He, like his closest counterpart, Cary Grant, could play anything including hilarious physical comedy (see Love Crazy, 1941). Theyre a breath of fresh air. There are so many other wonderful words or respect and admiration for this man from the likes of Jimmy Stewart, Jack Lemmon, James Cagney, Rosalind Russell, and Marilyn Monroe to name a few. Roberts with Henry Fonda, James Cagney and Jack Lemmon. All results for William Powell. ''It's easier,'' he remarked. Powell retired from acting in 1955 and moved to Palm Springs with his third wife, actress Diana Lewis, whom he married in 1940. Unlike many silent film actors, he had a fine, resonant baritone speaking voice that allowed for a smooth transition to talkies. He had a lot of tragedy in his life like the death of Jean Harlow so I changed it. [6] They married at a dude ranch in Nevada on January 5, 1940, [7] after a courtship of less than a month. He resisted offers of "comeback" roles, tempted, Powell declined them all. Also his elevator & drag antics in Love Me Again. I appreciate so much your sharing this story about his life. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1861878&cache=false" Mar 10, 2022 - Actor William Powell at work in the kitchen with his wife Diana Lewis. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City in 1912, William Powell debuted on Broadway, playing three small roles in The Neer-Do-Well (1912). Pretty hard to hide that trait. Altogether, Powell appeared in more than 30 silents, usually playing a dastardly villain, notably in Romola (1924), Beau Geste (1926), and The Last Command (1928). William Powell became a star as detective Philo Vance in the talkie The Canary Murder Case (1929), based on a novel by S.S. Van Dine. He graduated from Princeton, magna cum laude in English. Sorry for the sadness he experienced. His screen debut was in 1922's "Sherlock Holmes," starring John Barrymore. [2] The wedding ceremony which was performed by Judge Eugene Therieau, with his father as best man and Parsons' sister Mrs. Kenneth Zook as matron of honor. I will surely want to meet him in Heaven someday. Many locals competed as well as celebrities like Dinah Shore and George Montgomery. William Powell has been one of my very favorites for over 50 years! And thus it happened that one late winter afternoon he looked out into his garden and saw the vivid, unsophisticated girl standing there, laughing in the sun.. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1861888&cache=false" The Final Films. For me, he and Myrna Loy were even better than Tracy and Hepburn (great as they were). Most definitely William Powell helped make them that way. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1861887&cache=false" Definitely a big fan of the Great William Powell. On January 6, 1940, three weeks after they met, Powell married his third wife, actress Diana Lewis, to whom he remained married until his death in 1984. Among his best performances in about 30 silents was his role in the 1926 film adaptation of ''Beau Geste,'' which starred his friend Ronald Colman. The next year, at the age of 21, he became the featured villain in a road company of the melodrama ''Within the Law,'' playing the role for nearly two years. He would become a television writer, whose work was seen on such series as 'Bonanza,' 'Death Valley,' 'Rawhide,' and '77 Sunset Strip.' "The son was plagued by emotional problems." I love William Powell. Shunned the Night Life, Off camera, the actor was known to acquaintances as reserved and businesslike and to intimates as a wry eccentric who savored practical jokes. No one else even compares. So sorry to hear of his son's tragic ending . The Powells were happily married living in Palm Springs for 44 years until his death in 1984. Ruth Waterbury writing for Photoplay Magazine at the time recounted the story the studio concocted about the couples meeting: William Powells elopement with Diana Lewis was the last thing Hollywood expected, but then few knew the romantic truth behind it. His son said as a child he was as charmed by his father as everybody else was. What a great actor he was and very charming! William Powell, in a letter to a friend, after his son's death, said that the hepatitis had become debilitating, causing him to have to leave his job. I agree with everyone's comment on the title of the article. William Powell (1892-1984) and Myrna Loy (1905-1993) starred in 13 movies together in the 1930s and '40s. William Powell, in full William Horatio Powell, (born July 29, 1892, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.died March 5, 1984, Palm Springs, California), versatile American motion picture and stage actor who played villains in Hollywood silent films and intelligent, debonair leading men in the sound era. She would be the unofficial queen of the desert, social hostess and chief philanthropist for the next 50 years. 124 Less than a minute William Powell net worth is $5 Million William Powell Wiki Biography William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 - March 5, 1984) was an American actor. Bill, Jr. said his father wanted him to be liked for who he was and not Bill Powells son. By 1930 Powell had progressed to playing suave, sophisticated men-about-town in light mysteries and romantic comedies. Born in 1892, the Pittsburgh native first considered a law career before studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, which led to stints in vaudeville and theater. Edit Search New Search Jump to Filters. The two would become even closer after Powell became a single father to his son after the boys mother died. By all indications, he had a great relationship with both his father and stepmother. I love William Powell alsoI had an uncle who looked just like him too! Princeton. Father: Horatio Warren Powell. His father never revealed anything else about the letter except the end of it. William David Powell (February 27, 1925 March 13, 1968) was an American television writer and associate producer. The role earned Powell his first Academy Award nomination. He started a successful career as a writer and associate producer. Powell, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Myrna Loywe just don't have that variety and depth today. He was one of those stars who really reflected the ideals of the golden age of films. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The quality of everything he did that year is unbelievable and he even passed on the opportunity to take over John Barrymore's role in Romeo & Juliet. 1 (The Thin Man / After the Thin Man / Another Thin Man / Shadow of the Thin Man), My Man Godfrey (In Color): William Powell, Carole Lombard, Gregory Lacava, Legend: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Life with Father: William Powell, Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor, Edmund Gwenn, The Thin Man: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton: Amazon Digital Services LLC, I Love You Again: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Frank McHugh, Edmund Lowe, Double Wedding (1937): William Powell, Myrna Loy, Florence Rice, John Beal: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Mr. Peabody & The Mermaid: William Powell, Ann Blyth, Irene Hervey, Clinton Sundberg, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937): Joan Crawford, William Powell, Robert Montgomery, Frank Morgan: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Lawyer Man (1933): William Powell, Joan Blondell, David Landau, Helen Vinson: Amazon Digital Services LLC, The Youngest Profession: Virginia Weidler, Edward Arnold, John Carroll, Ann Ayars: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Jewel Robbery (1932): Kay Francis, Helen Vinson, Hardie Albright, Alan Mowbray: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Fashions of 1934 (1934): William Powell, Bette Davis, Frank McHugh, Hugh Herbert: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Shadow of the Thin Man: Myrna Loy, William Powell, Barry Nelson, Donna Reed: Amazon Digital Services LLC, The Great Ziegfeld: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Luise Rainer, Frank Morgan: Amazon Digital Services LLC, After the Thin Man: William Powell, Myrna Loy, James Stewart, Elissa Landi: Amazon Digital Services LLC, The Thin Man Goes Home: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Lucile Watson, Gloria DeHaven: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Sherlock Holmes: John Barrymore, Roland Young, Carol Dempster, Louis Wolheim: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, Riverside County, California, United States, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. When Lewis arrived at Powells home, he remarked to Lewis that she looked like a little mouse and from that point on he called her, Mousie., MORE:One of the crown jewels of La Quinta. He worked less frequently thereafter, however, needing time to recover first from Harlows unexpected death and then from his own surgery and treatment for cancer. List of the best William Powell movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. There are pictures of father and son. It is much more effective than dieting.". A nostalgic journey to the past to relive the golden days of entertainment! src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1861852&cache=false" Nuff said! Miss his presence.Along with Cary Gtant, my all time favorites. Mr. Powell's later roles were again character types, and he won particular praise for his final performance, that of a bored Navy ship's doctor in the 1955 comedy ''Mister Roberts.''. Among the most popular of his later films are Life with Father (1947), for which he was again nominated for an Academy Award, How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and Mister Roberts (1955), his final film. But he wasnt. She was particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in the screwball comedies of the 1930s. He loved talking to his father long into the night on his visits to Palm Springs. He started making speeches soon after he could talk, according to his mother, the former Nettie Brady. This page is not available in other languages. I'm going where it's better. Months?? Years go by and these great actors pass away, but will always still be with us through their good works on this earth and in their films. Van Dyke. What an ignorant comment. Hollywood hating nothing quite so much as being caught with its rumors down, wailed several assorted moans to high heaven., Powell had been briefly married to Carole Lombard. William Powell was engaged to marry Jean Harlow, his co-star in Reckless (1935), until her sudden death in 1937. I got completely immersed in every role he participated in bec it was incredibly believable! He was quite the Hollywood treasure and it's a shame that they have never acknowledged or honored him as he should be. He was also romantically linked with Jean Harlow in the year before her death in 1937. 1673-1715. His career was so outstanding. Loy also had an uncredited cameo in their 14th and last film together, The Senator Was Indiscreet, which starred Powell. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. His lifelong struggle with depression deepened, and at the age of 43, he wrote his father a four page farewell stating that he was " going where it's better," stepped into a shower, and stabbed himself to death on March 13, 1968. Jr served in WWII and The Korean War (where he contracted the hepatitis that would become debilitating). He exuded sophistication mixed with easy going charm . That must have been true, one of the main thoroughfares in Palm Springs is called "William Powell Blvd.". It was, of course, sheer fate that sent young, beautiful, tiny Diana Lewis to William Powells swimming pool to make publicity pictures. One weekend,as the couple packed up their car for a weekend sightseeing trip to Yosemite, they received a call from afriend, actor Adolphe Menjou, who told them about a house that was for sale just a couple of blocks from him. He then made a successful turn in Broadway before venturing into Hollywood. So sad. He was so amazing!! He had presence even then. Jean Harlow was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s. Eventually, they had so many participants that matches were going on all of the Racquet Clubs tennis courts simultaneously. four paged note addressed to his father, of which only the last two I don't know if it's good, but a chap by the name of Charles Francisco wrote one. His kindness, intelligence, humor, generosity & sweetness was always what you would hear about him. He would become a television writer, whose work was seen on such series . The nearly six-foot-tall actor came to dislike being described as suave and sophisticated. ""Dessert is probably the most important stage of the meal, since it will be the last thing your guests remember before they pass out all over the table. Actress Diana Lewis and her husband, actor William Powell, came to spend a long weekend in Palm Springs in 1941 and never left. Very captivating man, even in his retirement. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1861847&cache=false" And what actresses during Powell's dayWe can only watch all those wonderful movies and dream about a bygone era. you are Lucky, wish I had known such a wonderful human. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CO8B5ZU/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CRP6AG4/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N3P6M0/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I6C3DRQ/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079HI1TY/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005F265CU/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L4I952/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SVZIP8/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L11LPM/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075KLCBZ3/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075KNV8M7/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH2YDH4/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012UY598G/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DHH9QJS/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BZX9SY0/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K1WI36U/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087YS706/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0199I9M6Q/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N31H6Y/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LJ60FO/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D81R9O2/?tag=2022091-20, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DN9FU3Q/?tag=2022091-20. Born in Pittsburgh. That would not have impacted the extent of Powell's grief at her untimely death. Powell tried very hard to shield his son from Hollywood when he was growing up. The couple spent countless evenings in the Bamboo Room at the Racquet Club with the owners, their close friends Charlie and Virginia Farrell. He was extremely close with his son. He is best remembered as Nick Charles in The Thin Man series of films. Powell, Cary Grant, and the much underrated supporting actor Edward Everett Horton are my all time favorites. Some very sweet ones when Bill, jr. Was young. They drove to Las Vegas and were married on January 5, 1940. Where Tracy/Hepburn were usually in competition and their banter always came with a sting, Powell and Loy's couples always seemed to be deeply bonded, held together by love and unreserved trust in one another. Altogether, Powell appeared in more than 30 silents, usually playing a dastardly villain, notably in Romola (1924), Beau Geste (1926), and The Last Command (1928).William Powell became a star as detective Philo Vance in the talkie The Canary Murder Case (1929), based on a novel by S.S. Van Dine. Roberts." His face was considered suited more to sinister than romantic roles, and throughout the silent-film era he invariably played cads and other villains. Not long after he died. But his most famous pairing was with Myrna Loy, as the witty, wealthy, cocktail-drinking husband-and-wife detective team Nick and Nora Charles in The Thin Man (1934), based on Dashiell Hammetts novel of the same name. He is so very handsome and seems like a very loving character. Was the short marriage to Carol Lombard a rebound relationship, considering his 3rd marriage lasted for 40+ years? Powell had become a member of the Racquet Club prior to their marriage. He also worked as a story editor and coordinator, later an associate producer at Warner Bros. and Universal Studios, and held an executive position at NBC. Hes in lots of other Lux adaptations including The Thin Man, After The Thin Man with Loy(!) William David Powell (February 27, 1925 - March 13, 1968) was an American television writer and associate producer . Louis B. Mayer had already cast her in Stamboul Quest, and only agreed to let her play Nora Charles if the picture could be shot in three weeks. But sound movies projected his polished charm and wit, making him a highly paid hero and leading box-office star for more than two decades. All commentators here were delighted by his class.It is a bygone era because we have surrended.Life is full of tragedies.It takes time and hard working to not let what is worthwhile to vanish.Also courage, maybe mainly courage. I have been in love with William Powell and Myrna Loy since I was a child. He and Mousie were both incredible and philanthropic people! Also watch a William Powell if you are feeling down <3. Once logged in, you can add biography in the database. He graduated from Princeton, magna cum laude in English. From the time William Powell brought his ex-wife and son to Hollywood, he kept did his best to keep them out of the public eye. Powell didnt receive the recognition he deserved, but did remain beloved and remembered by his famous colleagues. I read that He dated Norma Shearer (I hope I got that correct); and during their courtship, he gifted her with a beautifully hand-carved mahogany cabinet full of bottles of every exquisite perfume you could think of! He was a writer and producer, known for All American (1953), Bonanza (1959) and Stagecoach West (1960). src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1514853&cache=false" Sound freed the actor from the stereotype of the oily scoundrel or social roue. Jr proved to be as highly intelligent as his father. Spectators began to show up to cheer their favorite players on or just to watch the games. Waterbury and Hollywood were not amused. William Powell is one of my favorite actors, and I would bet his personality wasn't too far from his character portrayals, being witty,intelligent, and very easy goingI really enjoyed the film "Heavenly Bodies" with Hedy Lamarr. William Horatio Powell was born in Pittsburgh on July 29, 1892. Mother: Nettie Manila Powell. This helped him become Classic Hollywood's quintessential high society gentleman. 2023 www.desertsun.com. I don't understand why there isn't a statue of Powell and Loy in front of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. MUSIC BREAK: EDDY HOWARD - HELLO YOUNG LOVERS, PHOTOS OF THE DAY: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE MOMENTS, BILL MURRAY: THE LAST NIGHT I SAW GILDA RADNER, MY FIVE FAVORITE SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE STARS. Wish for anyone who reads this to have a lovely day/night/moment. Good catch! src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1861891&cache=false" He was also very modest, gracious and was very grateful for his fans. Her second husband, Paul Bern, an executive at MGM, . His health began to fade and while in a Palm Springs Nursing Home . https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/06/obituaries/william-powell-film-star-dies-at-91.html. This wasn't a rant, it was a very well-considered and well-written tribute to a great actor and a fine man. But his most famous pairing was with Myrna Loy, as the witty, wealthy, cocktail-drinking husband-and-wife detective team Nick and Nora Charles in The Thin Man (1934), based on Dashiell Hammetts novel of the same name. Unbeknownst to Diana Lewis, a plan for a publicity photo layout at Powells home was concocted with Larry Barbie, a publicity man for the studio. William Powell retired from acting in 1955 and moved to Palm Springs. Physical Characteristics: He was treated with radiation, pronounced cured, and told an interviewer in 1963, ''I was one of the lucky ones.''. He attended the University of Kansas, but dropped out after one week to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. There is a picture of him and his child. Occupation Actor Years active 1911-1955 Spouse(s) Eileen Wilson (m. This story is NOT about William Powell and the kind of actor he may have been, it's about a lonely child who had a tough time growing! Former detective Nick Charles and his wealthy wife Nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it. The actor was married three times to actresses: Eileen Wilson, briefly to Miss Lombard and in 1940 to Diana Lewis. Whose to say what causes emotional distress, depression for each individual? The announcement that twenty-one-year-old c was the third Mrs. William Powell knocked Hollywood silly. src="" alt="" class="gallery-slider__content__img" height="", data-src="/web/show-photo.jpg?id=1861875&cache=false" William Powell was such a fantastic actor. New York City, New York, USA (complications from surgery) Birth name Myrna Adele Williams Nicknames Queen of Hollywood The Perfect Wife Queen of the Movies Minnie Height 5 6 (1.68 m) Mini Bio A sad but interesting story, David. He lived quite a long time after his son died. MORE:The man from the desert who played with presidents. Diana's best friend was Carole Landis. Myrna Loy mentions in her memoirs that Powell Sr. was also prone to depression. He was nominated for three Oscars as best actor, in 1934 for ''The Thin Man,'' the first in that cycle; in 1936 for ''My Man Godfrey,'' and for ''Life With Father.''. Hes one of my faves too. Ive seen various comments on just how likable he was. He was a rare breed which personally, I don't find among today's actors. William Powell, in full William Horatio Powell, (born July 29, 1892, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.died March 5, 1984, Palm Springs, California), versatile American motion picture and stage actor who played villains in Hollywood silent films and intelligent, debonair leading men in the sound era. He did finally attract attention with The Last Command (1928) as. When Palm Springs made their Walk of Stars, William Powell was one of the first ones honored. [4], "Bill Powell Jr. Weds Former Child Actress", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_David_Powell&oldid=1114510168, This page was last edited on 6 October 2022, at 21:33. James Robert Parish and Don E. Stanke wrote in their 1975 book, ''The Debonairs,'' that, ''because of the amazing aura of his civilized manner,'' Mr. Powell ''could tread on any side of the law in a film and still retain audience sympathy.'' Spouse: Mae Kuykendoll Powell. The Kennel Murder Case - Digitally Remastered: William Powell, Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette, Michael Curtiz: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Rendezvous: William Powell, Rosalind Russell, Binnie Barnes, Lionel Atwill: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Evelyn Prentice: Myrna Loy, William Powell, Rosalind Russell, Una Merkel: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Star of Midnight: William Powell, Ginger Rogers, Paul Kelly, Gene Lockhart: Amazon Digital Services LLC, Reckless: Jean Harlow, William Powell, Franchot Tone, May Robson: Amazon Digital Services LLC, TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: The Thin Man Vol. What a hreat power couple they would have made.So sad that William had such personal tragedies with the deaths of his 1st wife, 2nd wife Carole Lombard, his lover Jean Harlow, and then his son's suicide. William Powell was on the New York stage by 1912, but it would be ten years before his film career would begin. Prabook is a registered trademark of World Biographical Encyclopedia, Inc. I couldn't agree more. The marble mausoleum cost him $25,000 and had an additional space . He worked less frequently thereafter, however, needing time to recover first from Harlows unexpected death and then from his own surgery and treatment for cancer. Reportedly William and Jean were deeply in love and wanted to marry, but their movie studio forbid it.