Henry Travers Biography

A stage actor in the British Isles from 1894, Henry Travers settled permanently in America in 1901. Even as a comparative youngster, the pudding-faced, wispy-voiced Travers specialized in portraying befuddled old men. He was brought to Hollywood in 1933 to recreate his stage role as Father Krug in Robert E. Sherwood's Reunion in Vienna. Though often cast in amiable, self-effacing roles, Travers was perfectly capable of meatier stuff: as a downtrodden Chinese farmer in Dragon Seed (1944), he delivers a terse monologue describing how he has regained his self respect by beating his shrewish wife! Travers' best-remembered movie assignments included his Oscar-nominated portrayal of British postman Mr. Ballard in Mrs. Miniver (1942); his amusing turn as bank clerk and mystery-magazine fanatic Joseph Newton in Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt (1943); and, of course, his matchless performance as wingless guardian angel Clarence Oddbody in the Yuletide perennial It's a Wonderful Life (1946). After several years in retirement, Henry Travers died of arteriosclerosis at the age of 91. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

• 1. Clarence: [In book inscription] Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.
  From It's a Wonderful Life. Submitted by Brigita S (5 months ago)

• 1. Clarence: You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?
  From It's a Wonderful Life. Submitted by Brigita S (5 months ago)

• 1. Clarence: You've been given a great gift.
  2. George Bailey: A chance to see what the world would be like without you.
  From It's a Wonderful Life. Submitted by Brigita S (5 months ago)

• 1. Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?
  From It's a Wonderful Life. Submitted by Brigita S (5 months ago)

• 1. George Bailey: Well, maybe I left the car up at Martini's. Well, come on, Gabriel.
  2. Clarence: Clarence!
  3. George Bailey: Clarence. Right... Clarence.
  From It's a Wonderful Life. Submitted by Brigita S (5 months ago)