Stefanie Powers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stefanie Powers (born Stefania Zofia Federkiewicz[1] on November 2, 1942) is an American stage and film actress and singer. Her first name is occasionally misspelled "Stephanie" in articles and publicity.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Powers was born in Hollywood, California to Polish American parents and was raised in the Roman Catholic religion. Her parents divorced during her childhood and her mother, Julia Golen, re-married.[2]
[edit] Career
As an actress, the red headed Powers appeared in several motion pictures in the early 1960s in secondary roles such as the thriller Experiment in Terror (1962), the comedy If A Man Answers (1962) with Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin, and in a serious role as the daughter of John Wayne in McLintock! (1963). In 1966, her "tempestuous" good looks led to a starring role in the short-lived television spy thriller series, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E..
Although she continued to appear in television guest roles and made-for-TV films, she is best known for her role opposite Robert Wagner in the 1979-1984 hit television series, Hart to Hart for which she received two Emmy and five Golden Globe Award "best TV actress" nominations. She starred briefly in the 1991 London musical Matador, which closed prematurely due to the sharp drop in tourism during the Persian Gulf War. In 1993, she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her stage performance in "Love Letters".
In 2003 she toured the UK in the singing role of Anna Leonowens in a revival of The King and I. She also toured the U.S. in 2004 and 2005 in her role as Leonowens. Powers is one of many notable graduates from Hollywood High School, including classmate Nancy Sinatra. Powers released her debut CD in 2003, titled, On The Same Page. The album features selections from the classic Great American Songbook era.
For her contribution to the television industry, Powers has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6778 Hollywood Blvd.
[edit] Personal life
Powers was married to actor Gary Lockwood between 1966 and 1972. She had a relationship with actor William Holden that led to their being involved with wildlife conservation. Following his death in 1981, Powers became President of the "William Holden Wildlife Foundation" and a director of the Mount Kenya Game Ranch in Kenya. In the United States, she works with both the Cincinnati and Atlanta zoos. She devotes a great deal of time to the cause and is international guest speaker on wildlife preservation.
On April 1, 1993 she married a somewhat younger French aristocrat, Patrick de la Chesnais, but they divorced in 1999. Powers has no children.
An outstanding polo player, along with Canadian retailing magnate Galen Weston and Thoroughbred owner/breeder Henryk de Kwiatkowski, Stefanie Powers was among the first foreign members of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom whose membership includes HRH The Prince of Wales. In 2005, she competed in the Joules UK National Women's Championships at Ascot Park.
[edit] Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Herbie Rides Again | Nicole Harris | |
| 1970 | The Boatniks | Kate | |
| 1969 | Crescendo | Susan Roberts | |
| 1966 | Stagecoach | Mrs. Mallory | |
| 1965 | Fanatic | Pat Carroll | |
| 1963 | McLintock! | Becky McLintock | |
| 1963 | Palm Springs Weekend | Bunny Dixon | |
| 1962 | Experiment in Terror | Toby Sherwood |
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ According to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California, Powers was born under that name, and not "Stefania Zofia Federkiewicz". At Ancestry.com
- ^ 50 Plus Senior News. Powers Surge. Retrieved on June 13, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Stefanie Powers at the Internet Movie Database
- Nearly-official fan site
- The William Holden Wildlife Foundation
- Fan site
Categories: American film actors | American stage actors | American television actors | American character actors | Actresses appearing in Hammer films | Hollywood Walk of Fame | American polo players | Animal welfare | People from Los Angeles | Polish-Americans | Roman Catholic entertainers | 1942 births | Living people
