Henry Travers Henry Travers Travers John Heagerty (5 March 1874 – 18 October 1965), known by the stage name Henry Travers, was an English film and stage character actor. His most famous role was the guardian angel Clarence Odbody in the 1946 film classic "It's a Wonderful Life". He also received an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in "Mrs. Miniver" (1942). Travers specialized in portraying slightly bumbling but friendly and lovable old men. Travers was born in Prudhoe, Northumberland, and was the son of Daniel Heagerty, a doctor originally from Ireland, and Ellen Gillman Hornibrook Belcher. His mother was a
What a Life (play) With the Wind" (1939). A 1982 attempted revival of "What a Life" at the Manhattan Punch Line failed. The production was panned in "The New York Times", with reviewer Mel Gussow writing: "The play is piffle. Far funnier efforts can be seen nightly in television reruns of situation comedies. Next to "What a Life," "Leave It to Beaver" is Moliere." The play was initially adapted to radio as comedy segments on Rudy Vallee's program. Next came a separate radio program, "The Aldrich Family". Film adaptation came in the form of 11 motion pictures. Finally, a television series, also called "The