| Ben Powers | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alton Powers February 13, 1949 Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–1985 |
Alton "Ben" Powers (born February 13, 1949) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Thelma Evans' husband, Keith Anderson, during the sixth and final season of the 1970s TV show Good Times (1978–1979). He also did a season of Laugh-In in the 1970s. He was born in Yonkers, New York.
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Powers got his first break in the 1970s with Adrian Hall, director at Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence, R.I., 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 club in Las Vegas.
After Good Times Powers guest starred on a number of popular TV dramas and sitcom shows of the 80s 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 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 & 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.
Although rumors had circulated in media and paparazzi circles about alleged alcohol and drug use, Powers's reason for leaving Los Angeles was reportedly because of a civil suit battle over an alleged battery charge. As of 2008, Powers has reportedly been living once again in Rhode Island, and retired from acting.