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, he created the role of Charles Marsden in Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude. He succeeded Orson Welles in the role of Brutus in the Mercury Theatre's debut production, Caesar. 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 and crooked insurance salesman Fred MacMurray in the film noir classic Double Indemnity (1944).
Career
Thomas McCreery Powers
was born in 1890 in Owensboro, Kentucky. His father, Colonel Joshua D. Powers, was a banker; his uncle was sculptor
Hiram Powers. Tom Powers' mother loved the theatre and enrolled him at ballet school at age three. He entered the American Academy of Dramatic Arts 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 Westerns.
Powers appeared in over 70 silent films from 1911 to 1917 opposite such actors as Florence Turner, Harry T. Morey, Clara Kimball Young, Alma Taylor and John Bunny.
Powers had great success in his first Broadway theatre 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. For the summer of 1925, Powers was the leading man at Elitch Theatre.
His radio credits include Tom Powers' Life Studies (1935–36), a 15-minute series consisting of true-life stories broadcast on NBC.
Powers moved to the West Coast after becoming ill with arthritis,
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, on November 9, 1955, at age 65.
He was interred in Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, in North Hollywood, California.
Partial filmography
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A Window on Washington Park (1913) – The young millionaire
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Barnaby Rudge (1915) – Barnaby Rudge
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As Ye Repent (1915) – Harry Somers
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The Auction Block (1917) – Bob Wharton
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Double Indemnity (1944) – Mr. Dietrichson
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Practically Yours (1944) – Commander Harry Harpe
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The Phantom Speaks (1945) – Harvey Bogardus
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The Chicago Kid (1945) – Mike Thurber
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Two Years Before the Mast (1946) – Bellamer
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The Blue Dahlia (1946) – Capt. Hendrickson
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Her Adventurous Night (1946) – Dan Carter
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The Last Crooked Mile (1946) – Floyd Sorelson
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Angel and the Badman (1947) – Dr. Mangram
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The Farmer's Daughter (1947) – Hy Nordick
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For the Love of Rusty (1947) – Hugh Mitchell
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They Won't Believe Me (1947) – Trenton
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The Son of Rusty (1947) – Hugh Mitchell
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I Love Trouble (1948) – Ralph Johnston
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Up in Central Park (1948) – Rogan
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The Time of Your Life (1948) – Freddy Blick (a stool pigeon and frame-up artist)
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The Velvet Touch (1948) – Detective (uncredited)
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Station West (1948) – Capt. Iles
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Angel in Exile (1948) – Warden
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Mexican Hayride (1948) – Ed Mason
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Special Agent (1949) – Chief Special Agent Wilcox
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Scene of the Crime (1949) – Umpire Menafoe
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Chicago Deadline (1949) – Glenn Howard
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Chinatown at Midnight (1949) – Capt. Howard Brown
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East Side, West Side (1949) – Owen Lee
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The Nevadan (1950) – Bill Martin
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Destination Moon (1950) – General Thayer
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Right Cross (1950) – Tom Balford
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Again Pioneers (1950) – Ken Keeler
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Fighting Coast Guard (1951) – Admiral Ryan
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The Strip (1951) – Detective Lt. Bonnabel
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The Tall Target (1951) – Simon G. Stroud (uncredited)
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The Well (1951) – Mayor
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Phone Call from a Stranger (1952) – Dr. Fernwood (uncredited)
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Flesh and Fury (1952) – Andy Randolph
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Deadline – U.S.A. (1952) – Andrew Wharton (uncredited)
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The Fabulous Senorita (1952) – Delaney
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Jet Job (1952) – Oscar Collins
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Denver and Rio Grande (1952) – Sloan
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Bal Tabarin (1952) – Eddie Mendies
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Diplomatic Courier (1952) – Cherney (uncredited)
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We're Not Married! (1952) – Atty. Gen. Frank Bush (uncredited)
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The WAC from Walla Walla (1952) – General (uncredited)
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Horizons West (1952) – Frank Tarleton
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The Steel Trap (1952) – Valcourt, Travel Agent
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The Marksman (1953) – Lt. Governor Watson
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Scared Stiff (1953) – Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
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Julius Caesar (1953) – Metellus Cimber
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Hannah Lee (1953) – Sheriff
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The Last Posse (1953) – Frank White
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Devil's Canyon (1953) – Joe Holbert (uncredited)
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I, the Jury (1953) – Milt Miller
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Donovan's Brain (1953) – Donovan's Washington Advisor
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Sea of Lost Ships (1953) – Rear Admiral
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Lucky Me (1954) – Thayer Crony (uncredited)
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The Mad Magician (1954) – Inspector (uncredited)
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The Americano (1955) – Jim Rogers
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Ten Wanted Men (1955) – Henry Green
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New York Confidential (1955) – District Attorney Rossi
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The Eternal Sea (1955) – General (uncredited)
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Double Jeopardy (1955) – Harry Sheldon
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The Go-Getter (1956) – Miller's Business Partner
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