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
P. L. Travers the name Pamela Lyndon Travers and adopted the pen name P. L. Travers in 1933, while writing the first of eight "Mary Poppins" books. Travers travelled to New York City during World War II while working for the British Ministry of Information. At that time, Walt Disney contacted her about selling to Disney Studios the rights for a film adaptation of "Mary Poppins", whose sequel "Mary Poppins Comes Back" was also in print. After years of contact, which included visits to Travers at her home in London, Walt Disney did obtain the rights and the Disney film "Mary Poppins" premiered