Daniel J. Travanti on Steven Bochco finding him to play "Captain Frank Furillo" on Hill Street Blues

14:41

Daniel J. Travanti on meeting Steven Bochco and Grant Tinker when he read for Hill Street Blues

08:33

Daniel J. Travanti on the experience of reading with Barbara Bosson for Hill Street Blues for Steven Bochco

08:48

Stuart Rosenberg

View Person Page

Daniel J. Travanti on The Defenders director Stuart Rosenberg

01:21

Daniel J. Travanti on working with Stuart Rosenberg on The Defenders

01:16