Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was born in Mountain View, Arkansas on November 14, 1904, he was an American singer, actor, radio voice, producer, and film director.
Born in Mountain View, Arkansas, Powell studied at Little Rock College (now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock) before beginning his singing career with the Midwest-based Charlie Davis Orchestra. He recorded several albums with Davis and, also on his own, with Vocalion Records in the late 1920s.
Powell emigrated to Pittsburgh, where he enjoyed great local success as Master of Ceremonies at the Enright and Stanley Theaters. In April 1930, Warner Bros. acquired Brunswick Records, then owned by Vocalion. Warner Bros. was impressed by Powell's singing and stage presence, and offered him a film contract in 1932. He made his film debut as the lead singer in Blessed Event. He continued to play the role of a young crooner in musicals such as 42nd Street, Footlight Parade, Gold Diggers of 1933, Dames, Flirtation Walk, and On the Avenue, often working alongside Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell.
Powell emigrated to Pittsburgh, where he enjoyed great local success as Master of Ceremonies at the Enright and Stanley Theaters. In April 1930, Warner Bros. acquired Brunswick Records, then owned by Vocalion. Warner Bros. was impressed by Powell's singing and stage presence, and offered him a film contract in 1932. He made his film debut as the lead singer in Blessed Event. He continued to play the role of a young crooner in musicals such as 42nd Street, Footlight Parade, Gold Diggers of 1933, Dames, Flirtation Walk, and On the Avenue, often working alongside Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell.
From 1949 to 1953, Powell starred in the NBC radio show Richard Diamond, Private Detective. The weekly 30-minute program featured him as a friendly private detective with a quick wit.
In the 1950s, Powell produced and directed several B-movies and co-founded Four Star Television, acting in and supervising various programs for the company. His film The Enemy Below (1957), based on the novel by Denys Rayner, won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Powell died in West Los Angeles, California, on January 2, 1963, of lymphoma, at the age of 58. He was one of many members of the crew of The Conqueror (1956) who died of the same disease. The Conqueror was filmed in Utah, near an atomic testing site. It was rumored, though never proven, that the filming location may have been the cause of the cancers affecting the production staff. Dick Powell was cremated and his ashes interred in the Columbarium of Honor at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
In the 1950s, Powell produced and directed several B-movies and co-founded Four Star Television, acting in and supervising various programs for the company. His film The Enemy Below (1957), based on the novel by Denys Rayner, won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Powell died in West Los Angeles, California, on January 2, 1963, of lymphoma, at the age of 58. He was one of many members of the crew of The Conqueror (1956) who died of the same disease. The Conqueror was filmed in Utah, near an atomic testing site. It was rumored, though never proven, that the filming location may have been the cause of the cancers affecting the production staff. Dick Powell was cremated and his ashes interred in the Columbarium of Honor at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
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