Diana Lewis

Diana Lewis (September 18, 1919 – January 18, 1997)^[1] was an American film actress and a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player.

Diana Lewis
Trailer for Cry 'Havoc' (1943)
Born	(1919-09-18)September 18, 1919 Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	January 18, 1997(1997-01-18) (aged 77) Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
Resting place	Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1934–1943
Spouses	Jay Raye ​ ​ (m. 1935; div. 1939)​ William Powell ​ ​ (m. 1940; died 1984)​

Early years

The daughter of vaudeville performers,^[2] Lewis was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey. She attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.^[2][3]

Career

Pin-up photo of Lewis for Yank, the Army Weekly in 1944

Lewis was a singer with the orchestra led by Larry Leeds.^[4]

She began her film career in It's a Gift (1934) and worked steadily over the next few years, usually in minor roles. Her more notable films include It's a Gift, Gold Diggers in Paris (1938), Go West (1940), and Johnny Eager (1941). She was the love interest of Andy Hardy as Daphne Fowler in Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940).^[5]

Marriage

Lewis met actor William Powell, who was 27 years her senior, at MGM in 1939.^[6] They married at a dude ranch in Nevada on January 5, 1940,^[7] after a courtship of less than a month.^[6] She retired from acting in 1943. Lewis became known as Mousie Powell after her marriage.^[8]

Death

Lewis died from pancreatic cancer in Rancho Mirage, California, aged 77. She was interred at Cathedral City's Desert Memorial Park in Riverside County, California, alongside Powell, and her stepson, William David Powell.^[9]

Affiliations and honors

Lewis was an active supporter of women's golf and the LPGA. The LPGA's William and Mousie Powell Award is named in honor of the Powells.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to her.^[10]

Complete filmography

Year	Film	Role	Director	Notes
1934	It's a Gift	Betty Dunk	Norman Z. McLeod
1935	One Hour Late	Sick Woman's Daughter	Ralph Murphy	Uncredited
	Enter Madame	Operator	Elliott Nugent
	All the King's Horses	Aggressive Chorine on Train	Frank Tuttle	Uncredited
	Choose Your Partners			Short
1936	Grand Slam Opera	The Girl Downstairs	Charles Lamont	Short
1937	Love Nest on Wheels	The Bride	Charles Lamont	Short
1938	He Couldn't Say No	Iris Mabby	Lewis Seiler
	Gold Diggers in Paris	Golddigger	Busby Berkeley
1939	First Offenders	Ann Blakeley
1940	Forty Little Mothers	Marcia	Busby Berkeley
	Andy Hardy Meets Debutante	Daphne Fowler	George B. Seitz
	Bitter Sweet	Jane
	Go West	Eve Wilson	Edward Buzzell
1941	The People vs. Dr. Kildare	Fay Lennox	Harold S. Bucquet
	Johnny Eager	Judy Sanford	Mervyn LeRoy
1942	Whistling in Dixie	Ellamae Downs	S. Sylvan Simon
	Seven Sweethearts	Mrs. Nugent	Frank Borzage
1943	Cry 'Havoc'	Nydia	Richard Thorpe