Mala Powers
A versatile Hollywood actress who brought depth to roles in film noir and Westerns, most famously as the star of 'Cyrano de Bergerac'.
1931–2007 (age 76)·American actress·Birthday: December 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Mala Powers, born Mary Ellen Powers, stepped into the Hollywood spotlight as a teenager, her career quickly defined by a compelling presence that suited both intense drama and lighthearted fare. Her breakthrough came not in her native America but through a French classic, playing Roxane opposite José Ferrer's Oscar-winning Cyrano. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, she became a familiar face on television, guest-starring in hundreds of episodes of series from 'The Lone Ranger' to 'Perry Mason,' while maintaining a steady film career that included notable turns in 'The Storm Rider' and 'The Colossus of Rhodes.' Beyond acting, she was a dedicated teacher of drama and voice, and later in life, she authored books exploring spiritual themes. Her journey reflected the path of a working actress who navigated the studio system's evolution into the television age with grace and professionalism.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Mala was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mala Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
Mala's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 70
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2007Died at 76
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Starred as Roxane in the 1950 film 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' a role that defined her early career.
- Appeared in over 300 television episodes across a wide range of popular series throughout the 1950s and 60s.
- Served as a national vice president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
Did You Know?
She was discovered by actor and producer Reginald Denny while performing in a school play.
Powers was a trained soprano and studied opera before fully committing to acting.
She was one of the first actresses to play the role of Roxane on screen in an English-language film.
“Roxane taught me that truth and beauty must be defended with courage.”
