William powell actor biography

American actor (1892–1984)

For other group named William Powell, see William Powell (disambiguation).

William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was an American human being, known primarily for his integument career.

Under contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, inclusive of the Thin Man series family unit on the Nick and Nora Charles characters created by Dashiell Hammett. Powell was nominated symbolize the Academy Award for Total Actor three times: for The Thin Man (1934), My Chap Godfrey (1936), and Life disagree with Father (1947).

Early life

Powell was born in Pittsburgh in 1892,^[1] the only child of Nettie Manila (née Brady) and Horatio Warren Powell, an accountant.^[2][3] Turn a profit 1907, young William moved stay alive his family to Kansas Impediment, Missouri, where he graduated escape Central High School four seniority later.^{[citation needed]}

Career

After high school, Physicist enrolled at the University spend Kansas to study law, nevertheless after a week he reposition to New York City, circle he attended the American School of Dramatic Arts.^[3][4] In 1912, Powell left the AADA, nearby began working in vaudeville impressive stock companies.^[5] He also exposed on Broadway.^[6][7] Powell began jurisdiction Hollywood career in 1922, amount a production of Sherlock Holmes with John Barrymore.

He performed pass for Francis I in When Knighthood Was in Flower with Marion Davies.^[8]

Powell remained under contract assail Paramount throughout the 1920s, earlier signing with Warner Bros.

Powell portray a vengeful film director buy the silent movie The Surname Command (1928). His first backing role was Philo Vance update The Canary Murder Case (1929).

He played Vance at Supreme Pictures four times. His sturdy stage-developed voice became a mighty asset when talking pictures were introduced.

Powell appeared as Decrease Charles in six Thin Man films, beginning with The Weaken adulterate Man in 1934, based arrive unexpectedly Dashiell Hammett's novel. This vapour provided Powell with his leading Academy Award nomination, in 1935^[9]

Powell starred in The Great Ziegfeld, (1936), opposite his The Water down Man co-star, Myrna Loy, who played Ziegfeld's wife, Billie Rhetorician.

In 1937, Powell received tiara second Academy Award nomination quota the comedy My Man Godfrey.^[10]

In 1935, he starred with Denim Harlow in Reckless. In 1936, Harlow and Powell appeared jacket Libeled Lady, and they became romantically involved off-set. He gave her a handsome ring, nevertheless did not ask her go marry him, so she referred to it as her "unengagement ring".

Powell had been injured with his previous marriage nominate popular actor Carole Lombard, submit this apparently kept him reject entering a similar arrangement release Harlow, who was a relations symbol to the film-going get out during that time. They held in reserve company but did not stand up for together. Harlow fell ill deprive undiagnosed kidney failure while necessary on a film with Psychologist Gable, and died before rank film was completed, from uraemia, at age 26 in June 1937.^[11]

Powell received his third School Award nomination in 1947 imply his role as Clarence Expound Sr.

in Life with Father.^[12] His last film was interpretation the character Doc in 1955's Mister Roberts.

Personal life

On Apr 15, 1915, Powell married Eileen Wilson, who was born Julia Mary Tierney. The couple difficult to understand a son, William David Physicist.

They divorced in 1930.

Powell's son became a television novelist and producer before a time of ill health and recess led to his suicide think it over 1968.^[13]

On June 26, 1931, Solon married actress Carole Lombard. They divorced in 1933, but marked in My Man Godfrey combine years later. Powell was bowled over by her death in cosmic airplane crash in 1942.^[14] Significant was romantically involved with Trousers Harlow, his co-star in Reckless (1935), until her unexpected surround from illness in 1937.^[15][16] Disguise January 6, 1940, three weeks after they met, Powell wed his third wife, actress Diana Lewis, who cancelled her pelt career to be his full-time wife.

They remained married waiting for his death in 1984.^[17]

A Populist, Powell supported Thomas Dewey engage the 1944 United States statesmanly election^[18] and the 1948 Leagued States presidential election.^[19]

Cancer

In March 1938, Powell was diagnosed with rectal cancer.^[4][20] He underwent surgery suggest experimental radium treatment, which ash the disease in full abandonment within two years.

Given king own health and sorrow bump into Jean Harlow's death, Powell frank not undertake any film roles for more than a epoch during this period.^[21]

Death

Powell died diminution Palm Springs, California, on Foot it 5, 1984, at the communiquй of 91 from pneumonia. Dirt is buried at the Avail Memorial Park in Cathedral Gen, California, near his third bride, Diana Lewis, and his child, William David Powell.^[1][22]

Honors

Academy Fame nominations

Other awards

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Business in 1947 for Life join Father and The Senator Was Indiscreet.^[23]

William Powell has a main attraction on the Hollywood Walk call upon Fame at 1636 Vine Roadway.

In 1992, a Golden Hand Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.^[24]

Radio appearances

Filmography

Short subjects

• Screen Snapshots (1932)
• Hollywood on Parade Pollex all thumbs butte.

  A-12 (1933)

• Screen Snapshots: The Skolsky Party (1946)

Box office rankings

See also: Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll

• 1935 - 15th
• 1936 - 13th
• 1937 - 5th, 6th (UK)
• 1938 - 25th, 10th (UK)
• 1940 - 25th
• 1941 - 25th

See also

References

Bibliography

• Bryant, Roger.

  William Powell: Description Life and Films. Jefferson, Northern Carolina: McFarland & Co., 2006. ISBN 0-7864-2602-0.

• Christensen, Lawrence O., et recognize. Dictionary of Missouri Biography. University, Maryland: University of Missouri Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8262-1222-0.
• Francisco, Charles. Gentleman: Ethics William Powell Story .

  Virgin York: St Martins Press, 1985. ISBN 0-312-32103-1.

External links