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 William Powell was on the New York stage by 1912, but it would be ten years before his film career would begin. In 1924 he went to Paramount Pictures, where he was employed for the next seven years. During that time, he played in a number of interesting films, but stardom was elusive. He did finally attract attention with The Last Command (1928) as Leo, the arrogant film director. Stardom finally came via his role as Philo Vance in The Canary Murder Case (1929), in which he investigates the death of Louise Brooks, "the Canary." Unlike many silent actors, sound boosted Powell's career. He had a fine, urbane voice and his stage training and comic timing greatly aided his introduction to sound pictures. However, he was not happy with the type of roles he was playing at Paramount, so in 1931 he switched to Warner Bros. There, he again became disappointed with his roles, and his last appearance for Warners was as Philo Vance in The Kennel Murder Case (1933). In 1934 Powell went to MGM, where he was teamed with Myrna Loy in Manhattan Melodrama (1934). While Philo made Powell a star, another detective, Nick Charles, made him famous. Powell received an Academy Award nomination for The Thin Man (1934) and later starred in the Best Picture winner for 1936, The Great Ziegfeld (1936). Powell could play any role with authority, whether in a comedy, thriller, or drama. He received his second Academy Award nomination for My Man Godfrey (1936) and was on top of the world until 1937, when he made his first picture with Jean Harlow, Reckless (1935). The two clicked, off-screen as well as on-screen, and shortly became engaged. One day, while Powell was filming Double Wedding (1937) on one MGM sound stage, Harlow became ill on another. She was finally taken to the hospital, where she died. Her death greatly upset both Powell and Myrna Loy, and he took six weeks off from making the movie to deal with his sorrow. After that he traveled, not making another MGM film for a year. He eventually did five sequels to "The Thin Man," the last one in 1947. He also received his third Academy Award nomination for his work in Life with Father (1947). His screen appearances became less frequent after that, and his last role was in 1955. He had come a long way from playing the villain in 1922.
Bio:
William Powell was on the New York stage by 1912, but it would be ten years before his film career would begin. In 1924 he went to Paramount Pictures, where he was employed for the next seven years. During that time, he played in a number of interesting films, but stardom was elusive. He did finally attract attention with The Last Command (1928) as Leo, the arrogant film director. Stardom finally came via his role as Philo Vance in The Canary Murder Case (1929), in which he investigates the death of Louise Brooks, "the Canary." Unlike many silent actors, sound boosted Powell's career. He had a fine, urbane voice and his stage training and comic timing greatly aided his introduction to sound pictures. However, he was not happy with the type of roles he was playing at Paramount, so in 1931 he switched to Warner Bros. There, he again became disappointed with his roles, and his last appearance for Warners was as Philo Vance in The Kennel Murder Case (1933). In 1934 Powell went to MGM, where he was teamed with Myrna Loy in Manhattan Melodrama (1934). While Philo made Powell a star, another detective, Nick Charles, made him famous. Powell received an Academy Award nomination for The Thin Man (1934) and later starred in the Best Picture winner for 1936, The Great Ziegfeld (1936). Powell could play any role with authority, whether in a comedy, thriller, or drama. He received his second Academy Award nomination for My Man Godfrey (1936) and was on top of the world until 1937, when he made his first picture with Jean Harlow, Reckless (1935). The two clicked, off-screen as well as on-screen, and shortly became engaged. One day, while Powell was filming Double Wedding (1937) on one MGM sound stage, Harlow became ill on another. She was finally taken to the hospital, where she died. Her death greatly upset both Powell and Myrna Loy, and he took six weeks off from making the movie to deal with his sorrow. After that he traveled, not making another MGM film for a year. He eventually did five sequels to "The Thin Man," the last one in 1947. He also received his third Academy Award nomination for his work in Life with Father (1947). His screen appearances became less frequent after that, and his last role was in 1955. He had come a long way from playing the villain in 1922.
Tivia:
Although he and Carole Lombard divorced in 1933, they remained close friends until her death in 1942.Was in a relationship with Jean Harlow for two years before her death and paid for her funeral, costing $30,000. For many years he made sure fresh flowers were always present at her grave.In 1938 he was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum. Rather than undergo a colostomy, he agreed to an experimental treatment where platinum needles containing radium pellets were inserted into his body, where they remained for six months, by which time his cancer had gone into remission. It was many years before he publicly revealed he had had cancer. At the time of his illness and recovery, his agent explained his absence to the press first by saying he was recuperating from an eye injury, and later that he had undergone a routine abdominal operation.His son stabbed himself to death while taking a shower. He left a four-page good-bye letter to his father, with whom he was very close.Had difficulties retaining his lines during the filming of Mister Roberts (1955), something that had not happened to him in earlier films; this was one of the reasons why this was his final film appearance. Frail health, including bouts with cancer, plus a difficult Hawaii location shoot ultimately led to his retirement decision.If her cameo in The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947) is counted, Myrna Loy co-starred with him 14 times. Besides the six Thin Man films, the others were Manhattan Melodrama (1934), Evelyn Prentice (1934), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Libeled Lady (1936), Double Wedding (1937), I Love You Again (1940) and Love Crazy (1941).Purchased for Jean Harlow a 150-carat sapphire engagement ring for $20,000, and presented it to her for Christmas of 1936.Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1636 Vine St.He was lured away from Paramount by Warners with a contract of $6000 a week, but after a year or so Jack L. Warner forced Depression salary cuts on many of his stars including Powell, reducing it to $4000 per week. Powell was unhappy with the situation and left Warner for MGM, where he spent the bulk of his career.He paid $25,000 for a private room in the Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Memorial Park where Jean Harlow was laid to rest and where he intended to be buried. However, he married actress Diana Lewis in 1940, remaining with her until his death in 1984 and he was buried in Palm Desert.He was the first husband of Carole Lombard while his Manhattan Melodrama (1934) co-star Clark Gable was her second husband.Had known Diana Lewis only three weeks when they married 1/6/40.He and Myrna Loy were so identified as a married couple that, when traveling together, they often had to specifically request separate hotel rooms from mistaken desk clerks.His favorite singer was Jo Stafford and he collected every one of her albums.He and Casey Stengel were in the same class in Central High School in Kansas City, MO.Parent of William Powell with his wife, Eileen.Produced a Broadway play, "Revolt" in 1928, written by Harry Wagstaff Gribble. It flopped.Graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1912 where he studied under Joseph Adelman.Starred in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: The Thin Man (1934), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Libeled Lady (1936) and Mister Roberts (1955), the first three also co-starred Myrna Loy."The Great Ziegfeld" is the only winner.His home in Beverly Hills was designed by James E. Dolena and decorated by William Haines.Cousin-in-law of Howard Hawks and Kenneth Hawks.His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is featured for a brief moment in Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 2 (1991).First actor to portray the character of George Wilson on-screen in The Great Gatsby (1926).On 8/20/20, he was honored with a day of his filmography during the Turner Classic Movies Summer Under the Stars.Leo Kottke composed an instrumental song entitled 'William Powell'; the studio version appears on Kottke's 1989 album "My Father's Face", and a live version on 1995's "Leo Kottke Live".Brother-in-law of Maxine Lewis and J.C. Lewis.Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 652-654. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.Cousin-in-law of William B. Hawks.In May 2023, he was honored as Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month. |
| Name: |
William Powell |
Type: |
Actor,Soundtrack (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Actor,Soundtrack |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Soundtrack |
| Model rank: |
78 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 03:42:43 |
| Height: |
5' 11' (1.80 m) |
| Biography: |
William Powell was on the New York stage by 1912, but it would be ten years before his film career would begin. In 1924 he went to Paramount Pictures, where he was employed for the next seven years. During that time, he played in a number of int |
| Trivia: |
Although he and Carole Lombard divorced in 1933, they remained close friends until her death in 1942.Was in a relationship with Jean Harlow for two years before her death and paid for her funeral, costing $30,000. For many years he made sure fresh flowers were always present at her grave.In 1938 he was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum. Rather than undergo a colostomy, he agreed to an experimental treatment where platinum needles containing radium pellets were inserted into his body, where they remained for six months, by which time his cancer had gone into remission. It was many years before he publicly revealed he had had cancer. At the time of his illness and recovery, his agent explained his absence to the press first by saying he was recuperating from an eye injury, and later that he had undergone a routine abdominal operation.His son stabbed himself to death while taking a shower. He left a four-page good-bye letter to his father, with whom he was very close.Had difficulties retaining his lines during the filming of Mister Roberts (1955), something that had not happened to him in earlier films; this was one of the reasons why this was his final film appearance. Frail health, including bouts with cancer, plus a difficult Hawaii location shoot ultimately led to his retirement decision.If her cameo in The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947) is counted, Myrna Loy co-starred with him 14 times. Besides the six Thin Man films, the others were Manhattan Melodrama (1934), Evelyn Prentice (1934), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Libeled Lady (1936), Double Wedding (1937), I Love You Again (1940) and Love Crazy (1941).Purchased for Jean Harlow a 150-carat sapphire engagement ring for $20,000, and presented it to her for Christmas of 1936.Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1636 Vine St.He was lured away from Paramount by Warners with a contract of $6000 a week, but after a year or so Jack L. Warner forced Depression salary cuts on many of his stars including Powell, reducing it to $4000 per week. Powell was unhappy with the situation and left Warner for MGM, where he spent the bulk of his career.He paid $25,000 for a private room in the Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Memorial Park where Jean Harlow was laid to rest and where he intended to be buried. However, he married actress Diana Lewis in 1940, remaining with her until his death in 1984 and he was buried in Palm Desert.He was the first husband of Carole Lombard while his Manhattan Melodrama (1934) co-star Clark Gable was her second husband.Had known Diana Lewis only three weeks when they married 1/6/40.He and Myrna Loy were so identified as a married couple that, when traveling together, they often had to specifically request separate hotel rooms from mistaken desk clerks.His favorite singer was Jo Stafford and he collected every one of her albums.He and Casey Stengel were in the same class in Central High School in Kansas City, MO.Parent of William Powell with his wife, Eileen.Produced a Broadway play, "Revolt" in 1928, written by Harry Wagstaff Gribble. It flopped.Graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1912 where he studied under Joseph Adelman.Starred in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: The Thin Man (1934), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Libeled Lady (1936) and Mister Roberts (1955), the first three also co-starred Myrna Loy."The Great Ziegfeld" is the only winner.His home in Beverly Hills was designed by James E. Dolena and decorated by William Haines.Cousin-in-law of Howard Hawks and Kenneth Hawks.His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is featured for a brief moment in Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 2 (1991).First actor to portray the character of George Wilson on-screen in The Great Gatsby (1926).On 8/20/20, he was honored with a day of his filmography during the Turner Classic Movies Summer Under the Stars.Leo Kottke composed an instrumental song entitled 'William Powell'; the studio version appears on Kottke's 1989 album "My Father's Face", and a live version on 1995's "Leo Kottke Live".Brother-in-law of Maxine Lewis and J.C. Lewis.Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 652-654. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.Cousin-in-law of William B. Hawks.In May 2023, he was honored as Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month. |
| Quotes: |
[when asked how he kept so slim] "I highly recommend worrying. It's much more effective than dieting."
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<hr>
[speaking in 1929] "Unfortunately, or perhaps it is fortunate that I have always been forced to stand on my acting ability. I haven't a personality such as Jack Gilbert's, for instance, that attracts women and makes them like me for myself. When I am on the screen I must make them forget me entirely and think only of my acting."
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<hr>
My friends have stood by me marvelously in the ups and downs of my career. I don't believe there is anything more worthwhile in life than friendship. Friendship is a far better thing than love, as it is commonly accepted.
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<hr>
I do not hold that because the author did a bad job of writing the player need trump it with the same kind of acting. When I go into a picture I have only one character to look after. If the author didn't do him justice, I try to add whatever the creator of the part overlooked.
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<hr>
I have never gone into a picture without first studying my characterization from all angles. I make a study of the fellow's life and try to learn everything about him, including the conditions under which he came into this world, his parentage, his environment, his social status, and the things in which he is interested. Then I attempt to get his mental attitude as much as possible. |
| Salaries: |
The Kennel Murder Case (1933) - $4,000 /week
<br />
<hr>
One Way Passage (1932) - $6,000 /week |
| Job title: |
Actor,Soundtrack |
| Others works: |
(1917) Stage: Appeared (credited as William H. Powell; Broadway debut) in "The King" on Broadway. Written by Gaston Arman de Caillavet, Robert de Flers and Emmanuel Arene. George M. Cohan's Theatre: 20 Nov 1917-Mar 1918 (closing date unknow |
| Spouse: |
Diana Lewis (January 6, 1940 - March 5, 1984) (his death)Carole Lombard (June 26, 1931 - August 16, 1933) (divorced)Julia Mary Tierney (Eileen Wilson) (April 15, 1915 - January 15, 1930) (divorced, 1 child) |
| Children: |
William Powell |
| Parents: |
Horatio Warren Powell
Annette \"Nettie\" Manila Brady |
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