Photo: George Hurrell for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Powell is the embodiment of effortless sophistication, the actor who made a cocktail and a clever quip into an art form. His chemistry with Myrna Loy in The Thin Man is one of cinema's all-time great pairings, full of affection and wit that still feels modern almost a century on. He could pivot from screwball comedy to genuine drama, and his three Best Actor nominations prove the industry knew it. I adore that he made charm look so easy when it is anything but. Watching Powell work is a masterclass in how much can be conveyed with a raised eyebrow.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
Overview
William Powell (July 29, 1892 - March 5, 1984) was an American actor and one of Hollywood's leading men during the 1930s and 1940s. He is best remembered for playing the suave detective Nick Charles in The Thin Man series opposite Myrna Loy, and earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and died in 1984.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- William Powell
- Name (Japanese)
- ウィリアム・パウエル
- Reading
- うぃりあむ・ぱうえる
- Born
- July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984
- Origin
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Occupation
- Stage actor / Film actor / Television actor / Actor
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Dragon
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Unknown Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was William Powell born?
William Powell was born on July 29, 1892.
When did William Powell die?
William Powell died on March 5, 1984, aged 91.
Where was William Powell from?
William Powell was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
What did William Powell do?
William Powell worked as Stage actor, Film actor, Television actor, Actor.
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