William James Burrud (January 12, 1925 – July 12, 1990) was a

child actor The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage, television, or in film, movies. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associa ...

and a television host and producer best known for his travel programs.

Biography

Born in

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

, Burrud was a son of Leland Burrud, who had produced one of the earliest known travel films in 1913. Burrud made his first film appearance at the age of 7 in ''Music in the Air''. He also appeared in ''

Captains Courageous ''Captains Courageous: A Story of the Grand Banks'' is an 1897 novel by Rudyard Kipling that follows the adventures of fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr., the spoiled son of a railroad tycoon, after he is saved from drowning by a Portuguese f ...

'' with

Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the ...

and in several films starring

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

. Burrud served in the U.S. Navy during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, then graduated from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

.Burrud biodata
In 1950 Burrud turned his attention to television. He coined the word "traventure" to describe the programs he intended to produce. The following year station

KTTV KTTV (channel 11) is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast of the United States, West Coast flagship (broadcasting), flagship station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network. It is owned a ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

purchased his series ''The Open Road''. In 1954 he founded Bill Burrud Productions, which would produce programs that included ''True Adventure'', ''Vagabond'', ''Wanderlust'', '' Animal World'', ''Islands in the Sun'', ''Wonderful World of Women'', ''Safari to Adventure'', ''

Treasure Treasure (from from Greek ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions legally define what constit ...

'', and ''Natural Wonders''. His company also produced numerous television specials.

Death

Burrud died from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

in Sunset Beach,

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

in 1990 at the age of 65. He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in

Riverside, California Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 314,998. It is the most populous city in th ...

. His son John Burrud now heads the company.

Legacy

For his many contributions to television entertainment, Burrud received a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

in 1977. Burrud's star is next to

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

's.

Filmography

*'' Music in the Air'' (1934) (Boy, uncredited) *''

His Night Out ''His Night Out'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by William Nigh and written by Harry Clork and Doris Malloy. The film stars Edward Everett Horton, Irene Hervey, Jack La Rue, Robert McWade, Lola Lane and Willard Robertson. The fil ...

'' (1935) (Jimmie, as Billy Burrud) *'' Three Kids and a Queen'' (1935) (Doc, as Billy Burrud) *'' Pride of the Marines (1936 film)'' (Ulysses Simpson Smith, as Billy Burrud) *''

Devil's Squadron ''Devil's Squadron'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Erle C. Kenton and starring Richard Dix, Karen Morley and Lloyd Nolan. The following written prologue appears after the opening credits: "This picture is dedicated to the test pilots ...

'' (1936) (Butch, as Billy Burrud) *''

The Cowboy and the Kid ''The Cowboy and the Kid'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Frances Guihan. The film stars Buck Jones, Bill Burrud, Dorothy Revier, Harry Worth, Oliver Eckhardt and Mary Mersch. The film was released on ...

'' (1936) (Jimmy Thomas, as Billy Burrud) *''

Postal Inspector Postal inspector may refer to: * The United States Postal Inspection Service (or USPIS), the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service * '' Postal Inspector'', a 1936 American film directed by Otto Brower See also * The Inspectors ...

'' (1936) (Billy, as Billy Burrud) *'' Two in a Crowd'' (1936) (Chet, as Billy Burrud) *'' The Magnificent Brute'' (1936) (Pete Finney, as Billy Burrud) *'' Girl Overboard (1937 film)'' (Bobby Stacey, as Billy Burrud) *''

Fair Warning (1937 film) ''Fair Warning'' is a 1937 American mystery film written and directed by Norman Foster. The film stars J. Edward Bromberg, Betty Furness, John Payne, Victor Kilian, Bill Burrud and Gavin Muir. The film was released on March 5, 1937, by 20th ...

'' (Malcom Berkhardt, as Billy Burrud) *''

Captains Courageous (1937 film) ''Captains Courageous'' is a 1937 American adventure drama film starring Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore and Melvyn Douglas. Based on the 1897 novel of the same name by Rudyard Kipling, the film had its world premiere at th ...

'' (Charles, as Billy Burrud) *'' The Man in Blue (1937 film)'' (Young Frankie, as Billy Burrud) *'' It Happened in Hollywood'' (1937) (

Billy the Kid Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely res ...

, as Billy Burrud) *'' Idol of the Crowds'' (1937) (Bobby, as Billy Burrud) *'' The Night Hawk (1938 film)'' (Bobby McCormick, as Billy Burrud) *'' Hitler's Children (1943 film)'' (Prof. Nichol's Student, uncredited) *'' Treasure (1958 TV series)'' (Host) *''Flight to Adventure'' (1960) (Host) *''Thrill Hunters'' (1967) (Host) *''The Challenging Sea'' (1969) (Host) *''Safari to Adventure'' (1969-1975) (Host) *''The World of Reptiles'' (1971) (Host/Narrator)

References

External links