Who is the actor Travis Tanner from the TV show Suits?

**Background in Communication**: Eric Close, who plays Travis Tanner in *Suits*, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Southern California in 1989.

This educational foundation often helps actors in articulating their lines more convincingly and understanding audience dynamics.

**Early Life Influence**: Close was born on May 24, 1967, in Staten Island, New York.

Growing up in a family with a father who was an orthopedic surgeon and a mother who was an artist likely influenced his understanding of both precision and creativity, two vital components in acting and storytelling.

**Career Start**: Before *Suits*, Eric Close gained significant recognition for his role as FBI agent Martin Fitzgerald in the CBS series *Without a Trace* from 2002 to 2009.

This role helped him hone his acting skills in a dramatic context, contributing to his ability to portray varied characters like Travis Tanner.

**Travis Tanner's Character Development**: Tanner is portrayed as a rival attorney who was initially a senior partner at Clyde-MacPhee.

His career setbacks, such as being fired over a significant settlement agreement, add layers to his character, showcasing how professional integrity and ethics can be complex in the legal field.

**Highly Educated Character**: Tanner graduated at the top of his class from Yale Law School, which is often depicted as a prestigious institution known for producing some of the top lawyers in the United States.

This background serves to amplify Tanner's credentials and competitiveness against Harvey Specter.

**Roles in Various Genres**: Apart from *Suits*, Eric Close has appeared in multiple genres, including drama, mystery, and even science fiction, showcasing his versatility as an actor.

This breadth of experience helps him adapt to various roles and engage different audience interests.

**Cultural Reflection**: The character of Travis Tanner reflects a cultural fascination with high-stakes legal conflicts and the moral ambiguity present in competitive environments.

This mirrors real-world perceptions of the legal profession, where the pursuit of success can sometimes lead to ethical dilemmas.

**Role as 'The Antagonist'**: In *Suits*, Tanner is often seen as an antagonist to Harvey Specter, representing the archetype of a rival who challenges the protagonist’s values and methods.

This dynamic is crucial in storytelling, providing tension and driving character development.

**Screen Time**: Eric Close's portrayal of Travis Tanner spans a total of six episodes over several seasons, highlighting how characters can leave a lasting impact within a shorter presence on screen, reflecting the importance of writing and performance in character development.

**Collaborative Screenwriting**: Much of what is portrayed in *Suits*, including the rivalry between Harvey and Tanner, is a product of collaborative screenwriting, which incorporates character arcs that resonate with audiences while maintaining dramatic tension.

**Impact of Television on Law Perceptions**: Shows like *Suits* influence public perceptions of the legal system, often glamorizing the life of lawyers and the complexities of legal battles.

Such media portrayals can shape societal views on law and justice, raising questions about real-life implications.

**Acting Challenges**: Playing a character like Travis Tanner requires navigating complex emotions and moral challenges.

Close’s ability to embody this character highlights the skills needed in acting to deliver convincing sensations of rivalry and tension.

**Acting as Emotional Release**: Acting is often seen as a way to express emotions that can be difficult to convey in real life.

Close, through Tanner, explores themes of ambition, defeat, and ethical conflict, which resonate with audiences and provoke thought about personal and professional choices.

**Crossover in Pop Culture**: With *Suits* achieving significant popularity, it has become a part of pop culture, with characters such as Tanner being referenced in discussions about modern legal dramas, affecting how similar future characters are written.

**Physicality in Acting**: The physical portrayal of Tanner often accompanies psychological depth.

Close utilizes body language and facial expressions to convey Tanner’s confidence and occasional vulnerability, illustrating how non-verbal elements are key in acting.

**Production's Impact on Characterization**: The production design and writing team’s vision for *Suits* create a contemporary yet dramatic atmosphere that allows characters like Tanner to thrive within their narrative arcs, enhancing audience engagement.

**Longevity of Legal Drama Genre**: The continuous appeal of legal dramas like *Suits* can be linked to the evolving societal fascination with law, morality, and power dynamics typical in professional environments, showing how narrative structures appeal to viewers.

**Audience Engagement**: Tanner's character introduces ethical questions in legal practice that resonate with viewers' real-life experiences, encouraging discussions about integrity and ambition in various professional fields beyond law.

**The Complexity of Lawyer Archetypes**: Travis Tanner represents a nuanced version of the "villain" in legal dramas.

This complexity allows for discussions about how ambition can be both a driving force and a potential downfall, portraying a realistic view of human motives in competitive landscapes.