William Jack “Bill” Travilla

Biography

William “Bill” Travilla (March 22, 1920 – November 2, 1990), known professionally as Travilla, was an American costume designer for theatre, film, and television. He was the son of Jack and Bessie Louise (Snyder) Travilla.

Travilla created one of the most famous costumes in all of film – the pleated ivory cocktail dress Monroe wore in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Monroe is wearing it while standing on a New York City Subway ventilation grate; the dress rises up around her as a train passes below ground. Photographs of this scene have become synonymous with Monroe herself. The iconic dress, which was later purchased by actress Debbie Reynolds, sold for $4,600,000 (USD) during a 2011 auction.

Personal life

On August 19, 1944, Travilla married actress Dona Drake in Santa Monica, California. The couple had a daughter, Nia, in August 1951. Travilla and Drake separated in 1956 but remained legally married until Drake’s death in 1989.

Death and legacy

On November 2, 1990, Travilla died of lung cancer at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Source: The Atlanta Journal, November 12, 1990, Page 53. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-travilla/146... : accessed April 30, 2024), clip page for Travilla

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References

1. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:GMC9-6BM
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Travilla
3. http://www.filmreference.com/film/32/William-Travilla.html
4. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60560237/william-travilla: accessed April 30, 2024), memorial page for William Travilla (22 Mar 1920–2 Nov 1990), Find a Grave Memorial ID 60560237; Cremated, Ashes scattered; Maintained by William Forrest Sutton (contributor 47244246).
5. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GMC9-6BM