William Powell's Height
5ft 10 ½ (179.1 cm)
American actor best remembered for The Thin Man series of movies, My Man Godfrey, The Great Ziegfeld, Life With Father, Manhattan Melodrama, Libeled Lady, Ziegfeld Follies and Mr Roberts.
Add a Comment31 comments
Average Guess (16 Votes)
5ft 10.53in (179.1cm)
5ft 10.53in (179.1cm)
Sandy Cowell said on 20/Dec/22
There was a William Powell who used to work down West Wickham train station. He was a gruff old bloke and always trying to make us buy tickets, even if we weren’t interested in a train journey!
On a rather sunnier note, he collected tickets for my brother when he was a kid; he was always big on travel.
This good looking William Powell gets 5ft10.5, which was probably the same height as the station master.
A really nice bloke started working in that station in late 79. He was a real hoot and played the guitar beautifully and was particularly fond of the Troggs. This guy was 5ft6.5 of diamond geezer! He’d played in a band with Bernie Frost, who had a hit in the 70s. It was extremely rude! 😁
There was a William Powell who used to work down West Wickham train station. He was a gruff old bloke and always trying to make us buy tickets, even if we weren’t interested in a train journey!
On a rather sunnier note, he collected tickets for my brother when he was a kid; he was always big on travel.
This good looking William Powell gets 5ft10.5, which was probably the same height as the station master.
A really nice bloke started working in that station in late 79. He was a real hoot and played the guitar beautifully and was particularly fond of the Troggs. This guy was 5ft6.5 of diamond geezer! He’d played in a band with Bernie Frost, who had a hit in the 70s. It was extremely rude! 😁
Sinclair said on 30/Jul/22
Rob, in the attached link is some footage with Powell and Keenan Wynn, to further help create Wynn's page/listing.
Click Here
I would advise caution with awarding Wynn the full 5'11". Wynn may have had a tad on Powell here (very close to call) but we must of course consider Powell's more advanced age. I still cannot quite see the full 5'11" for Wynn here. 5'10.5" peak is still my first estimate.
Rob, in the attached link is some footage with Powell and Keenan Wynn, to further help create Wynn's page/listing.
Click Here
I would advise caution with awarding Wynn the full 5'11". Wynn may have had a tad on Powell here (very close to call) but we must of course consider Powell's more advanced age. I still cannot quite see the full 5'11" for Wynn here. 5'10.5" peak is still my first estimate.
Mabel Ann said on 27/Jun/22
I love his movies and could watch them many times.
I love his movies and could watch them many times.
Mabel Ann said on 27/Jun/22
I love his movies and could watch them many times.
I love his movies and could watch them many times.
Neelasish Sen Roy said on 16/Jun/18
I think he is solid 5'11"/180cm tall.
I think he is solid 5'11"/180cm tall.
Arch Stanton said on 29/Sep/17
He might have worn lifts in How to Matrry a Millionaire not sure but he looked closer to 6 ft with Lauren Bacall in heels, he was inches taller.
He might have worn lifts in How to Matrry a Millionaire not sure but he looked closer to 6 ft with Lauren Bacall in heels, he was inches taller.
Arch Stanton said on 17/Jun/16
Rob can you add a photo?
Rob can you add a photo?
Arch Stanton said on 11/Jul/15
Ah Libeled Lady, one of my favourite comedy films!
Ah Libeled Lady, one of my favourite comedy films!
Sam said on 10/Jul/15
Rob, could you please add Manhattan Melodrama, Libeled Lady and Ziegfeld Follies to his credits?
Rob, could you please add Manhattan Melodrama, Libeled Lady and Ziegfeld Follies to his credits?
Sam said on 1/May/14
It seemed appropriate that they remade My Man Godfrey with David Niven because Powell reminds of an American version/predecessor of Niven. I actually haven't seen the remake but Powell (and Carole Lombard) were awesome in the original.
Powell was a real smooth seeming guy, very likeable and didn't seem to have the hidden demons that Niven was recently said to have had. I think they were both close in height as well.
It seemed appropriate that they remade My Man Godfrey with David Niven because Powell reminds of an American version/predecessor of Niven. I actually haven't seen the remake but Powell (and Carole Lombard) were awesome in the original.
Powell was a real smooth seeming guy, very likeable and didn't seem to have the hidden demons that Niven was recently said to have had. I think they were both close in height as well.
Arch Stanton said on 30/Apr/14
Rob can you add Life With Father, that stands out to me as one of his most memorable performances. He made Victor Meldrew seem chirpy!
Rob can you add Life With Father, that stands out to me as one of his most memorable performances. He made Victor Meldrew seem chirpy!
Arch Stanton said on 30/Apr/14
A pity that Mister Roberts was his last film. He was a joy to watch and still had the presence and charisma in that film. I'd loved to have seen him in some of the 60s westerns and some of the edgy 70s movies like Lancaster and Holden did which I'm sure he'd have been in had he not retired approaching 60.
A pity that Mister Roberts was his last film. He was a joy to watch and still had the presence and charisma in that film. I'd loved to have seen him in some of the 60s westerns and some of the edgy 70s movies like Lancaster and Holden did which I'm sure he'd have been in had he not retired approaching 60.
Arch Stanton said on 30/Apr/14
Yeah he looks about 1.5 inches taller than Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts.
Yeah he looks about 1.5 inches taller than Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts.
Arch Stanton said on 27/Dec/13
Yeah he was a short fat fella. In My Man Godfrey there is a scene where the house is attended by policeman who come to investigate a supposed jewellery theft and he's like a head shorter than both of them! That film had quite a lot of short actors in it which made Powell look tall.
Yeah he was a short fat fella. In My Man Godfrey there is a scene where the house is attended by policeman who come to investigate a supposed jewellery theft and he's like a head shorter than both of them! That film had quite a lot of short actors in it which made Powell look tall.
Arch Stanton said on 27/Dec/13
Put it this way, if Eugene Pallette was a proper 5'9" Powell was nearer 6'2 LOL!
Put it this way, if Eugene Pallette was a proper 5'9" Powell was nearer 6'2 LOL!
Arch Stanton said on 27/Dec/13
Rob My Man Godfrey is highly recommended if you haven't seen it. Click Here It's only about 1 hr 30 minutes. Do watch it when you have a spare 90 minutes. Lombard is hilarious in it. Any estimates on how tall Eugene Pallette was? I see 5'9 on the database but that's laughable, nearer 5 ft 6. Powell can actually look 5'11-6' in it.
Editor Rob
Rob My Man Godfrey is highly recommended if you haven't seen it. Click Here It's only about 1 hr 30 minutes. Do watch it when you have a spare 90 minutes. Lombard is hilarious in it. Any estimates on how tall Eugene Pallette was? I see 5'9 on the database but that's laughable, nearer 5 ft 6. Powell can actually look 5'11-6' in it.
Editor Rob I know Eugene's face...yeah, I'd take that 5ft 9 and throw it into the height trash and pick out something nearer 5ft 6.
Arch Stanton said on 27/Dec/13
Don't forget My Man Godfrey too! Somehow they made Carole Lombard looks a lot taller than 5'2 in comparison!
Don't forget My Man Godfrey too! Somehow they made Carole Lombard looks a lot taller than 5'2 in comparison!
Arch Stanton said on 25/Dec/13
Rob can you add The Great Ziegfeld, Life with Father and How to Marry a Millionaire? He was terrific in Life with Father.
Rob can you add The Great Ziegfeld, Life with Father and How to Marry a Millionaire? He was terrific in Life with Father.
Arch Stanton said on 25/Dec/13
Thanks Rob, seems more like it now.
Thanks Rob, seems more like it now.
Knowitall said on 24/Dec/13
Peter Ustinov was around five-nine. I met him. Wonderful person. Extremely witty.
I doubt Powell was over five-ten. Like I said, Jimmy Stewart had five inches on him in After Thin Man.
Peter Ustinov was around five-nine. I met him. Wonderful person. Extremely witty.
I doubt Powell was over five-ten. Like I said, Jimmy Stewart had five inches on him in After Thin Man.
Arch Stanton said on 23/Dec/13
Rob can you look into this one and Ustinov. Both need a half inch downgrade I think. Never 2 inches Sam, 1.5 inches maybe. I think 5'10.5" is at least a better guess than 5'11. Agreed Sam, a delightful little film, takes a real film buff to have seen it.
Editor Rob
Rob can you look into this one and Ustinov. Both need a half inch downgrade I think. Never 2 inches Sam, 1.5 inches maybe. I think 5'10.5" is at least a better guess than 5'11. Agreed Sam, a delightful little film, takes a real film buff to have seen it.
Editor Rob yeah 10.5 could be on the money
Knowitall said on 20/Dec/13
Powell was five-ten. He was a full five inches shorter than Jimmy Stewart. He looked taller because he was very thin.
Powell was five-ten. He was a full five inches shorter than Jimmy Stewart. He looked taller because he was very thin.
Sam said on 20/Dec/13
Libeled Lady is one of my favorite lesser-known screwball comedies. In general, Powell looks 1.5 to 2 inches taller than Tracy to my eyes...I believe they did a few films together.
Libeled Lady is one of my favorite lesser-known screwball comedies. In general, Powell looks 1.5 to 2 inches taller than Tracy to my eyes...I believe they did a few films together.
Arch Stanton said on 20/Dec/13
The film is Libeled Lady, an amusing film. But honestly if Powell was 5 ft 11 Tracy was 5 ft 10.
The film is Libeled Lady, an amusing film. But honestly if Powell was 5 ft 11 Tracy was 5 ft 10.
Arch Stanton said on 20/Dec/13
Rob I think he needs a downgrade at least to 5'10.5". He can look tallish at times but seeing him next to Spencer Tracy he's barely over an inch taller. I don't know if Tracy was wearing lifts but my impression of Powell is more 5'10" range generally I think. Can you downgrade to 5'10.5"? I think it's more accurate.
Rob I think he needs a downgrade at least to 5'10.5". He can look tallish at times but seeing him next to Spencer Tracy he's barely over an inch taller. I don't know if Tracy was wearing lifts but my impression of Powell is more 5'10" range generally I think. Can you downgrade to 5'10.5"? I think it's more accurate.
Arch Stanton said on 8/Sep/13
He could look tallish at times. In the Thin Man he looks around 5'11. But more likely 5'10" than 6'0! Spencer Tracy wasn't as low as 5'8 in his prime, he still looked 5'9" range even just before his death.
He could look tallish at times. In the Thin Man he looks around 5'11. But more likely 5'10" than 6'0! Spencer Tracy wasn't as low as 5'8 in his prime, he still looked 5'9" range even just before his death.
Knowitall said on 5/Mar/13
William Powell was five ten. Next to Jimmy Stewart in one of the Thin Man movies he was five inches shorter. He was at least two inches shorter than Clark Gable in Manhattan Melodrama.
Spencer Tracy was five eight.
William Powell was five ten. Next to Jimmy Stewart in one of the Thin Man movies he was five inches shorter. He was at least two inches shorter than Clark Gable in Manhattan Melodrama.
Spencer Tracy was five eight.
Sam said on 8/Nov/12
Here he is with Spencer Tracy. Tracy has the better posture in the shots but Powell has him by almost 2 inches.
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Here he is with Spencer Tracy. Tracy has the better posture in the shots but Powell has him by almost 2 inches.
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
tinycat27 said on 30/Dec/11
He was in the film Libeled Lady with Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy, and Jean Harlow. He was in love with Jean Harlow and wanted to marry her but she died at age 26 before the marriage could take place.
He was in the film Libeled Lady with Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy, and Jean Harlow. He was in love with Jean Harlow and wanted to marry her but she died at age 26 before the marriage could take place.
Editor Rob said on 8/Sep/06
In 1984 NT Times obit, described as "nearly six-foot-tall actor"
In 1984 NT Times obit, described as "nearly six-foot-tall actor"
Frank2 said on 18/Apr/06
In After the Thin Man, Powell appeaerd to be as much as five inches shorter than 6'3" Jimmy Stewart: Click Here
And here: Click Here
In Manhattan Melodrama, Powell was exactly this much shorter than Clark Gable: Click Here
In After the Thin Man, Powell appeaerd to be as much as five inches shorter than 6'3" Jimmy Stewart: Click Here
And here: Click Here
In Manhattan Melodrama, Powell was exactly this much shorter than Clark Gable: Click Here
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