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Mala Powers

Mala Powers

Actor · Died July 11, 2007, aged 75 · San Francisco, California, USA

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mary Ellen "Mala" Powers (December 20, 1931 – June 11, 2007) was an American film actress. She was born in San Francisco, California. In 1940, her family moved to Los Angeles. Her father was an executive with United Press. In the summer of her relocation, Powers attended the Max Reinhardt Junior Workshop where she enjoyed her first role in a play before a live audience. She continued with her drama lessons, and a year later she auditioned and won a part in the 1942 Dead End Kids film Tough as They Come. At the age of 16 she began working in radio drama, before becoming a film actress in 1950. Her first roles were in Outrage and Edge of Doom in 1950. That same year, Stanley Kramer signed Powers to star opposite Jose Ferrer in what may be her most remembered role as Roxane in Cyrano de Bergerac. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her part in this movie. While on a USO entertainment tour in Korea in 1951, she acquired a blood disease and almost died. She was treated with chloromycetin, but a severe allergic reaction resulted in the loss of much of her bone marrow. Powers barely survived, and her recovery took nearly nine months. She began working again in 1952 and 1953, including a part in City Beneath the Sea and City That Never Sleeps, although she was still taking medication. Following her recovery, she appeared in B-movie westerns, such as Rage at Dawn (1955), and science fiction films, among them The Colossus of New York (1958), Flight of the Lost Balloon (1961), and Doomsday Machine (1972). She also had a large role in Tammy and the Bachelor (1957) She appeared on more than one hundred television programs, including episodes of Appointment with Adventure, John Payne's The Restless Gun, Maverick, Bonanza, Wild Wild West and Perry Mason. She co-starred opposite Anthony Quinn in the television movie The Man and the City, later a television series. She was married to Monte Vanton in 1954, but they divorced in 1962; they had a son, Toren Vanton, who survived his mother. Powers remarried in 1970 to M. Hughes Miller, a book publisher. Powers was a successful children's author of "Follow the Star" and "Follow the Year" and of "Dial a Story". Shortly before her death from complications of leukemia June 11, 2007, aged 75, she had been on a lecture tour at universities. She was a master teacher for the past 14 years in the summer program at the University of Southern Maine for the Michael Chekhov Theatre Institute, training actors and teachers of acting. Mala Powers co-founded the National Michael Chekhov Association with teaching colleagues Wil Kilroy and Lisa Dalton, who continue to teach the curriculum developed by the trio in Maine. Powers was the executrix of the Michael Chekhov estate and instrumental in publishing Chekhov's books On the Technique of Acting, To the Actor, and The Path of the Actor. She also published Chekhov's audio series "On Theatre and the Art of Acting", to which she added a 60 page study guide. She co-narrates with Gregory Peck a documentary on Chekhov entitled "From Russia To Hollywood". She was patron of the Michael Chekhov Studio London and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Powers also had a small but recurring role on Shirley Booth's Hazel series. In that capacity she became a close friend of Lynn Borden, who played Barbara Baxter in the 1965-1966 season. Later, she gave Borden several elephant figurines, one a jade piece an another purchased on a trip to India. Borden became a collector of both frog and elephant figures. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mala Powers, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 20, 1931
Died
July 11, 2007 (aged 75)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 62 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

What are Mala Powers' films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
32%
Bonds
22%
Survival
21%
Self
15%
Power
5%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 11 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 11
Hero
2 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Threshold guardian
1 of 11
Shadow
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Dread
6
Melancholic
6
Romantic
4
Joyful
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Bittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Mala Powers' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mala Powers' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

62 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hitters(2002)

    as Mama Theresa

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy Folkes

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Six Tickets to Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Sally Odden

  • Doomsday Machine(1976)

    as Maj. Georgianna Bronski

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Daddy's Gone A-Hunting(1969)

    as Meg Stone

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Rogue's Gallery(1968)

    as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Karen Cherlotov

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Jericho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Polly Cooper

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Dubois

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Bewitched(1964)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Ramsey

  • Arrest and Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Gallant Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Flight of the Lost Balloon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Ellen Burton

  • Fear No More(1961)

    as Sharon Carlin

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Everglades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie Michaels

  • Daniel Boone: The Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Rebecca Boone

  • Daniel Boone: The Wilderness Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Rebecca Boone

  • Daniel Boone: And Chase the Buffalo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Rebecca Boone

  • Daniel Boone: The Warrior's Path (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Rebecca Boone

  • Surfside 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Consuelo De La Varra

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bourbon Street Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Cassie

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Lock-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Loretta Opel

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Margo Latimer

  • The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Stacy Torrance

  • Sierra Baron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Sue Russell

  • The Colossus of New York(1958)

    as Anne Spensser

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Man on the Prowl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Marlan Wood

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Allison · as Elaine Bayler · as Helen Bradshaw · as Janet Brent · as June Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Sugarfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Roberta Shipman

  • Death in Small Doses(1957)

    as Valerie 'Val' Owens

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Unknown Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Gina Matthews

  • Tammy and the Bachelor(1957)

    as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Storm Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Tay Rorick

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Anderson

  • The Last Stop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Miriam

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Bengazi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Aileen Donovan

  • Rage at Dawn(1955)

    as Laura Reno

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Nevada Wray

  • Geraldine(1953)

    as Janey Edwards

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • City That Never Sleeps(1953)

    as Sally 'Angel Face' Connors

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • City Beneath the Sea(1953)

    as Terry McBride

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Benton

  • Rose of Cimarron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Rose of Cimarron

  • Cyrano de Bergerac(1950)

    as Roxane

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Outrage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Ann Walton

  • Edge of Doom(1950)

    as Julie

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Tough as They Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Esther Clark

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 62 titles from 1942 to 2002.

Highest rated

Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)

Midcredits 88th

Film career

Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles.

  • 1950Screen debut· Outrage
  • 1950First top-billed film· Outrage

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 62: 62 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s34 · acting1960s21 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s2 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 14% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Mala Powers' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 14; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

Hitters (2002)

83rd percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)

Midcredits 88th · 79% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Mala Powers work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mala Powers' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mark Robson shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers