William Powell
Actor

William Powell Net Worth

William Powell was an American actor born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1892. He began his career on the New York stage in 1912, but it wasn't until 1924 that he began his film career with Paramount Pictures. He gained attention with The Last Command (1928) and stardom with The Canary Murder Case (1929). His urbane voice and stage training helped him transition to sound pictures, but he was not satisfied with the roles he was given at Paramount and Warner Bros. In 1934 he went to MGM, where he was teamed with Myrna Loy in Manhattan Melodrama (1934). His role as Nick Charles in The Thin Man (1934) made him famous and earned him an Academy Award nomination. He received a second nomination for My Man Godfrey (1936) and starred in the Best Picture winner for 1936, The Great Ziegfeld (1936). He went on to do five sequels to The Thin Man, the last one in 1947, and received his third Academy Award nomination for Life with Father (1947). His last role was in 1955, having come a long way from playing the villain in 1922.
William Powell is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Soundtrack
Birth Day July 29, 1892
Birth Place  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Age 127 YEARS OLD
Died On March 5, 1984(1984-03-05) (aged 91)\nPalm Springs, California, U.S.
Birth Sign Leo
Resting place Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1911–1955
Spouse(s) Eileen Wilson (m. 1915; div. 1930) Carole Lombard (m. 1931; div. 1933) Diana Lewis (m. 1940)
Children William David Powell

💰 Net worth: $900,000 (2024)

William Powell, renowned as an actor and soundtrack artist in the United States, is projected to have a net worth of $900,000 in the year 2024. With an illustrious career spanning several decades, Powell has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry through his captivating performances and musical contributions. Known for his versatility, charisma, and distinctive voice, Powell has garnered immense popularity and critical acclaim throughout his career, thus solidifying his position as one of the most prominent actors in the United States. As he continues to make waves in the realm of acting and music, Powell's net worth is expected to grow further, reflecting his enduring legacy in the entertainment world.

Biography/Timeline

1636

William Powell has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1636 Vine Street.

1892

An only child, Powell was born in Pittsburgh to Nettie Manila (née Brady) and Horatio Warren Powell, on July 29, 1892.

1907

In 1907, he moved with his family to Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Central High School in 1910. The Powells lived just a few blocks away from the Carpenters, whose daughter Harlean also went to Hollywood, under the name Jean Harlow, although he and she did not meet until both were established actors.

1912

After high school, he left home for New York and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at the age of 18. In 1912, Powell graduated from the AADA, and worked in some vaudeville and stock companies. After several successful experiences on the Broadway stage, he began his Hollywood career in 1922, playing a small role as an evil henchman of Professor Moriarty in a production of Sherlock Holmes with John Barrymore. His most memorable role in silent movies was as a bitter film Director opposite Emil Jannings' Academy Award-winning performance as a fallen general in The Last Command (1928), which led to Powell's first starring role as amateur detective Philo Vance in The Canary Murder Case (1929).

1915

In 1915, he married Eileen Wilson (1894–1942), who was born Julia Tierney, by whom he had his only child, william David Powell, before an amicable divorce in 1930. Powell's son became a television Writer and Producer before a period of ill health led to his suicide in 1968.

1931

On June 26, 1931, Powell married Actress Carole Lombard. The marriage lasted just over two years. They were divorced in 1933, though they, too, remained on good terms, even starring together in the screwball comedy My Man Godfrey three years later. Powell was devastated by her death in an airplane crash in 1942. He was engaged to marry Jean Harlow, his co-star in Reckless (1935), until her sudden death in 1937. On January 6, 1940, three weeks after they met, Powell married his third wife, Actress Diana Lewis, to whom he remained married until his death in 1984.

1934

Powell's most famous role was that of Nick Charles in six Thin Man films, beginning with The Thin Man in 1934, based upon Dashiell Hammett's novel. The role provided a perfect opportunity for Powell, with his resonant speaking voice, to showcase his sophisticated charm and witty sense of humor, and he received his first Academy Award nomination for The Thin Man. Myrna Loy played his wife, Nora, in each of the Thin Man films. Their on-screen partnership, beginning alongside Clark Gable in 1934 with Manhattan Melodrama, was one of Hollywood's most prolific, and they appeared in 14 films together.

1935

In 1935, he starred with Jean Harlow in Reckless. A serious romance developed between them, and in 1936, they were reunited on screen and with Loy and Spencer Tracy in the screwball comedy Libeled Lady. Harlow died from uremia at the age of 26 in June 1937 before they could marry. His distress over her death, as well as a cancer diagnosis, caused him to accept fewer acting roles. Powell's career slowed considerably in the 1940s, although he received his third Academy Award nomination in 1947 for his role as the cantankerous Clarence Day, Sr., in Life with Father. His last film was 1955's Mister Roberts.

1936

Loy and Powell starred in the Best Picture of 1936, The Great Ziegfeld, with Powell in the title role and Loy as Ziegfeld's wife Billie Burke. That same year, he also received his second Academy Award nomination, for the comedy My Man Godfrey.

1937

In 1937, Powell was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent surgery and experimental radium treatment which put the disease in full remission within two years. Given his own health and sorrow over Jean Harlow's death, Powell did not undertake any film roles for over a year during this period.

1947

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in 1947 for Life with Father and The Senator Was Indiscreet.

1984

Powell died in Palm Springs, California, on March 5, 1984, at the age of 91 from heart failure, nearly 30 years after his retirement. He is buried at the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California, near his third wife Diana Lewis, and his only child, his son william David Powell.

1992

In 1992, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.

Some William Powell images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.