Henry Travers was as James Stewart's somewhat befuddled but kind-hearted guardian angel Clarence Odbody in Frank Capra's 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life". Traver's character saves Stewart's from committing suicide, and shows him how wonderful his life really is. Though the film was a financial flop, it later became a Christmas classic and one of the most beloved films in American cinema. However, despite his long life, Travers would never know that his performance as Clarence would become his most celebrated, as the film only became a Christmas television perennial in the 1970s and 1980s, long after the actor's death. Travers retired
Henry Travers (naturalist) Henry Travers (naturalist) Henry Hammersley Travers (1844 – 16 February 1928) was a New Zealand naturalist, professional collector and taxidermist. He was the son of the politician William Travers. Born in Hythe, Kent, England, in 1844, and baptised at Cheriton, Kent, on 13 October of that year, Travers was the son of William Thomas Locke Travers and Jane Travers (née Oldham). The family emigrated to New Zealand by the ship "Kelso" in 1849. Travers was educated at Nelson College from 1856 to 1860. Specimens collected by Travers are in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa