Bill Burrud, Producer Of Travel, Animal Shows

HOLLYWOOD - Bill Burrud, the child actor who grew up to produce and host ``Animal World'' and other popular television travel, adventure and animal programs, has died. He was 65.

Burrud died unexpectedly Thursday night at his Huntington Beach home, 26 miles south of Los Angeles, after a heart attack. Earlier Thursday, he was at Bill Burrud Productions, working on a one-hour special called ``Sea Mammals'' for Disney's cable Discovery Channel

``I love it; I eat it up,'' Burrud had said of his work in a Los Angeles Times interview in 1983.

Born Jan. 12, 1925, in Hollywood, the son of an early travelogue film maker, Burrud was destined for a life before the camera. He made his stage debut at age 7 in the road show ``Music in the Air'' and acted in 28 movies.

In 1954, he formed his production company. Burrud's ``Animal World'' ran from 1968 to 1976, and he narrated ``Safari to Adventure'' from 1969 to 1975. His ``Animal Odyssey'' is still on the air and his ``New! Animal World'' runs daily on the cable Discovery Channel.

Burrud is survived by his wife, Marlene, and four sons, John, Bob, Gary and Tom.