Lovelady Powell

Powell was born in Columbus, Ohio, and studied theater at Northwestern University. In the mid-1950s, she moved to New York City,^[1] where she had a supper-club act with pianist Brooks Morton.^[3] She also performed as a singer in night clubs, including the Blue Angel, Bon Soir, hungry i and Purple Onion. She and Shelley Berman made the recording "The Sex Life of the Primate."^[4]

On television, Powell portrayed Aunt Birdie Clayborn on The Secret Storm and Portia Fitzsimmons on Dark Shadows.^[1] She also portrayed Fran in a series of "Ask Fran" commercials for Lavoris mouthwash. She was seen in commercials for other products, including Downy water softener, Playtex bras, and Benson & Hedges cigarettes. She did voice-overs for commercials for Clairol hair coloring, Johnson & Johnson baby powder, Shower to Shower bath powder, and Chevrolet., among other brands.^[4]

On stage, Powell toured with José Ferrer in After the Fall and with Joel Grey in Stop the World, I Want to Get Off. She was in Venus Is, a Broadway show that closed during its preview performances, and in Two Weeks Somewhere Else, which closed in Boston before it reached Broadway.^[4] She also starred in the off-Broadway musical Riverwind.^[5]

In her later years, she and Peggy White operated Glad Hands Antique Shop.^[1]

• I Never Sang for My Father – 1970
• The Possession of Joel Delaney – 1972
• The Happy Hooker – 1975