Thomas McCreery Powers (July 7, 1890 – November 9, 1955) was an American actor in theatre, films, radio and television. A veteran of the Broadway stage, notably in plays by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

, he created the role of Charles Marsden in

Eugene O'Neill Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16, 1888 – November 27, 1953) was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into the U.S. the drama techniques of realism, earli ...

's ''

Strange Interlude ''Strange Interlude'' is an experimental play in nine acts by American playwright Eugene O'Neill. O'Neill began work on it as early as 1923 and developed its scenario in 1925; he wrote the play between May 1926 and the summer of 1927, and complete ...

''. He succeeded

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

in the role of Brutus in the

Mercury Theatre The Mercury Theatre was an independent repertory theatre company founded in New York City in 1937 by Orson Welles and producer John Houseman. The company produced theatrical presentations, radio programs and motion pictures. The Mercury als ...

's debut production, ''

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, an ...

''. In films, he was a star of Vitagraph Pictures and later became best known for his role as the victim of scheming wife

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...

and crooked insurance salesman

Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series, in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...

in the

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

classic, ''

Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same ...

'' (1944).

Career

Thomas McCreery Powers was born in 1890 in

Owensboro, Kentucky Owensboro is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Daviess County, Kentucky, United States. It is the fourth-largest city in the state by population. Owensboro is located on U.S. Route 60 and Interstate 165 about southwest of L ...

. His father, Colonel Joshua D. Powers, was a banker; his uncle was sculptor

Hiram Powers Hiram Powers (July 29, 1805 – June 27, 1873) was an American neoclassical sculptor. He was one of the first 19th-century American artists to gain an international reputation, largely based on his famous marble sculpture ''The Greek Slave''. ...

. Tom Powers' mother loved the theatre and enrolled him at ballet school at age three. He entered the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...

at age 16, and he studied drama, wrote and produced plays, and practiced stage design in a small theatre in the attic of his home. Powers apprenticed to a pantomime troupe for ten years and became a star of

Vitagraph Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

Westerns. Powers appeared in over 70 silent films from 1911 to 1917 opposite such actors as

Florence Turner Florence Turner (January 6, 1885 – August 28, 1946) was an American actress who became known as the "Vitagraph Girl" in early silent films. Biography Born in New York City, Turner was pushed into appearing on the stage at age three by h ...

, Harry T. Morey,

Clara Kimball Young Clara Kimball Young (born Edith Matilda Clara Kimball; September 6, 1890 – October 15, 1960) was an American film actress who was popular in the early silent film era. Early life Edith Matilda Clara Kimball was born in Chicago on Septembe ...

Alma Taylor Alma Louise Taylor (3 January 1895 – 23 January 1974) was a British actress. Life Taylor was born in London. She made her first screen appearance as a child actor in the 1907 film ''His Daughter's Voice''. She went on to appear in more th ...

and

John Bunny John Bunny (September 21, 1863 – April 26, 1915) was an American actor. Bunny began his career as a stage actor, but transitioned to a film career after joining Vitagraph Studios around 1910. At Vitagraph, Bunny made over 150 short films – ma ...

. Powers had great success in his first

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

appearance, as William Booth in ''Mr. Lazarus'' (1916). He became a star in musical comedies, and won acclaim as a leading player and character actor. His best-known roles included Gregers Werle in '' The Wild Duck'', the captain in '' Androcles and the Lion'', and Bluntschli in ''

Arms and the Man ''Arms and the Man'' is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw, whose title comes from the opening words of Virgil's ''Aeneid'', in Latin: ''Arma virumque cano'' ("Of arms and the man I sing"). The play was first produced on 21 April 1894 at the Aven ...

'' — all in 1925 — and King Magnus in ''

The Apple Cart ''The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza'' is a 1928 play by George Bernard Shaw. It is a satirical comedy about several political philosophies which are expounded by the characters, often in lengthy monologues. The plot follows the fictional ...

'' (1930). He created the role of Charles Marsden in

's long-running drama, ''

'' (1928–29). In 1938 he succeeded

as Brutus in the

's debut stage production, ''

'', and in 1941 he toured nationwide in ''

The Man Who Came to Dinner ''The Man Who Came to Dinner'' is a comedy play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. It debuted on October 16, 1939, at the Music Box Theatre in New York City, where it ran until 1941, closing after 739 performances. It then enjoyed a number of N ...

''. His last significant Broadway role was in '' Three Sisters'' (1942), with Judith Anderson,

Katharine Cornell Katharine Cornell (February 16, 1893June 9, 1974) was an American stage actress, writer, theater owner and producer. She was born in Berlin to American parents and raised in Buffalo, New York. Dubbed "The First Lady of the Theatre" by critic A ...

and Ruth Gordon. Double-Indemnity-LIFE-1944-3

His radio credits include ''Tom Powers' Life Studies'' (1935–36), a 15-minute series consisting of true-life stories broadcast on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

. Powers published two books of monologues, ''Life Studies'' (1939) and ''More Life Studies'' (1940). He also wrote four plays and two romantic novels, ''Virgin with Butterflies'' (1945) and ''Sheba on Trampled Grass'' (1946). Powers moved to the West Coast after becoming ill with arthritis, and became a full-time movie actor when

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-American filmmaker. His career in Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Classic Holly ...

invited him to play the murder victim in the 1944

classic, ''

''. For the next dozen years or so, Powers appeared in over 80 film and television roles, usually playing middle-aged business men, military or police officers. His performance as Metallus Cimber in ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, an ...

'' (1953) is regarded as Powers' best during his Hollywood years.

Personal life

Tom Powers was married to Meta Murray Janney of Philadelphia on September 7, 1929. Powers died of heart disease at his home in

Manhattan Beach, California Manhattan Beach is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, on the Pacific coast south of El Segundo, west of Hawthorne and Redondo Beach, and north of Hermosa Beach. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3 ...

, on November 9, 1955, at age 65. He was interred in

Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 10621 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood and Burbank, California. The cemetery has an entrance called the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation that is the final resting place for aviation ...

, in

North Hollywood, California North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The Nor ...

Partial filmography

* '' A Window on Washington Park'' (1913) - The young millionaire *''

Barnaby Rudge ''Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of Eighty'' (commonly known as ''Barnaby Rudge'') is a historical novel by British novelist Charles Dickens. ''Barnaby Rudge'' was one of two novels (the other was ''The Old Curiosity Shop'') that Dickens publ ...

'' (1915) - Barnaby Rudge *''As Ye Repent'' (1915) - Harry Somers *''

The Auction Block ''The Auction Block'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Charles Ray and Eleanor Boardman. It is written by Fanny and Frederic Hatton and is based on the novel of the same name by Rex Beach. The ...

'' (1917) - Bob Wharton *''

'' (1944) - Mr. Dietrichson *'' Practically Yours'' (1944) - Commander Harry Harpe *''

The Phantom Speaks ''The Phantom Speaks'' is a 1945 American supernatural film noir directed by John English and written by John K. Butler. The film stars Richard Arlen, Stanley Ridges, Lynne Roberts, Tom Powers, Charlotte Wynters and Jonathan Hale. The film was ...

'' (1945) - Harvey Bogardus *'' The Chicago Kid'' (1945) - Mike Thurber *''

Two Years Before the Mast ''Two Years Before the Mast'' is a memoir by the American author Richard Henry Dana Jr., published in 1840, having been written after a two-year sea voyage from Boston to California on a merchant ship starting in 1834. A film adaptation under the ...

'' (1946) - Bellamer *''

The Blue Dahlia ''The Blue Dahlia'' is a 1946 American crime film and film noir with an original screenplay by Raymond Chandler''Variety'' film review; January 30, 1946, page 12.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; February 2, 1946, page 19. directed by George M ...

'' (1946) - Capt. Hendrickson *''

Her Adventurous Night ''Her Adventurous Night'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by John Rawlins and written by Jerry Warner. The film stars Dennis O'Keefe, Helen Walker, Scotty Beckett, Fuzzy Knight, Milburn Stone and Tom Powers. The film was released on Jun ...

'' (1946) - Dan Carter *'' The Last Crooked Mile'' (1946) - Floyd Sorelson *''

Angel and the Badman ''Angel and the Badman'' is a 1947 American Western film written and directed by James Edward Grant and starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey and Bruce Cabot. The film is about an injured gunfighter who is nursed back to health by a ...

'' (1947) - Dr. Mangram *'' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1947) - Hy Nordick *''

For the Love of Rusty ''For the Love of Rusty'' is a 1947 drama film directed by John Sturges. It was the third of the "Rusty" film series involving the adventures of German shepherd Rusty and his human companions - young Danny Mitchell (Ted Donaldson) and his pals. ...

'' (1947) - Hugh Mitchell *''

They Won't Believe Me ''They Won't Believe Me'' is a 1947 black-and-white film noir directed by Irving Pichel and starring Robert Young, Susan Hayward and Jane Greer. It was produced by Alfred Hitchcock's longtime assistant and collaborator, Joan Harrison. Plot Af ...

'' (1947) - Trenton * ''

The Son of Rusty ''The Son of Rusty'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Ted Donaldson, Stephen Dunne and Ann Doran. It was part of Columbia Pictures' eight-film Rusty series about a boy and his valiant German Shepherd. Plot Dann ...

'' (1947) - Hugh Mitchell *'' I Love Trouble'' (1948) - Ralph Johnston *'' Up in Central Park'' (1948) - Rogan *''

The Time of Your Life ''The Time of Your Life'' is a 1939 five-act play by American playwright William Saroyan. The play is the first drama to win both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The play opened on Broadway in 1939. Ch ...

'' (1948) - Freddy Blick (a stool pigeon and frame-up artist) *''

The Velvet Touch ''The Velvet Touch'' is a 1948 American film noir drama directed by Jack Gage and starring Rosalind Russell, Leon Ames, Leo Genn and Claire Trevor. Plot Broadway leading lady Valerie Stanton (Russell) accidentally kills her producer and former l ...

'' (1948) - Detective (uncredited) *''

Station West ''Station West'' is a 1948 American Western black-and-white film directed by Sidney Lanfield and based on a Western novel by Luke Short. Burl Ives plays a small role and sings the following songs on the soundtrack: "A Stranger in Town," "The Sun ...

'' (1948) - Capt. Iles *''

Angel in Exile ''Angel in Exile'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Allan Dwan and Philip Ford and written by Charles Larson. The film stars John Carroll, Adele Mara, Thomas Gomez, Barton MacLane, Alfonso Bedoya and Grant Withers. The film was rele ...

'' (1948) - Warden *'' Mexican Hayride'' (1948) - Ed Mason *'' Special Agent'' (1949) - Chief Special Agent Wilcox *'' Scene of the Crime'' (1949) - Umpire Menafoe *''

Chicago Deadline ''Chicago Deadline'' is a 1949 American film noir crime film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Alan Ladd and Donna Reed. It was remade as ''Fame Is the Name of the Game'' (1966). Plot Chicago newspaper reporter Ed Adams is in a boarding ...

'' (1949) - Glenn Howard *'' Chinatown at Midnight'' (1949) - Capt. Howard Brown *'' East Side, West Side'' (1949) - Owen Lee *''

The Nevadan ''The Nevadan'' is a 1950 American Cinecolor Western film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone, Forrest Tucker, Frank Faylen, and George Macready. Written by George W. George and George F. Slavin, the film is a ...

'' (1950) - Bill Martin *'' Destination Moon'' (1950) - General Thayer *'' Right Cross'' (1950) - Tom Balford *''

Again Pioneers ''Again Pioneers'' (sometimes referred to as ''Again... Pioneers!'') is a 1950 American black-and-white short drama film produced by Paul F. Heard for the Protestant Film Commission. Directed by William Beaudine, it stars Colleen Townsend, T ...

'' (1950) - Ken Keeler *''

Fighting Coast Guard ''Fighting Coast Guard'' is a 1951 American adventure film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Kenneth Gamet. The film stars Brian Donlevy, Forrest Tucker, Ella Raines, John Russell, Richard Jaeckel, William Murphy and Martin Milner. The fil ...

'' (1951) - Admiral Ryan *''

The Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city ...

'' (1951) - Detective Lt. Bonnabel *''

The Tall Target ''The Tall Target'' is a 1951 American historical crime film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Dick Powell, Paula Raymond and Adolphe Menjou. Powell stars as a police sergeant who tries to stop the assassination of Abraham Lincoln at a train ...

'' (1951) - Simon G. Stroud (uncredited) *''

The Well The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, normally shortened to The WELL, was launched in 1985. It is one of the oldest continuously operating virtual communities. By 1993 it had 7,000 members, a staff of 12, and gross annual income of $2 million. ...

'' (1951) - Mayor *''

Phone Call from a Stranger ''Phone Call from a Stranger'' is a 1952 American film noir drama film directed by Jean Negulesco from a screenplay by Nunnally Johnson, based on the 1950 novelette of the same name by I. A. R. Wylie. The film centers on the survivor of an airc ...

'' (1952) - Dr. Fernwood (uncredited) *'' Flesh and Fury'' (1952) - Andy Randolph *'' Deadline – U.S.A.'' (1952) - Andrew Wharton (uncredited) *''

The Fabulous Senorita ''The Fabulous Senorita'' is a 1952 American musical comedy film directed by R. G. Springsteen and starring Estelita Rodriguez, Robert Clarke and Nestor Paiva. The film came at the tail-end of a cycle of Latin American-themed films, through it di ...

'' (1952) - Delaney *''

Jet Job ''Jet Job'' is a 1952 American aviation action film directed by William Beaudine. The film stars Stanley Clements, John Litel and Bob Nichols. ''Jet Job'' features stock footage of various types of USAF military aircraft. Plot Test pilot Joe ...

'' (1952) - Oscar Collins *'' Denver and Rio Grande'' (1952) - Sloan *'' Bal Tabarin'' (1952) - Eddie Mendies *''

Diplomatic Courier A diplomatic courier is an official who transports diplomatic bags as sanctioned under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Couriers are granted diplomatic immunity and are thereby protected by the receiving state from arrest and d ...

'' (1952) - Cherney (uncredited) *'' We're Not Married!'' (1952) - Atty. Gen. Frank Bush (uncredited) *'' The WAC from Walla Walla'' (1952) - General (uncredited) *'' Horizons West'' (1952) - Frank Tarleton *''

The Steel Trap ''The Steel Trap'' is a 1952 American film noir written and directed by Andrew L. Stone and starring Joseph Cotten, Teresa Wright and Jonathan Hale. Plot With a million dollars cash in the vault, Jim Osborne (Joseph Cotten), a long term bank em ...

'' (1952) - Valcourt, Travel Agent *'' The Marksman'' (1953) - Lt. Governor Watson *'' Scared Stiff'' (1953) - Police Lieutenant (uncredited) *''

'' (1953) - Metellus Cimber *'' Hannah Lee'' (1953) - Sheriff *''

The Last Posse ''The Last Posse'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Broderick Crawford, John Derek, Charles Bickford and Wanda Hendrix.Devil's Canyon'' (1953) - Joe Holbert (uncredited) *'' I, the Jury'' (1953) - Milt Miller *''

Donovan's Brain ''Donovan's Brain'' is a 1942 science fiction novel by American writer Curt Siodmak. The novel was an instant success and has been adapted to film three times. Since then the book has become something of a cult classic, with fans including Ste ...

'' (1953) - Donovan's Washington Advisor *''

Sea of Lost Ships ''Sea of Lost Ships'' is a 1953 American adventure film directed by Joseph Kane and starring John Derek, Wanda Hendrix and Walter Brennan. It is a tribute to the US Coast Guard. Plot The son of a deceased Coast Guard hero is raised by a Coast Gua ...

'' (1953) - Rear Admiral *'' Lucky Me'' (1954) - Thayer Crony (uncredited) *'' The Mad Magician'' (1954) - Inspector (uncredited) *'' The Americano'' (1955) - Jim Rogers *'' Ten Wanted Men'' (1955) - Henry Green *'' New York Confidential'' (1955) - District Attorney Rossi *''

The Eternal Sea ''The Eternal Sea'' (aka ''The Admiral Hoskins Story'') is a 1955 American war film directed by John H. Auer and starring Sterling Hayden, Alexis Smith and Ben Cooper. After an American naval officer loses his leg at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, he ...

'' (1955) - General (uncredited) *''

Double Jeopardy In jurisprudence, double jeopardy is a procedural defence (primarily in common law jurisdictions) that prevents an accused person from being tried again on the same (or similar) charges following an acquittal or conviction and in rare case ...

'' (1955) - Harry Sheldon * ''

The Go-Getter "The Go-Getter" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse, which first appeared in the United States in the March 1931 issue of ''Cosmopolitan'' (as "Sales Resistance"), and in the United Kingdom in the August 1931 ''Strand''. Part of the Blandings ...

'' (1956) - Miller's Business Partner

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Powers, Tom 1890 births 1955 deaths American male stage actors American male film actors American male silent film actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors