Tom Powers (July 7, 1890 – November 9, 1955) was a versatile American actor of stage and screen who, after a successful career as a silent film star and Broadway leading man, became one of the most memorable murder victims of the film noir era.
Powers was a popular star in the 1910s, appearing in over 70 silent films before leaving the screen for a distinguished career on Broadway. He returned to Hollywood in the 1940s and immediately made an indelible mark on cinematic history with his powerful performance as the doomed Mr. Dietrichson, the husband of the scheming Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck), in the classic film noir Double Indemnity (1944).
His role as the tragic victim in one of the genre’s greatest masterpieces led to a string of key supporting roles. He played the beleaguered police captain, Capt. Hendrickson, in another noir classic, The Blue Dahlia (1946), and had a major part as General Thayer in the landmark science-fiction film Destination Moon (1950). He worked steadily in film and television until his death, cementing his legacy as a fine actor who made a major comeback in the sound era.
