Alton Adelbert Powers (July 5, 1950 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as Ben Powers, was an American actor and comedian. Powers was best known for his role as Keith Albert Anderson, the husband of Thelma Evans, during the sixth and final season of the CBS sitcom Good Times. Powers was also a cast member on the NBC television comedy series Laugh-In (1977–78).
Ben Powers | |
|---|---|
 Powers in 1977 | |
| Born | Alton Adelbert Powers July 5, 1950 |
| Died | April 6, 2015 (aged 64) |
| Education | Rhode Island School of Design |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1974–1987 |
| Known for | Keith Anderson – Good Times |
Powers died on April 6, 2015, at age 64 due to liver cancer.[1]
Biography
editPowers was born in New York City, in Brooklyn, and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design.[2] Powers got his first break in the 1970s with Adrian Hall, director at Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence, Rhode Island, his hometown. In addition to stage acting, Powers did stand-up comedy, performed impressions, and sang standards as well as original music he wrote. He was discovered by a Hollywood agent in Providence, signed on to do movies, and entertained at the Playboy clubs in Las Vegas, New York, and Boston. After Good Times, Powers guest starred on a number of popular TV dramas and sitcom shows of the 1980s including Gimme a Break!, Flamingo Road, The Greatest American Hero, The New Odd Couple and Laverne & Shirley. Powers was also a regular on the CBS-TV hit detective drama show Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in 1984–85, until the star, Stacy Keach, was arrested in London for cocaine smuggling and the show was canceled while Keach did time in England. Powers left the Hollywood scene at the end of 1985, before the detective series was picked up again. In the early 1980s, Powers appeared in a handful of big-screen films which included Cheech and Chong's Next Movie, Things Are Tough All Over and The Man Who Loved Women as well as a number of made-for-TV movies, mostly in smaller supporting roles.
Death
editPowers died of liver cancer on April 6, 2015, at the age of 64 and was cremated.[2][3][4]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Great Performances | John | Episode: "Brother to Dragons" |
| 1977–78 | Laugh-In | Regular performer | 6 episodes |
| 1978–79 | Good Times | Keith Anderson | 24 episodes |
| 1980 | Cheech and Chong's Next Movie | Welfare Black | |
| 1982 | Gimme a Break! | Tony | Episode: "Nell's Ex" |
| 1982 | Flamingo Road | TV reporter | Episode: "An Eye for an Eye" Episode: "The Harder They Fall" |
| 1982 | Things Are Tough All Over | The Pimp | |
| 1982 | Drop-Out Father | Ben Brown | TV movie |
| 1982 | The New Odd Couple | Sidepocket Sidney | Episode: "The Hustler" |
| 1982 | The Greatest American Hero | Ivan | Episode: "The Price Is Right" |
| 1982–83 | Laverne & Shirley | Aaron Rick West |
Episode: "Death Row: Part 1" Episode: "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow" |
| 1983 | The Man Who Loved Women | Al | |
| 1984 | Shattered Vows | Tod | TV movie |
| 1984 | Uncensored | Skit characters | Direct-to-video |
| 1984–85 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Moochie | 13 episodes |
References
edit- ^ The Hollywood Reporter: 'Good Times' Actor Ben Powers Dies at 64
- ^ a b "Ben Powers Dies: 'Good Times' Actor Was 64". Deadline Hollywood. April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ Sad News: "Good Times actor Ben Powers passes away at 64"
- ^ Barnes, Mike; Gajewski, Ryan (April 19, 2015). "'Good Times' actor Ben Powers dies at 64". Retrieved April 20, 2015.
External links
edit- Ben Powers at IMDb
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