Biography
Known for his breezy sophistication and the crackerjack repartee he so drolly exchanged with frequent co-star Myrna Loy, actor William Powell reigned as one of Hollywood's most urbane leading men for more than 20 years. With his dark features and nattily-trimmed mustache, Powell was usually cast as a villain or henchman in the waning days of silent film. Ultimately, his sonorous, erudite voice, honed to perfection during his years in live theater, allowed Powell's talent to shine through in sound offerings like "The Canary Murder Case" (1929). After moving to MGM and starring in the surprise hit "Manhattan Melodrama" (1934), Powell took on the biggest role of his career opposite Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, respectively, in "The Thin Man" (1934). At the height of his popularity, Powell enjoyed great commercial and critical success for the multiple "Thin Man" films, in addition to revered efforts like "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936) and "My Man Godfrey" (1936), until the sudden death of his lover Jean Harlow and a bout with cancer nearly put an end to it all. Thankfully, he rebounded from both, marrying actress Diana Lewis in 1940 and going on to earn the best notices of his career in the family-comedy, "Life with Father" (1947). Following appearances in "How to Marry a Millionaire" (1953) and "Mister Roberts" (1955), the 63-year-old retired peacefully to Palm Springs until his death at the age 91. Suave, debonair and devilishly funny, Powell personified all that was grand about Hollywood's fabled Golden Age.
