Home > Eleanor Powell

Eleanor Torrey Powell was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. A dancer since childhood, she was discovered at the age of 11 by the head of the Vaudeville Kiddie revue, Gus Edwards. When she was 17, she brought her graceful, athletic style to Broadway, where she starred in various revues and musicals. During this time, she was dubbed "the world's greatest tap dancer" due to her machine-gun footwork.

In 1935, the leggy, fresh-faced Powell made the move to Hollywood and did a specialty number in George White's 1935 Scandals . Immediately thereafter, she was signed by MGM, which groomed her for her future stardom without making many changes in her makeup and conduct. She was well-received in Broadway Melody of 1936 (in which she was supported by Jack Benny and Frances Langford ), and delighted 1930s audiences with her endless energy and enthusiasm, not to mention her stunning dancing.

Powell would go on to star opposite many of the decade's top leading men such as Jimmy Stewart, Robert TaylorThere are many people known as Robert Taylor including: Robert Taylor (actor) Robert Taylor (aviation artist) Robert Taylor (composer) Robert Taylor (computer scientist) Sir Robert Taylor (architect) Robert Taylor (athlete) Robert Taylor (UK politician) R, Fred AstaireFred Astaire ( May 10, 1899 June 22, 1987), born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska, was an American film and Broadway ballroom dancer and actor. He is particularly associated with Ginger Rogers, with whom he made ten films. Astaire" was a name taken, George MurphyGeorge Lloyd Murphy ( July 4, 1902 May 3, 1992) was an American dancer, actor and politician. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and attended Yale University. He worked as a tool maker for the Ford Motor Company, as a miner, a real estate agent, and a, Nelson EddyNelson Ackerman Eddy ( June 29, 1901 March 6, 1967) was an American singer and film actor. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Eddy's parents were both singers, and he would later say that singing was the only career he ever contemplated. He studied in Dres, and Robert YoungRobert Young ( February 22, 1907 July 21, 1998) was an American actor. Young appeared in 100 movies and his film career spanned the period from 1931 to 1952 after which he started his TV career. This extended to 1988 and he is best known for his roles in. Films she made during the height of her career in the mid-to-late 19301930 is the common year starting on Wednesday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 6 The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed ( Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City). January 27 Miguel Primo de Rivera resigns January 30 Gs co-starred these men and others and included Born to Dance ( 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th), Rosalie ( 1937), Broadway Melody of 1938 ( 1937), Honolulu ( 1939), and Broadway Melody of 1940 ( 1940). Most of these movies featured her amazing solo tapping, although her increasingly huge production numbers began to attract criticism. Broadway Melody of 1940, in which Powell starred opposite Fred Astaire, featured a brilliant musical score by Cole Porter. Together, Astaire and Powell danced to Porter's "Begin The Beguine", which is considered by many to have been the greatest tap sequence in film history.

In the 1940s, after being sidelined for many months following a gall stone operation, things changed somewhat for the worse, at least as far as Powell's movie career was concerned. 1941's Lady Be Good gave Powell top billing, but Robert Young and Ann Sothern carried the movie. The same happened with Red Skelton in Ship Ahoy ( 1942) and I Dood It ( 1943). She was signed to play opposite Dan Dailey in For Me and My Gal in 1942, but the two actors were removed from the picture during rehearsals and replaced by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.

She parted ways with MGM in 1943 after Thousands Cheer , in which she did a specialty number, and the same year married classic Canadian lead actor Glenn Ford. She danced in a giant pinball machine in Sensations of 1945 ( 1944), but this picture was a large disappointment, and Powell retired from the cinema to concentrate on raising her son, actor Peter Ford , who was born that year.

In 1950, Powell returned to MGM just once, to guest star in The Duchess of Idaho , starring Esther Williams. She divorced Glenn Ford in 1959, and that year started a highly-publicized nightclub career, maintaining her good figure and looks well into middle age. In her later years, she became interested in religion, and was actually ordained a minister of the Unity Church. She also hosted an Emmy Award-winning Sunday morning TV program for children entitled The Faith of Our Children ( 1953 - 1955). Her son, Peter Ford , was a regular on this show.

Powell was reintroduced to audiences in the popular That's Entertainment! documentary in 1974, and its sequels That's Entertainment Part II and That's Entertainment III which spotlighted her dancing from films such as Broadway Melody of 1940 and Born to Dance.

Eleanor Powell died of cancer on 11 February, 1982 and was interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood.

Resources: Official Eleanor Powell Tribute Site, IMDB.com