William Powell
Biography
William Powell was an American actor who worked mainly in film and who made 14 movies with Myrna Loy while under contract at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, among them the Thin Man series based on Dashiell Hammett's characters. Born in Pittsburgh in 1892, he studied briefly at the University of Kansas before moving to New York City, where he trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked in vaudeville and stock companies. His Hollywood career began in 1922. He portrayed a vengeful film director in The Last Command (1928) and took his first starring role as the detective Philo Vance in The Canary Murder Case (1929), which he played four times. He earned three Best Actor nominations at the Academy Awards, for The Thin Man (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936) and Life with Father (1947). Mister Roberts (1955) was his last film. He died in 1984.
91years old at death
- Born Pittsburgh
- Died Palm Springs
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as William Horatio Powell
Movie Career
- Films
- 30
- Career span
- 27 years1928 to 1955
Genres
First and latest
Photos
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Early training
Powell signed up at the University of Kansas for law, but a week later he moved to New York City and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He left the AADA in 1912 for vaudeville and stock companies.
First role
At Paramount Pictures, Powell took on the part of Philo Vance four times, starting with his first starring role in The Canary Murder Case (1929).
First role
Powell's Hollywood career started in 1922 with a production of Sherlock Holmes alongside John Barrymore. He also played Francis I in When Knighthood Was in Flower with Marion Davies.
William Powell movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
W.S. Van Dyke directed six of these films, Jack Conway four and Michael Curtiz three. Myrna Loy appears in thirteen of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Myrna Loy's page
Spencer Charters's page
Frank Conroy's page
Nat Pendleton's page
Jessie Ralph's page
Ralph Morgan's page
W.S. Van DykeDirector, 6 films, 1934 to 1941
All films by W.S. Van Dyke
Jack ConwayDirector, 4 films, 1934 to 1942
All films by Jack Conway
Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1947
All films by Michael Curtiz
Also four films together1 more actor
- AstaShadow of the Thin Man (1941), Another Thin Man (1939), After the Thin Man (1936) and The Thin Man (1934)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What William Powell's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$45.1 million
15 of the 30 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 30 films: 15 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 12 figure not found.
- 15Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 1Never in cinemas
- 12Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 78% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$8.0M17.7% of the total
- 2$6.5M14.3% of the total
- 3$5.3M11.8% of the total
- 4$4.7M10.4% of the total
- 5$3.2M7.0% of the total
- 6$2.8M6.2% of the total
- 7$2.3M5.1% of the total
- 8$2.3M5.1% of the total
$10.1 millionfrom the other 7 films with a worldwide figure, 22% of the total
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.