Voting Station

Billy Travilla

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Designer

The Resume

    (March 22, 1920-November 2, 1990)
    Born in Los Angeles, California
    Won an Oscar for 'Adventures of Don Juan' (1948)
    Designed Marilyn Monroe's famous white cocktail dress in 'The Seven Year Itch' (1955)
    Designed costumes for 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,' 'How to Marry a Millionaire,' 'River of No Return,' 'The Day the Earth Stood Still,' 'Broken Lance,' 'The Raid,' 'Nora Prentiss,' 'Silver River,' and 'Bus Stop'

Why he might be annoying:

    Professionally, he went by just 'Travilla.'
    He was rejected for military service during World War II (the cause: flat feet).
    He admitted that he and Marilyn dated despite the fact that he had been married at the time.
    He actually separated from his wife - actress Dona Drake - after twelve years of marriage, in 1956. However, they never divorced and remained legally married until her death (1989).
    He fitted Marilyn into fringed Idaho burlap for a publicity still meant to prove that she would 'look good in anything - even a potato sack.'
    His output was largely limited to television projects by the 1980's, including Dallas and its spin-off Knots Landing.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He started off selling his design sketches to local burlesque nightclubs as a teenager.
    He collaborated with Ann Sheridan in a string of successful films in the late 40's.
    His later clients included Whitney Houston, Lena Horne, and Dionne Warwick.
    The white cocktail dress worn by Marilyn during the famous 'subway vent' scene sold at auction for $ 4.6 million (2011).
    He is also credited with designing the revealing gold lame dress worn by Marilyn in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,' and - subsequently - at the 1953 Photoplay Awards, causing a minor scandal in the press (he apparently advised her against wearing the gown).
    He received Oscar nominations for his work in 'How to Marry a Millionaire' (1953), 'There's No Business Like Show Business' (1954) and 'The Stripper' (1963).
    He won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Costume Design for 'The Scarlett O'Hara War' (1980) and for Dallas (1978).
    An exhibition of his personal collection went on a world tour, showcasing the gowns and costumes designed for various stars over the course of his career (2008).
    Lois Banner described his relationship with Marilyn as largely asexual, largely consisting of his 'calming her down' during panic attacks.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 26 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 68 Votes: 48.53% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying