Actor. He was an American actor who is most recognized for the six Hollywood comedic murder mysteries, "The Thin Man," which were filmed from 1934 to 1947. These films have been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and were added to the United States National Film Registry in 1997, becoming a national treasure. For this role, he received his first Academy Award nomination in the category of Best Actor in 1935. Born an only child, William Horatio Powell's birth and boyhood home until age ten was Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His accountant father had visions of his only son acquiring a legal career. However, he showed talent and a keen interest in the theatre in high school. Following graduation, over the objections of his father, his aunt staked him, and he enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He first began his career on the stage with many lean years performing in vaudeville and stock companies, then appeared in silent films: "Sherlock Holmes" in 1922, playing the role of Professor Moriarty; "Romola" in 1924, which was filmed in Italy; and "Beau Geste" in 1926. Fifteen of his silent films have been lost either by being misplaced or deteriorating with time. His first "talkie" was the 1928 film, "Interference." He progressed to great success in sound films: In the main role, he starred in four of the film adaptions of S. S. Van Dine's "Philo Vance Mysteries," starting in 1929. "The Great Ziegfeld" in 1936, playing Mr. Ziegfeld; "My Man Godfrey" in 1936, which held him an Academy nomination; "Life With Father" in 1947, which held another Academy nomination; "How to Marry a Millionaire" in 1953; and his final movie before complete retirement in 1955, "Mister Roberts." Teamed with Myrna Loy as his wife, Nora Charles, and a dog named Asta, he played the character of Nick Charles, a sophisticated sleuth called the "thin man," in six successful films. Including the "Thin Man" series, he and Loy appeared in a total of 14 films. He is credited with appearing in at least 96 films, yet no television roles. Starting in 1936 as the "Thin Man," he appeared in seventeen radio programs, with the last being in 1953. He was married to three beautiful actresses: Eileen Wilson, with whom he had a son and a fifteen-year marriage; Carole Lombard, with whom he had a two-year marriage; and Diane Lewis, with whom he had a forty-four-year marriage starting in 1940 and becoming his widow. In 1935, he had a very public romantic relationship with Jean Harlow, but her sudden death ended it in 1937. In 1938, he had a bout with rectal cancer but, with treatment, had a full recovery. As his health began to fade, he became a resident in a Palm Springs Nursing Home, dying simply of old age at 91. He was cremated and his ashes buried without fanfare beside his only child, who had tragically committed suicide in 1968. Although he had three Academy Award nominations, he never received one but had numerous other accolades. In 1960, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.