Ben Powers
| Ben Powers | |
|---|---|
 Powers, 1977 | |
| Born |
Alton Adelbert Powers July 5, 1950 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Died |
April 6, 2015 (aged 64) New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Rhode Island School of Design |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–1987 |
| Known for | Keith Anderson – Good Times |
| Spouse(s) |
Julia Harper (m. 1981; d. 2012) |
| Children | 4 |
Alton Adelbert Powers (July 5, 1950 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as Ben Powers, was an American actor. Powers was best known for his role as Thelma Evans's (portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis) husband, Keith Albert Anderson, during the sixth and final season of the CBS sitcom Good Times (1978–79). Powers was also a cast member on the NBC television comedy series Laugh-In (1977–78). Powers died on April 6, 2015 at age 64 due to liver cancer.[1]
Biography
Powers was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design.[2] Powers got his first break in the 1970s with Adrian Hall, director at Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence, Rhode Island, his hometown. In addition to stage acting, Powers did stand-up comedy, amazing impressions, and sang standards as well as original music he wrote. He was discovered by a Hollywood agent in Providence, signed on to do movies, and entertained at the Playboy clubs in Las Vegas, New York & Boston. After Good Times, Powers guest starred on a number of popular TV dramas and sitcom shows of the 1980s including Gimme a Break!, Flamingo Road, The Greatest American Hero, The New Odd Couple and Laverne & Shirley. Powers was also a regular on the CBS-TV hit detective drama show Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in 1984-85, until the star, Stacy Keach, was arrested in London for cocaine smuggling and the show was canceled while Keach did time in England. Powers left the Hollywood scene at the end of 1985, before the detective series was picked up again. In the early 1980s, Powers appeared in a handful of big-screen films which included Cheech and Chong's Next Movie, Things Are Tough All Over and The Man Who Loved Women as well as a number of made-for-TV movies, mostly in smaller supporting roles.
Personal and death
Powers married Julia Harper (1950–2012) on May 4, 1981. They would have four daughters: twins Maleah Cameron Powers and Raleah Cameron Powers, Augusta Valeria Powers, and Simone Emerson Powers. Powers died of liver cancer on April 6, 2015 at the age of 64 and was cremated.[2][3][4]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Great Performances | John | Episode: "Brother to Dragons" |
| 1977–78 | Laugh-In | Himself (performer) | 6 episodes |
| 1978–79 | Good Times | Keith Anderson | 24 episodes |
| 1980 | Cheech and Chong's Next Movie | Welfare Black | |
| 1982 | Gimme a Break! | Tony | Episode: "Nell's Ex" |
| 1982 | Flamingo Road | TV reporter | Episode: "An Eye for an Eye" |
| 1982 | Flamingo Road | Episode: "The Harder They Fall" | |
| 1982 | Things Are Tough All Over | The Pimp | |
| 1982 | Drop-Out Father | Ben Brown | TV movie |
| 1982 | The New Odd Couple | Sidepocket Sidney | Episode: "The Hustler" |
| 1982 | The Greatest American Hero | Ivan | Episode: "The Price Is Right" |
| 1982 | Laverne & Shirley | Aaron | Episode: "Death Row: Part 1" |
| 1983 | Laverne & Shirley | Rick West | Episode: "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow" |
| 1983 | The Man Who Loved Women | Al | |
| 1984 | Shattered Vows | Tod | TV movie |
| 1984 | Uncensored | Skit characters | Direct-to-video |
| 1984–85 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Moochie | 13 episodes |
References
- ↑ The Hollywood Reporter: 'Good Times' Actor Ben Powers Dies at 64
- 1 2 "Ben Powers Dies: 'Good Times' Actor Was 64". Deadline.com. April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ↑ Sad News: "Good Times actor Ben Powers passes away at 64"
- ↑ Barnes, Mike; Gajewski, Ryan (April 19, 2015). "'Good Times' actor Ben Powers dies at 64". Retrieved April 20, 2015.
External links
- Ben Powers on IMDb