Missouri Valley Special Collections: Biography William Powell Actor 1892-1984
by Dory DeAngelo
In the 1930s, the Golden Era of screwball film comedies, actor William Powell played Nick Charles in the “Thin Man” films. He was suave, witty, and, with his co-star Myrna Loy, solved the crime without getting his suit rumpled.
William Horatio Powell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his family moved to Kansas City when he was 11 years old. His mother, Nettie, took her only child to downtown theaters and sparked an interest in acting that ultimately led William Powell to success on Broadway and in the movies.
Powell enrolled in public-speaking classes at Central High School and immediately was cast in the school’s plays. By his sophomore year he was playing leading roles and became a member of the Shakespeare Club. He was also Central High’s cheerleader.
Powell wanted to go to New York and study to be an actor, but he enrolled in Kansas University to become a lawyer as his father wished. He lasted one week and worked as a floorwalker at the Emery, Bird, Thayer department store. An aunt eventually agreed to pay his tuition to New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Parts were scarce on Broadway. Powell spent four years touring in vaudeville and with stock companies. When he returned to New York in1918, he started getting roles on Broadway. His stage work would ultimately include 100 plays.
In 1921 he went to Hollywood where he played mostly villains in silent films. Under contract to Paramount Pictures when sound came, Powell’s trained voice made him an ideal leading man. Released by Paramount in 1934, William Powell was signed to a contract with MGM, where he made his best films. He stayed with the studio until 1947 but continued to make films. His last role was ‘Doc’ in the 1955 film “Mister Roberts.”
Today he is best remembered for the “Thin Man” films.
The Kansas City Public Library | 14 W. 10th St. | Kansas City, MO 64105 | 816.701.3427 | kchistory.org Missouri Valley Special Collections: Biography
Sources
Francisco, Charles. Gentleman: The William Powell Story. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1985.
Current Biography. New York: H. B. Wilson Company, 1947.
Current Biography. New York: H. B. Wilson Company, 1984.
The Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 1929.
© 1999
The Kansas City Public Library | 14 W. 10th St. | Kansas City, MO 64105 | 816.701.3427 | kchistory.org