Lovelady Powell
American actress (1930–2020)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
May 9, 1930
Lovelady Powell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lovelady Hedges May 9, 1930 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 2, 2020 (aged 89) |
| Other name | Lovey Powell |
| Education | Northwestern University |
| Occupations | Actress, singer |
Life and career
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
- I Never Sang for My Father – 1970
- The Possession of Joel Delaney – 1972
- The Happy Hooker – 1975
