William James Burrud (January 12, 1925 – July 12, 1990) was a
child actor and a television host and producer best known for his travel programs.
Biography
Born in
Hollywood, California, 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 with
Spencer Tracy and in several films starring
John Wayne. Burrud served in the U.S. Navy during
World War II,[1] then graduated from
Harvard University.[2]
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 in
Los Angeles purchased his series The Open Road. In 1954 he founded Bill Burrud Productions,[1] which would produce programs that included True Adventure, Vagabond, Wanderlust, Animal World,[1]Islands in the Sun, Wonderful World of Women, Safari to Adventure, Treasure, and Natural Wonders. His company also produced numerous television specials.
For his many contributions to television entertainment, Burrud received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977. Burrud's star is next to
Elvis Presley's.