William David Powell

William David Powell (February 27, 1925 – March 13, 1968) was an American television writer and associate producer.

William David Powell
Born(1925-02-27)February 27, 1925
California, U.S.
DiedMarch 13, 1968(1968-03-13) (aged 43)
California, U.S.
OccupationTelevision writer, producer
Spouse(s)Patricia Parsons
(m. 1956; div. 1957)
Parent(s)William Powell
Eileen Wilson

Early and personal life

Powell was the only child of actor William Powell and actress Eileen Wilson,[1] who divorced in 1930. He graduated from Princeton, magna cum laude in English.[2]

On Saturday, December 22, 1956, at age 31, Powell wed former child actress Patricia Parsons (1931-2006), exchanging their wedding vows at the home of his father, on Vereda Norte in Palm Springs, California.[2] The wedding ceremony which was performed by Judge Eugene Therieau, with his father as best man and Parsons' sister Mrs. Kenneth Zook as matron of honor.[2] The couple honeymooned in Las Vegas, Nevada. They divorced on September 19, 1957.[3]

Career

Powell went on to become a television writer, whose credits include episodes of Bonanza, Death Valley, 77 Sunset Strip and Rawhide. He also worked as a story editor and coordinator, later an associate producer at Warner Bros. and Universal Studios, and held an executive position at NBC.[2][3]

Death

In 1968, after suffering from depression, hepatitis and kidney problems that had forced him to quit writing, he committed suicide by stabbing himself repeatedly in the upper body while in the shower. He left a four-page note addressed to his father, to whom he was still very close. The last two sentences were revealed to the public: "Things aren't so good here. I'm going where it's better."[3]

Powell was buried at Cathedral City's Desert Memorial Park in Riverside County, California, where his father and his father's last wife, Diana Lewis, are also buried.[4]

gollark: That is *such* a hexahedral policy, really.
gollark: NEVER!
gollark: However, if I did - for RAM use reasons - I would have to close my active factorio instance, and I'm on a server so it takes ages to resync after I do.
gollark: Theoretically yers.
gollark: I don't.

References
  1. Waterbury, Ruth (February 1940). "The Third Mrs. William Powell". Photoplay. Chicago, Macfadden Publications, Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  2. "Bill Powell Jr. Weds Former Child Actress". Desert Sun. December 26, 1956. Retrieved April 22, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  3. Parish, James Robert; Stanke, Don E. (1975). The Debonairs. New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House. p. 459. ISBN 978-0870002939.
  4. Brooks, Patricia; Brooks, Jonathan (2006). "Chapter 8: East L.A. and the Desert". Laid to Rest in California: a guide to the cemeteries and grave sites of the rich and famous. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. p. 243. ISBN 978-0762741014. OCLC 70284362.
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