Biography
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss. Born in Mountain View, the seat of Stone County in northern Arkansas, Powell attended the former Little Rock College in the state capital, before he started his entertainment career as a singer with the Charlie Davis Orchestra, based in the midwest. He recorded a number of records with Davis and on his own, for the Vocalion label in the late 1920s. Powell moved to Pittsburgh, where he found great local success as the Master of Ceremonies at the Enright Theater and the Stanley Theater. In April 1930, Warner Bros. bought up Brunswick Records which at that time owned Vocalion. Warner Bros. was sufficiently impressed by Powell's singing and stage presence to offer him a film contract in 1932. He made his film debut as a singing bandleader in Blessed Event. He went on to star as a boyish crooner in movie musicals such as 42nd Street, Footlight Parade, Gold Diggers of 1933, Dames, Flirtation Walk, and On the Avenue, often appearing opposite Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell. Powell desperately wanted to expand his range but Warner Bros. wouldn't allow him to…
Movies & TV Shows
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The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) — James Lee Bartlow
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Murder, My Sweet (1944) — Philip Marlowe
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42nd Street (1933) — Billy Lawler
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Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) — Brad
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Footlight Parade (1933) — Scotty
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Christmas in July (1940) — Jimmy MacDonald
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Pitfall (1948) — John Forbes
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It Happened Tomorrow (1944) — Lawrence 'Larry' Stevens
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Cry Danger (1951) — Rocky Mulloy
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Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935) — Dick Curtis
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) — Lysander
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Johnny O'Clock (1947) — Johnny O'Clock
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American Experience (1988) — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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The Tall Target (1951) — John Kennedy
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Cornered (1945) — Laurence Gerard
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Dames (1934) — Jimmy Higgens
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In the Navy (1941) — Thomas Halstead
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Susan Slept Here (1954) — Mark Christopher
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What's My Line? (1950) — Self
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Station West (1948) — Lt. John Martin Haven
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The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) — Self
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Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936) — Rosmer Peck
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Wonder Bar (1934) — Tommy
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That's Dancing! (1985)
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Golden Globe Awards (1944) — Self - Host
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To the Ends of the Earth (1948) — Commissioner Michael Barrows
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The Jack Benny Program (1950) — Dick Powell
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Flirtation Walk (1934) — Dick "Canary" Dorcy
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Hollywood Hotel (1938) — Ronnie Bowers
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College Coach (1933) — Phil "Sarge" Sargeant
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Big City Blues (1932) — Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
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This Is Your Life (1952) — Self
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Climax! (1954) — Philip Marlowe
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Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) — Dick Powell
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You Never Can Tell (1951) — Rex Shepherd
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Four Star Playhouse (1952) — Willie Dante
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Thanks a Million (1935) — Eric Land
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Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) — Self - Host
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Blessed Event (1932) — Bunny Harmon
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Varsity Show (1937) — Charles 'Chuck' Daly