| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Veteran character actor William Pierson as Dean Henry Travers on Three's Company' | ||||
| Personal Information | ||||
| Gender: | Male | |||
| Birth name: | William Pierson | |||
| Also known as: | Billy Pierson | |||
| Born: | 17 July 1926 | |||
| Birthplace: | Brooklyn, New York | |||
| Died | 27 August 2004 (aged 78) | |||
| Deathplace: | Newton, New Jersey | |||
| Career/Family Information | ||||
| Occupation/ Career: |
Actor/Voice artist | |||
| Years active: | 1953-1984 | |||
| Character information | ||||
| Appeared on: | Three's Company in recurring role | |||
| Character played: | Dean Travers from Seasons 1-4 | |||
William Pierson (17 July 1926 – 27 August 2004) was a revered TV, film, and stage character actor, best known for his raspy voice and his role as Marko the Mailman in the classic 1953 World War II-themed film, Stalag 17, as well as a recurring role as Dean Travers, the strict dean of Jack's cooking school, on the ABC-TV series, Three's Company.
Biography[]
Pierson, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, originated the role of Marko in the Broadway theatre production of Stalag 17, and was tapped by director Billy Wilder for the role in the 1953 motion picture production. Other Broadway appearances included in High Button Shoes, Make Mine Manhattan, Reuben, Reuben, and in a national touring company of The Odd Couple. Pierson, who was well recognized by his distinctive, raspy delivery, also appeared off-Broadway in Smile, Smile, Smile. After Wilder brought him to Hollywood, he appeared in films such as Operation Madball and Fun with Dick and Jane.[1] [2]
Pierson enjoyed a long career in television and film, a career which spanned six decades the 1950s through the 1990s and included appearances on such TV shows such as Studio One and Kraft Theatre, The Jackie Gleason Show, All in the Family, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life in addition to his role as Dean Travers on Three's Company.[3]
William died from respiratory failure in Newton, New Jersey. William, who had resided at the Valley View Care Center in Newton for years due to declining health, was survived by two brothers, Jeffrey Pierson of New Jersey and Howard Pierson of Florida.
References[]
- ↑ William Pierson, 78; Veteran Actor of Stage, Screen and Television, LA Times article, Times Staff and Wire Reports, September 12, 2004, accessed February 22, 2013.
- ↑ William Pierson biography at TheIapolis.com
- ↑ (Deathwatch) William Pierson, actor, 78, Slick.org, September 10, 2004, accessed February 22, 2013.
