Alton Adelbert Powers (July 5, 1950 â€" April 6, 2015), known
professionally as Ben Powers, was an American actor. Powers was best
known for his role as Thelma Evans's (portrayed by Bern Nadette
Stanis) husband, Keith Albert Anderson, during the sixth and final
season of the CBS sitcom Good Times (1978â€"79). Powers was also a
cast member on the NBC television comedy series Laugh-In
(1977â€"78).Powers died on April 6, 2015 at age 64 due to liver
cancer.Powers was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Providence,
Rhode Island. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design. 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, amazing
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 &
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.Powers married Julia Harper (1950â€"2012) on May 4, 1981. They
had four daughters: twins Maleah Cameron and Raleah Cameron, Augusta
Valeria, and Simone Emerson. Powers died of liver cancer on April 6,
2015, at the age of 64 and was cremated.
professionally as Ben Powers, was an American actor. Powers was best
known for his role as Thelma Evans's (portrayed by Bern Nadette
Stanis) husband, Keith Albert Anderson, during the sixth and final
season of the CBS sitcom Good Times (1978â€"79). Powers was also a
cast member on the NBC television comedy series Laugh-In
(1977â€"78).Powers died on April 6, 2015 at age 64 due to liver
cancer.Powers was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Providence,
Rhode Island. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design. 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, amazing
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 &
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.Powers married Julia Harper (1950â€"2012) on May 4, 1981. They
had four daughters: twins Maleah Cameron and Raleah Cameron, Augusta
Valeria, and Simone Emerson. Powers died of liver cancer on April 6,
2015, at the age of 64 and was cremated.
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