First of all, was born at Mountain View, Arkansas, and went to college at what is now UALR.
He got his show business start as a singer for the Charlie Davis Orchestra, with whom he recorded a number of records.
He made his film debut as a singing band leader in Blessed Event in 1932.
After years in light-weight musicals, Powell was able to change his on-screen persona in the movie Murder, My Sweet in 1944, in which he played tough guy detective Philip Marlowe.
Powell's ranch-style house was used for the exterior filming on the television series Hart To Hart.
One of his brothers was a Vice President of the Illinois Central Railroad.
He died the same day as actor Jack Carson. They had different forms of cancer. Powell's cancer stemmed from the filming of the movie Conqueror in 1956 near a nuclear test site in Utah.
He sold his 55-foot yacht to Humphrey Bogart.
Late in his career, Powell became a director, about which work he said, "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."
1 comment:
I didn't know he had Arkansas roots!
A
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