Tyrone moved to New York where he met actress Katherine Cornell who introduced him to the New York theater scene. He was spotted by Hollywood talent scouts and offered a screen test, and in 1936, he signed with 20th Century Fox. He was assigned to a film with Director Sidney Lanfield who promptly fired him. Actress Alice Faye intervened on his behalf and convinced the studio to keep the young actor.
Tyrone Power as the Swashbuckling Hero
In 1939, Tyrone Power starred as Jesse James in the film by the same name with Henry Fonda as his costar. Jesse James was the beginning of Tyrone Power’s career as a swashbuckling hero. It was also his first Technicolor film and his first film shot on location. This was the year Tyrone Power was named the second biggest box office draw. In 1940 he played Don Diego Vega in the adventure film The Mark of Zorro and in 1942 he was cast as Jamie Waring in the pirate film The Black Swan.
Tyrone Power’s Military Career
Prior to World War II, Tyrone Power purchased an airplane and took flying lessons. At the time he was drafted he had 180 hours of flight time. He enlisted for active duty with the Marine Corp and logged over 1100 hours of flight time between 1942 and 1945. He was discharged in 1946 as First Lieutenant with an American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, two bronze stars and a World War II Victory Medal. He was later promoted to Captain in the Reserves.
The Final Films of Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power made 22 films after the war. In 1946 he was cast as Larry Darrell in the tragic drama The Razor's Edge. In 1956, Tyrone Power and Ted Richmond started an Independent film company called Copa Productions and produced Abandon Ship! In 1956, Tyrone starred in The Eddy Duchin Story for Columbia Pictures and in 1957 he starred in The Sun Also Rises and Witness for the Prosecution. His performances in these final films are considered to be his finest.
Tyrone Power’s Personal Life
On April 23, 1939, Tyrone Power married French actress Annabella. They adopted their daughter, Ann Power, and appeared to be a devoted and loving couple, but divorced in 1948 amidst rumors of Tyrone Power’s extramarital affair with actress Judy Garland. Tyrone was involved with actress Lana Turner when he met and married actress Linda Christian in 1949. They had two children: Romina Francesca Power and Taryn Stephanie Power. Tyrone Power and Linda Christian divorced in 1956 with rumors of infidelity on both sides. In May of 1958, Tyrone married Deborah Ann Minardos. Their son, Tyrone Power IV, was born on January 22, 1959, two months after the death of his father.
Death and Legacy of Tyrone Power
Like his father so many years before, Tyrone Power died of a heart attack on November 15, 1958. He was filming a dueling scene in Madrid, Spain. In spite of his many outstanding performances and the Oscar-winning films that featured his work, Tyrone Power was never nominated for an Academy Award. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California.
Tyrone Power as the Swashbuckling Hero
In 1939, Tyrone Power starred as Jesse James in the film by the same name with Henry Fonda as his costar. Jesse James was the beginning of Tyrone Power’s career as a swashbuckling hero. It was also his first Technicolor film and his first film shot on location. This was the year Tyrone Power was named the second biggest box office draw. In 1940 he played Don Diego Vega in the adventure film The Mark of Zorro and in 1942 he was cast as Jamie Waring in the pirate film The Black Swan.
Tyrone Power’s Military Career
Prior to World War II, Tyrone Power purchased an airplane and took flying lessons. At the time he was drafted he had 180 hours of flight time. He enlisted for active duty with the Marine Corp and logged over 1100 hours of flight time between 1942 and 1945. He was discharged in 1946 as First Lieutenant with an American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, two bronze stars and a World War II Victory Medal. He was later promoted to Captain in the Reserves.
The Final Films of Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power made 22 films after the war. In 1946 he was cast as Larry Darrell in the tragic drama The Razor's Edge. In 1956, Tyrone Power and Ted Richmond started an Independent film company called Copa Productions and produced Abandon Ship! In 1956, Tyrone starred in The Eddy Duchin Story for Columbia Pictures and in 1957 he starred in The Sun Also Rises and Witness for the Prosecution. His performances in these final films are considered to be his finest.
Tyrone Power’s Personal Life
On April 23, 1939, Tyrone Power married French actress Annabella. They adopted their daughter, Ann Power, and appeared to be a devoted and loving couple, but divorced in 1948 amidst rumors of Tyrone Power’s extramarital affair with actress Judy Garland. Tyrone was involved with actress Lana Turner when he met and married actress Linda Christian in 1949. They had two children: Romina Francesca Power and Taryn Stephanie Power. Tyrone Power and Linda Christian divorced in 1956 with rumors of infidelity on both sides. In May of 1958, Tyrone married Deborah Ann Minardos. Their son, Tyrone Power IV, was born on January 22, 1959, two months after the death of his father.
Death and Legacy of Tyrone Power
Like his father so many years before, Tyrone Power died of a heart attack on November 15, 1958. He was filming a dueling scene in Madrid, Spain. In spite of his many outstanding performances and the Oscar-winning films that featured his work, Tyrone Power was never nominated for an Academy Award. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California.
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