Tom Powers

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Tom Powers (born July 7, 1890 in Owensboro , Kentucky , † November 7, 1955 in Hollywood , California ) was an American stage and film actor .

Tom Powers (1922)

life and career

Tom Powers, a native of Kentucky, studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts . He then signed a contract with the Vitagraph film studio at the age of 21 . After his first film The Sheriff's Friend (1911), he was able to quickly establish himself as an actor in numerous short films, where he starred in both comedies and dramas. After his contract with Vitagraph ended, Powers worked for several years in England in film and theater. After his return to the United States, Powers is now an established and well-known actor who also took over leading roles in films. In 1917 he starred in The Auction Block (1917), directed by Laurence Trimble , then Powers turned completely to the theater. He played on Broadway for the first time in 1916 in the play Mr. Lazarus , in the next decades he was to become a fixture there in over 30 productions by 1944. While he was initially mostly used as the star of musical comedies, he also played more serious roles in later years, such as Charles Marsden in the world premiere of Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude .

Tom Powers embarked on a second career in 1944 - after a 27 year absence - in the film business when Billy Wilder brought him in front of the camera for his film Woman Without a Conscience . Powers' role in Woman Without a Conscience as a wealthy husband who falls victim to his "unscrupulous" wife is probably his most famous appearance today. He stayed in Hollywood and played major and minor supporting roles in over 60 films until his death, including The Blue Dahlia (1946), The Black Rider (1947), Endstation Moon (1950) and Julius Caesar (1953). He often embodied authority figures such as police officers, army officers or lawyers. From the early 1950s, Powers also took regular guest roles on television. Tom Powers died of heart failure in 1955 at the age of 65 and his final film and television roles were not released until after his death. He was married to Anita Janney.

Filmography (selection)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Tom Powers at the IBDB .
  2. ↑ Tom Powers at Rotten Tomatoes .
personal data
SURNAME Powers, Tom
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-American actor
DATE OF BIRTH July 7, 1890
PLACE OF BIRTH Owensboro , Kentucky , United States
DATE OF DEATH November 7, 1955
Place of death Hollywood , California , United States