Eleanor Powell was one of the most talented and influential dancers of the 20th century. She starred in several MGM musicals in the 1930s and 1940s, dazzling audiences with her energetic and musical tap dancing. She was also a successful actress, a devoted mother, and a devout Christian. But how did Eleanor Powell die? What was the cause of her death? And how did she cope with her illness? In this article, we will explore the life and death of Eleanor Powell, the tap dance legend.
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Early Life and Career
Eleanor Powell was born on November 21, 1912, in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was the only child of Clarence Gardner Powell and Blanche Torrey Powell. Her father left her and her mother when she was two years old, and she was raised by her mother with the help of her maternal grandparents. Eleanor Powell was a shy and introverted child, who found solace in dancing. She started taking dance lessons at age 11, and soon showed a natural aptitude for movement and rhythm. She trained in classical ballet, modern dance, and acrobatics.
She was discovered by Gus Edwards, a vaudeville producer, when she was performing acrobatics on a beach in Atlantic City. He invited her to join his “Vaudeville Kiddie Review”, and she began working as a professional dancer at age 12. She moved to New York City with her mother in 1927, and started performing in clubs, vaudeville, and private parties. She also took tap lessons from Jack Donahue, a Broadway dancer and choreographer.
She made her Broadway debut in 1929, in a revue called “The Optimists”. She soon became a star on Broadway, appearing in shows like “Fine and Dandy”, “At Home Abroad”, and “George White’s Scandals”. She impressed critics and audiences with her machine-gun footwork, which earned her the title of world champion in tapping. She also developed her own style of tap dancing, which was more musical and expressive than the typical male-dominated style of the time.
Hollywood Stardom
In 1935, Powell signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the leading studio for musical films. She made her film debut in “Broadway Melody of 1936”, opposite Jack Benny and Robert Taylor. The film was a huge success, and Powell received rave reviews for her dancing. She became one of MGM’s top stars, and was paired with some of the best male dancers of the era, such as Fred Astaire, George Murphy, James Stewart, and Nelson Eddy.
Some of her most famous films include “Born to Dance” (1936), “Broadway Melody of 1938” (1937), “Rosalie” (1937), “Honolulu” (1939), “Broadway Melody of 1940” (1940), and “Lady Be Good” (1941). She also appeared in non-musical films, such as “The Great Ziegfeld” (1936) and “Ship Ahoy” (1942). She was known for her spectacular solo numbers, which showcased her amazing technique, speed, and creativity. She often choreographed her own routines, or collaborated with Hermes Pan, who was Fred Astaire’s choreographer.
Powell was admired by many other dancers, who praised her skill and versatility. Fred Astaire once said: “She ‘put ‘em down like a man’, no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself.” Gene Kelly called her “one of the greatest tap dancers ever.” The Nicholas Brothers said: “She was one of our greatest talents. Not one of the greatest women—one of the greatest period.”
Personal Life and Retirement
Powell married Glenn Ford, an actor, in 1943. They had met on the set of “Honolulu”, where they played romantic leads. They had one son, Peter Ford, who was born in 1945. Powell decided to retire from films after giving birth to Peter, as she wanted to focus on being a mother and a wife. She also became more involved in her Christian faith, and joined the Unity Church.
She made occasional appearances on television shows, such as “The Colgate Comedy Hour”, “The Ed Sullivan Show”, and “The Perry Como Show”. She also performed in some charity events and benefits. In 1954, she hosted a religious program called “The Faith of Our Children”, which featured guest stars from film and sports. The show lasted for three seasons, and Powell received an Emmy Award for children’s programming.
Powell also returned to the stage briefly in 1961, when she starred in a revival of “Annie Get Your Gun” at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. She received a standing ovation on opening night, and proved that she still had her dancing skills. She also headlined a successful nightclub act in Las Vegas in 1962, where she performed with her son Peter.
Powell and Ford divorced in 1959, after 16 years of marriage. They remained friends, and shared custody of their son. Powell never remarried, and devoted herself to her son, her church, and her friends. She also enjoyed gardening, painting, and reading.
Illness and Death
In 1981, Powell was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but the cancer had spread to other organs. She faced her illness with courage and faith, and continued to live as normally as possible. She celebrated her 69th birthday in November 1981, surrounded by her family and friends.
She died on February 11, 1982, at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was cremated, and her ashes were interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. She was survived by her son Peter, who later wrote a biography of his parents called “Glenn Ford: A Life”. He said of his mother: “She was a wonderful person, very loving, very giving. She had an inner light that radiated out.”
Legacy and Influence
Eleanor Powell was one of the most influential dancers of the 20th century. She broke the gender barriers in tap dancing, and showed that women could be powerful and musical performers. She inspired many other dancers, such as Ann Miller, Vera-Ellen, Debbie Reynolds, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, and Michelle Dorrance.
She was also a pioneer in film musicals, and helped to elevate the genre to a higher level of artistry and entertainment. She was one of the first dancers to use props, such as drums, ropes, flags, canes, and even dogs, in her routines. She also experimented with different styles of music, such as jazz, classical, Latin, and patriotic. She was one of the few dancers who could match Fred Astaire’s elegance and sophistication.
She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. She was also inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2002. She has been featured in several documentaries, books, and articles about dance history. Her films have been preserved by the Library of Congress and the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Eleanor Powell was a tap dance legend who left a lasting mark on the world of dance and film. She was a woman of grace, beauty, talent, and faith. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for future generations of dancers. She was a joy to watch and a joy to know. She was Eleanor Powell.
According to The Celebrity Deaths, Eleanor Powell died February 11, 1982…
