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Danielo Giovanni "Daniel J." Travanti (born March 7, 1940) is an American actor best known for his starring role as Captain Frank Furillo in the 1980s television drama Hill Street Blues. Travanti, one of five children, was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Italian immigrant parents. His father was a factory worker. During his teen years, Travanti was an athlete and good student, earning scholarships to Harvard University, Princeton University, and Dartmouth College, though he eventually attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1957, before his senior year, he attended the youth... MORE

Danielo Giovanni "Daniel J." Travanti (born March 7, 1940) is an American actor best known for his starring role as Captain Frank Furillo in the 1980s television drama Hill Street Blues. Travanti, one of five children, was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Italian immigrant parents. His father was a factory worker. During his teen years, Travanti was an athlete and good student, earning scholarships to Harvard University, Princeton University, and Dartmouth College, though he eventually attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1957, before his senior year, he attended the youth government and leadership program called Badger Boys State as a representative chosen from his high school. In 1964, Travanti guest-starred with Paul Richards and Roy Thinnes in the episode "Murder by Scandal" of CBS's drama about newspapers, The Reporter, with Harry Guardino in the title role of journalist Danny Taylor. He also appeared, (credited as Dan Travanty) in a Season 6 episode of Mission: Impossible called "Image". Years later, Travanti earned five nominations and two Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Hill Street Station Captain Frank Furillo. In 1983, Travanti starred in the TV movie Adam with LESS