Dick Powell
Biography
Richard Ewing Dick Powell, also known as Rich, was an American singer, actor, producer, director, and studio boss. He was born in Mountain View, Arkansas, on November 14, 1904, and died on January 2, 1963, at the age of 58. Before beginning his entertainment career as a singer with the midwest-based Charlie Davis Orchestra, he attended Little Rock College. He recorded multiple records both independently and with Davis for the Vocalion label during the late 1920s. Later, Powell relocated to Pittsburgh, achieving local success working as the Master of Ceremonies at the Stanley Theater and the Enright Theater. In April 1930, Warner Brothers purchased Brunswick Records, which was associated with that period of his career. He amassed 115 known acting credits.
Career overview
Richard Ewing Dick Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director, and studio boss who was born on November 14, 1904, in Mountain View, the seat of Stone County in northern Arkansas. Before beginning his entertainment career, he attended the former Little Rock College located in the state capital. He initially started his professional path as a singer performing with the midwest-based Charlie Davis Orchestra. During the late 1920s, he recorded a number of records both with Davis and as a solo artist for the Vocalion label.
Following his early musical endeavors, Powell relocated to Pittsburgh. In that city, he achieved significant local success working as the Master of Ceremonies at both the Enright Theater and the Stanley Theater. His career advanced further when Warner Brothers purchased Brunswick Records in April 1930. Across his career in the entertainment industry, Powell accumulated 115 known credits for acting. He passed away on January 2, 1963, at the age of 58.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- Gold Diggers: FDR'S New Deal... Broadway Bound (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Self (archive footage)
- FDR (1994) as Self (archive footage)
- American Experience (1988) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- That's Dancing! (1985)
- Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- It's Showtime (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- Paper Moon (1973) Thanks
- Ghostbreakers (1967) Executive Producer
- The Losers (1963) Executive Producer
- The Dick Powell Show (1961) as Self - Host
- The Dick Powell Show (1961) Producer
- The Dick Powell Show (1961) Executive Producer
- The DuPont Show of the Week (1961) as Self
- Who Killed Julie Greer? (1961) as Host / Inspector Amos Burke
- Who Killed Julie Greer? (1961) Executive Producer
- Ricochet (1961) as Self - Host
- Ricochet (1961) Executive Producer
- One Must Die (1961)
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Paul Martin
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Dr. Timothy McVey
- Woman on the Run (1959) Director
- The Hunters (1958) Director
- The Hunters (1958) Producer
- The All-Star Christmas Show (1958) as Self
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- The Enemy Below (1957) Director
- The Enemy Below (1957) Producer
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Self - Host
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) Creator
- The Conqueror (1956) Director
- The Conqueror (1956) Producer
- You Can't Run Away from It (1956) Director
- Climax! (1954) as Philip Marlowe
- Susan Slept Here (1954) as Mark Christopher
- Split Second (1953) Director
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Willie Dante
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Eddie White
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as US Marshal Philip Dana
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Burt Stroude
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Paul
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Mike Donegan
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Graham
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Dan
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Dan Hodges
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Dave Robinson
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Fred
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Chris
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Jeff
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Eddie
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Dave
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Capt. Avery
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Andrew
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Will Sonnett
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Fleet Mason
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Grover Doane
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Steve
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Priest
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Philip Benton
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Dan Matson
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as James Lee Bartlow
- The Tall Target (1951) as John Kennedy
- You Never Can Tell (1951) as Rex Shepherd
- Cry Danger (1951) as Rocky Mulloy
- Cry Danger (1951) Director
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Panelist
- The Jack Benny Program (1950) as Dick Powell
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Self - Intermission Guest
- The Reformer and the Redhead (1950) as Andrew Hale
- Right Cross (1950) as Rick Garvey
- The Emmy Awards (1949) as Self
- Mrs. Mike (1949) as Sgt. Mike Flannigan
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Pitfall (1948) as John Forbes
- Station West (1948) as Lt. John Martin Haven
- To the Ends of the Earth (1948) as Commissioner Michael Barrows
- Rogues' Regiment (1948) as Whit Corbett
- Johnny O'Clock (1947) as Johnny O'Clock
- Blow-Ups of 1947 (1947) as Self
- Cornered (1945) as Laurence Gerard
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Host
- Murder, My Sweet (1944) as Philip Marlowe
- It Happened Tomorrow (1944) as Lawrence 'Larry' Stevens
- Meet the People (1944) as William 'Swanee' Swanson
- Happy Go Lucky (1943) as Pete Hamilton
- True to Life (1943) as Link Ferris
- Riding High (1943) as Steve Baird
- Three Cheers for the Girls (1943) as Singer (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) as Dick Powell
- Model Wife (1941) as Frederick "Fred" Chambers
- In the Navy (1941) as Thomas Halstead
- Christmas in July (1940) as Jimmy McDonald
- I Want a Divorce (1940) as Alan MacNally
- Naughty but Nice (1939) as Professor Donald Hardwick
- Hollywood Hobbies (1939) as Self (uncredited)
- Breakdowns of 1938 (1938) as Elly Jordan (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Going Places (1938) as Peter Mason
- Hollywood Hotel (1938) as Ronnie Bowers
- Hard to Get (1938) as Bill Davis
- Cowboy from Brooklyn (1938) as Elly Jordan
- The Singing Marine (1937) as Bob Brent
- Breakdowns of 1937 (1937) as Self
- On the Avenue (1937) as Gary Blake
- Varsity Show (1937) as Charles 'Chuck' Daly
- Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936) as Rosmer Peck
- Colleen (1936) as Donald Ames
- Dick Powell and Joan Blondell home movies: "No. 1, From beginning" (1936)
- Stage Struck (1936) as George Randall
- Hearts Divided (1936) as Jerome Bonaparte
- One And One Is One (1936) as Himself
- One And One Is One (1936) Director
- Dick Powell and Joan Blondell home movies: "No. 3, Normie" (1936)
- Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1) (1936) as Self
- Dick Powell and Joan Blondell home movies: "No. 5" (1936)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) as Lysander
- Thanks a Million (1935) as Eric Land
- Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935) as Dick Curtis
- Broadway Gondolier (1935) as Richard 'Dick' Purcell, aka Ricardo Purcelli
- Page Miss Glory (1935) as Bingo Nelson
- Things You Never See on the Screen (1935) as Self
- A Dream Comes True (1935) as Himself (uncredited)
- Shipmates Forever (1935) as Richard 'Dick' Melville III
- Wonder Bar (1934) as Tommy
- Hollywood Newsreel (1934) as Himself
- Hollywood on Parade No. B-10 (1934) as Self
- Studio Highlights (1934) as Self (archive footage)
- Happiness Ahead (1934) as Bob Lane
- Dames (1934) as Jimmy Higgens
- Flirtation Walk (1934) as Dick "Canary" Dorcy
- Twenty Million Sweethearts (1934) as Buddy Clayton
- And She Learned About Dames (1934) as Himself
- Footlight Parade (1933) as Scotty
- Convention City (1933) as Jerry Ford
- 42nd Street (1933) as Billy Lawler
- Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) as Brad
- The Road Is Open Again (1933) as The Songwriter
- The King's Vacation (1933) as John Kent
- Just Around the Corner (1933) as Jerry
- College Coach (1933) as Phil "Sarge" Sargeant
- Big City Blues (1932) as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
- Blessed Event (1932) as Bunny Harmon
- Too Busy to Work (1932) as Dan Hardy