Mala Powers

Stars

Actress Born Mary Ellen Powers on Dec. 20, 1931 in San Francisco, CA

Actress Mala Powers played Roxane to Jose Ferrer's title character "Cyrano de Bergerac" and also starred in the 1950s as a rape victim in "Outrage," directed by Ida Lupino. The film created a minor sensation because rape had not been treated frankly on the screen due to the industry's self-censorship.

Howard Hughes was impressed by Powers' performances and placed her under contract at RKO. Among her films: "Edge of Doom," "Rose of Cimarron," "City Beneath the Sea," "City That Never Sleeps," "Bengazi" and "The Storm Rider."

Powers' movie career dwindled in the late 1950s, but she remained active in radio, stage and television.

In later years Powers became interested in children's stories, writing a Christmas book, "Follow the Star," in 1980 and, five years later, "Follow the Year," which explained holidays to children.

— From Times Staff and wire reports June 13, 2007

Related

• Mala Powers, 75; starred in `Cyrano,' other 1950s films