Page
1
of 1

Dick Powell Biography

(1904–1963)

Related Works

1944 Murder, My Sweet
1951 You Never Can Tell
1940 I Want a Divorce

1952 Four Star Playhouse (TV Series)
1933 The Road is Open Again
1943 Riding High
1933 Gold Diggers of 1933
1958 The Hunters
1934 Happiness Ahead
1950 The Reformer and the Redhead
1948 Rogues' Regiment
1933 Convention City
1951 Callaway Went Thataway
1932 Blessed Event
1936 Colleen
1935 Page Miss Glory
1937 Varsity Show
1941 Model Wife
1934 Flirtation Walk
1951 Cry Danger
1956 The Best in Mystery (TV Series)
1937 The Singing Marine
1952 The Bad and the Beautiful
1944 Meet the People
1938 The Cowboy From Brooklyn
1942 Star Spangled Rhythm
1937 Varsity Show
1934 Dames
1957 The Enemy Below
1949 Mrs. Mike
1961 The Dick Powell Show (TV Series)
1951 The Tall Target
1956 Zane Grey Theater (TV Series)
1941 In the Navy
1954 Susan Slept Here
1936 Gold Diggers of 1937
1945 Cornered
1934 Twenty Million Sweethearts
1948 Pitfall
1935 Shipmates Forever
1933 42nd Street
1950 Right Cross
1938 Going Places
1938 Hard to Get
1953 Split Second
1936 Stage Struck
1935 Broadway Gondolier
1947 Johnny O'Clock
1934 Wonder Bar
1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream
1943 Happy Go Lucky
1943 True to Life
1935 Gold Diggers of 1935
1937 On the Avenue
1948 To the Ends of the Earth
1935 Thanks a Million
1936 Hearts Divided
1956 The Conqueror
1940 Christmas in July
1948 Station West

» More

Related Sites

Click here to learn more about June Allyson and Dick Powell

Actor, singer, director, producer. Born Richard Powell, on November 14, 1904, in Mountain View, Arkansas. Powell spent most of his youth in the nearby town of Little Rock, where his vocal talents were recognized by the community. He sang with the local orchestra and choir, forming his own band, Peter Pan, by the age of seventeen.Shortly after, Powell and his band went on the road, appearing in such states as Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, while learning to play the coronet, clarinet, saxophone, and piano.

By 1930, Dick Powell garnered recognition as a traveling entertainer and he became the master of ceremonies at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh. Warner Bros. owned the Pennsylvania theatre and studio executives, aware of his talents, offered Powell a part in the musical Blessed Event (1933). Delighted with his performance, the studio presented him with a long-term contract. Powell starred in many of Warner Bros. most renowned musical productions including 42nd Street and Footlight Parade (1933) and Dames (1934). Powell was also featured in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935), in which he starred opposite Olivia de Havilland. Many of the films, which featured the choreography of Busby Berkeley, paired Powell with actress Ruby Keeler. Powell and Keeler shared a film chemistry and, at the time, were recognized as cinema’s most popular romantic couple. The musical duo made seven films together including Gold Diggers of 1933 and Will Rogers (1933); their last production was Colleen (1936).

In 1940, Powell moved on to straight comedy starring in Preston Sturges’s Christmas in July. During the early 40’s, he took a number of supporting roles in unsuccessful films and, as a result, his career suffered. In 1944, he began to develop his acting skills with a darker range of themes and characters. His portrayal of private detective Philip Marlowe in the thriller Murder, My Sweet (1944), an adaptation of the novel Farewell My Lady, earned him critical acclaim. This transition to film noir revived Powell’s struggling career and established him as a multifaceted actor, especially adept at portraying tough heroes. Critics were quick to praise his performances in other noir thrillers such as Cornered (1945) and Pitfall (1948).

Powell directed a number of unremarkable films in the 1950s, making his directorial debut with 1953’s Split Second. He also directed The Conqueror (1956), which starred John Wayne and Agnes Moorehead. Powell’s last directorial feats were in the war thrillers The Enemy Below (1957) and The Hunter (1958); both were poorly received by critics and audiences.

Shortly after, he became president of the Four Star TV production company. For the duration of his career he focused his efforts on television production. From 1952-1956 Powell produced and appeared regularly on TV’s Four Star Playhouse and from 1961-1963 he hosted and produced The Dick Powell Show.

In 1945, Powell ended his 11-year marriage with actress Joan Blondell. Shortly after the divorce, Powell married Hollywood star June Allyson, whom he directed in the feature, You Can’t Run Away From It (1956). Powell remained married to June until his death from cancer in 1963.