Jane Powell (1929-2021) *92

was an American actress, singer, and dancer who first came to attention in the mid-1940s with roles in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals. Known for her operatic soprano voice and "girl-next-door" image, she was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema until her death in 2021. Powell was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, where she achieved local fame as a child singer, touring the state as the Oregon Victory Girl selling victory bonds during World War II. As a teenager, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she signed a film contract with MGM. Powell's vocal, dancing, and acting talents were utilized for lead roles in a variety of musicals for the studio. She made her feature debut as a performer in Song of the Open Road (1944), followed by a lead in Arthur Lubin's Delightfully Dangerous (1945). Powell gained further widespread recognition for her lead roles in the musicals A Date with Judy (1948), Royal Wedding (1951), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), and Hit the Deck (1955).

In the late-1950s, Powell's film career slowed, though she starred in two rare non-musical roles in the film noir The Female Animal, and the adventure film Enchanted Island (both 1958). Beginning in the 1960s, Powell began acting in national touring theatrical productions, including high-profile productions of My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music. From 1973 to 1974, Powell starred in a Broadway production of Irene, in the title role. She continued to appear occasionally on television throughout the 1980s, including recurring guest roles on The Love Boat (1981–1982), as well as the sitcom Growing Pains (1988–1992).

Powell returned to the stage in 2000, starring in an Off-Broadway production of Avow, followed by a short run of Stephen Sondheim's musical Bounce. In December 2007, she united with the musical group Pink Martini, performing as a vocalist with them in their shared hometown of Portland.