Jump to content

Lovelady Powell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lovelady Powell
Born
Lovelady Hedges

(1930-05-09)May 9, 1930
DiedFebruary 2, 2020(2020-02-02) (aged 89)
Other namesLovey Powell
Alma materNorthwestern University
Occupation(s)Actress, singer

Lovelady Powell (born Lovelady Hedges,[1] May 9, 1930 – February 2, 2020) was an American actress and singer, best known for I Never Sang for My Father, The Possession of Joel Delaney and The Happy Hooker.[2]

Life and career

[edit]

Powell was born in Columbus, Ohio, and studied theater at Northwestern University. In the mid-1950s, she moved to New York City,[1] where she had a supper-club act with pianist Brooks Morton.[3] She also performed as a singer in night clubs, including the Blue Angel, Bon Soir, hungry i and Purple Onion. She and Shelley Berman made the recording "The Sex Life of the Primate."[4]

On television, Powell portrayed Aunt Birdie Clayborn on The Secret Storm and Portia Fitzsimmons on Dark Shadows.[1] She also portrayed Fran in a series of "Ask Fran" commercials for Lavoris mouthwash. She was seen in commercials for other products, including Downy water softener, Playtex bras, and Benson & Hedges cigarettes. She did voice-overs for commercials for Clairol hair coloring, Johnson & Johnson baby powder, Shower to Shower bath powder, and Chevrolet., among other brands.[4]

On stage, Powell toured with José Ferrer in After the Fall and with Joel Grey in Stop the World, I Want to Get Off. She was in Venus Is, a Broadway show that closed during its preview performances, and in Two Weeks Somewhere Else, which closed in Boston before it reached Broadway.[4] She also starred in the off-Broadway musical Riverwind.[5]

In her later years, she and Peggy White operated Glad Hands Antique Shop.[1]

Filmography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Lovelady Powell, 89". Classic Images (539): 45. May 2020.
  2. ^ "I Never Sang for My Father". Variety. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  3. ^ Pack, Harvey (September 8, 1963). "Lovelady To Join Danny Kaye". The Times. Indiana, Munster. p. 85. Retrieved June 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c Jones, Will (January 16, 1968). "Jones Falls in Love With Lovelady". Star Tribune. Minnesota, Minneapolis. p. 16. Retrieved June 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Robinson, Barry (June 4, 1964). "Love That Lovey". Asbury Park-Press. New Jersey, Asbury Park. p. 20. Retrieved June 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
[edit]