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IMDbPro

Dick Powell(1904-1963)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Dick Powell, c. 1937.
Dick Powell narrates this trailer for his classic Air Force film
Play trailer2:59
The Hunters (2011)
19 Videos
99+ Photos
Few actors ever managed a complete image transition as thoroughly as did Dick Powell: in his case, from the boyish, wavy-haired crooner in musicals to rugged crime fighters in film noirs. Powell grew up in the town of Little Rock, Arkansas, one of three brothers (one of them, Howard, ended up as vice president of the Illinois Central Railroad). He worked his way through schooling, sidelining as a soda jerk and a grocery clerk before entering the world of show biz as a singer (tenor) and banjo player with the Royal Peacock Orchestra in Louisville, Kentucky. He then got a gig with the Charlie Davis band and toured with them throughout the mid-west, appearing at dance halls and picture theaters. He next worked as a master of ceremonies and this rounded him off as an entertainer even before he was signed by a Warner Brothers talent scout in 1932. Looking rather younger than his actual years, Powell soon found himself typecast as clean-cut singing juveniles in a series of exuberant musicals with lavish production numbers like 42. katu (1933), one of two dozen similar pictures he made for the studio.

In 1935, Powell's salary amounted to $70,000. Two years later, he had become one of Hollywood's top ten box office stars, yet was paid just half of what he had earned as an MC. A keen businessman with an eye for profit, Powell had already invested wisely in land and property. When he left Warners in 1939 with no discernible acting opportunities in sight, he was in no way short of money. He was, however, desperate to escape his image, declaring "I knew I wasn't the greatest singer in the world and I saw no reason why an actor should restrict himself to any one particular phase of the business". He fairly jumped at the chance to act in non-singing roles, joining Paramount in 1940 to appear opposite Ellen Drew in the sparkling Preston Sturges comedy Christmas in July (1940). This was followed by two marital farces featuring his then-wife, Joan Blondell, both efforts receiving only a lukewarm response at the box-office. Still dissatisfied with lightweight roles, Powell lobbied hard to get the lead (eventually scored by Fred MacMurray) in Nainen ilman omaatuntoa (1944) but was knocked back. Instead, he was slotted into more of the same fare, refused to comply and was suspended.

His box office credo now at a low ebb, Powell tried his luck at RKO and at last managed to secure a lucrative role: that of hard-boiled private eye Philip Marlowe in Raymond Chandler's Hyvästi, kaunokaiseni (1944). The author himself approved of the casting, though the director (Edward Dmytryk) fought off initial misgivings. The result proved nothing if not a tangible hit for RKO. Bosley Crowther of the New York Times remarked " ...and while he may lack the steely coldness and cynicism of a Humphrey Bogart, Mr. Powell need not offer any apologies. He has definitely stepped out of the song-and-dance, pretty-boy league with this performance". In short order, offers suddenly kept coming. Having successfully reinvented himself, Powell now found steady work on radio, respectively as "Richard Rogue" and then "Richard Diamond, Private Eye". In films, he remained on cue for wise-cracking tough guy roles in Kostaja (1945) and Kohtaloa uhmaten (1947). His most challenging role yet was as best-selling novelist James Lee Bartlow in MGM's epic drama Särkyneitten haaveitten kaupunki (1952)]. Powell also dabbled at directing, though he only helmed six pictures in total: among them a minor film noir, Aution kaupungin vangit (1953)], and an above-average submarine drama, Vihollinen syvyydessä (1957)]. Having quit film acting in the mid-50s, he began to concentrate primarily on producing TV drama as host and executive producer of his own award-winning anthology show, Dick Powell esittää (1961). He was also co-founder and managing director of Four Star Television (which had its studios where Republic had formerly existed and which would subsequently become CBS Cinema Center).

Dick Powell died prematurely of lung cancer in January 1963 at the age of 58. He was survived by his third wife, the actress June Allyson.
BornNovember 14, 1904
DiedJanuary 2, 1963(58)
BornNovember 14, 1904
DiedJanuary 2, 1963(58)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 4 wins & 1 nomination

Photos1236

Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Alice Faye and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Madeleine Carroll and Dick Powell in On the Avenue (1937)
Evelyn Keyes and Dick Powell in Kohtaloa uhmaten (1947)
Evelyn Keyes and Dick Powell in Kohtaloa uhmaten (1947)
Dick Powell in Kohtaloa uhmaten (1947)

Known for:

Dick Powell and Claire Trevor in Hyvästi, kaunokaiseni (1944)
Hyvästi, kaunokaiseni
7.5
  • Philip Marlowe
  • 1944
Micheline Cheirel, Dick Powell, Walter Slezak, and Nina Vale in Kostaja (1945)
Kostaja
6.6
  • Laurence Gerard
  • 1945
Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner in Särkyneitten haaveitten kaupunki (1952)
Särkyneitten haaveitten kaupunki
7.8
  • James Lee Bartlow
  • 1952
Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Ethelreda Leopold, Victor Moore, and Dick Powell in Kultakalat 1937 (1936)
Kultakalat 1937
6.4
  • Rosmer Peak
  • 1936

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Ensign O'Toole (1962)
    Ensign O'Toole
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Chief Richard E. Powell
    • 1962–1963
  • Dick Powell esittää (1961)
    Dick Powell esittää
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Host
    • Maj. Ed Clayborn
    • Alex Harper ...
    • 1961–1962
  • Car 54, Where Are You? (1961)
    Car 54, Where Are You?
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Dick Powell (uncredited)
    • 1962
  • The Law and Mr. Jones (1960)
    The Law and Mr. Jones
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Colonel Drayton
    • 1961
  • Dick Powell in Zane Grey Theatre (1956)
    Zane Grey Theatre
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Rebel
    • Col. Blackburn
    • Mike Brenner ...
    • 1956–1961
  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959)
    The DuPont Show with June Allyson
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Dr. Timothy McVey
    • Paul Martin
    • 1959–1960
  • Howard Duff and Ida Lupino in Mr. Adams and Eve (1957)
    Mr. Adams and Eve
    7.8
    TV Series
    • 1958
  • Aitiopaikka (1952)
    Aitiopaikka
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Dan Matson
    • Willie Dante
    • Philip Benton ...
    • 1952–1956
  • Climax! (1954)
    Climax!
    6.7
    TV Series
    • Philip Marlowe
    • 1954
  • The Best in Mystery
    TV Series
    • Willie Dante (1956)
    • 1954
  • Debbie Reynolds and Dick Powell in Susanna nukkui täällä (1954)
    Susanna nukkui täällä
    6.4
    • Mark Christopher
    • 1954
  • Red Skelton in The Red Skelton Show (1951)
    The Red Skelton Show
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Cameo
    • 1954
  • Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner in Särkyneitten haaveitten kaupunki (1952)
    Särkyneitten haaveitten kaupunki
    7.8
    • James Lee Bartlow
    • 1952
  • Peggy Dow, Charles Drake, Joyce Holden, Dick Powell, and Flame in Uskomatonta mutta totta (1951)
    Uskomatonta mutta totta
    7.0
    • Rex Shepard
    • 1951
  • Paula Raymond and Dick Powell in The Tall Target (1951)
    The Tall Target
    7.2
    • John Kennedy
    • 1951

Producer

  • Bob Terry in The Forsaken Westerns (2017)
    The Forsaken Westerns
    8.3
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 2017
  • Ghostbreakers
    6.5
    TV Movie
    • executive producer
    • 1967
  • Dick Powell esittää (1961)
    Dick Powell esittää
    7.4
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 1961–1963
  • Robert Mitchum, Robert Wagner, May Britt, Richard Egan, and Lee Philips in Cobra-laivue (1958)
    Cobra-laivue
    6.4
    • producer
    • 1958
  • Robert Mitchum and Curd Jürgens in Vihollinen syvyydessä (1957)
    Vihollinen syvyydessä
    7.4
    • producer
    • 1957
  • Chevron Hall of Stars (1956)
    Chevron Hall of Stars
    7.4
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 1956
  • Jack Lemmon and June Allyson in Aviovaimo karkuteillä (1956)
    Aviovaimo karkuteillä
    5.9
    • producer
    • 1956
  • Aitiopaikka (1952)
    Aitiopaikka
    7.6
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 1952–1956
  • John Wayne and Susan Hayward in Valloittaja (1956)
    Valloittaja
    3.7
    • producer (produced by)
    • 1956

Director

  • The Joan Crawford Show: Woman on the Run
    2.3
    TV Movie
    • Director
    • 1959
  • Robert Mitchum, Robert Wagner, May Britt, Richard Egan, and Lee Philips in Cobra-laivue (1958)
    Cobra-laivue
    6.4
    • Director
    • 1958
  • Robert Mitchum and Curd Jürgens in Vihollinen syvyydessä (1957)
    Vihollinen syvyydessä
    7.4
    • Director
    • 1957
  • Jack Lemmon and June Allyson in Aviovaimo karkuteillä (1956)
    Aviovaimo karkuteillä
    5.9
    • Director
    • 1956
  • John Wayne and Susan Hayward in Valloittaja (1956)
    Valloittaja
    3.7
    • Director
    • 1956
  • Jan Sterling, Stephen McNally, and Alexis Smith in Aution kaupungin vangit (1953)
    Aution kaupungin vangit
    6.8
    • Director
    • 1953
  • Rhonda Fleming and Dick Powell in Kostaja iskee (1951)
    Kostaja iskee
    7.3
    • Director (uncredited)
    • 1951

Videos19

Trailer
Trailer 2:11
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:11
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 3:09
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:49
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:55
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:36
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:02
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:02
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:43
Official Trailer
Original Theatrical Trailer
Trailer 2:32
Original Theatrical Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:47
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:12
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 1.80 m
  • Born
    • November 14, 1904
    • Mountain View, Arkansas, USA
  • Died
    • January 2, 1963
    • West Los Angeles, California, USA(lung cancer)
  • Spouses
      June AllysonAugust 19, 1945 - January 2, 1963 (his death, 2 children)
  • Children
      Ellen Powell
  • Parents
      Ewing Powell
  • Relatives
      Howard Smith Powell(Sibling)
  • Other works
    (1949-55) Radio: Appeared (as "Richard Diamond") in the series "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" on NBC. NOTE: The series was written by future director Blake Edwards.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 2 Print Biographies
    • 2 Portrayals
    • 4 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    In the 1940s he sold his 55-foot yacht, Santana, to lifelong sailing enthusiast Humphrey Bogart. The vessel subsequently achieved celebrity status as "Bogie's Boat" owing to his numerous seafaring expeditions, and Bogart even named his production company, Santana Productions, after it.
  • Quotes
    The best thing about switching from being an actor to being a director is that you don't have to shave or hold your stomach in anymore.
  • Trademark
    Affable "juvenile leads" or "boy heroes", which he played into his 40s
  • Salary
    • Abbott ja Costello laivastossa
      (1941)
      $30,000

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