Powers Boothe Biography

(Best Known for His Role in the TV Miniseries 'Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones')

Birthday: June 1, 1948 (Gemini)

Born In: Snyder, Texas, United States

Powers Boothe was an American actor and voice actor who was best known for playing Jim Jones in the TV movie, ‘Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones’, for which he won an Emmy Award. He was also known for his portrayals of Cy Tolliver in the series ‘Deadwood,’ Noah Daniels in the TV show ‘24,’ and "Curly Bill" Brocius in the film ‘Tombstone.’ Born to a rancher, Boothe was named after his father’s late best friend who had been killed in the World War II. Besides being an incredible actor, he was a brilliant individual behind the curtains as well. He was an avid sports lover and played football in high school. Boothe also had an interest in politics and narrated advertisements for John McCain during his presidential campaign. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he was the first in his family to attend college. He died in May 2017, at the age of 68, due to complications arising from pancreatic cancer. The exceptional actor will always be remembered for his contribution to the American film and television industries.

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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Powers Allen Boothe

Died At Age: 68

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Pamela Ann Boothe (m. 1969 – his death. 2017)

father: Merrill Vestal Boothe

mother: Emily Kathryn Reeves

siblings: Riley Vestal Boothe, Tommy Dale Boothe

children: Parisse Boothe, Preston Allen, Reginald Paul Boothe, Reuben Travis Boothe

Born Country: United States

Actors Voice Actors

Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Males

Died on: May 14, 2017

place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States

Cause of Death: Pancreatic Cancer

Notable Alumni: Southwest Texas State University

Ancestry: British American

: Pancreatic Cancer

U.S. State: Texas

More Facts

education: Southern Methodist University, Southwest Texas State University

  • 1

    When did Powers Boothe pass away?

    Powers Boothe passed away on May 14, 2017.
  • 2

    What were some popular movies or TV shows that Powers Boothe starred in?

    Some of the popular movies and TV shows Powers Boothe starred in include "Sin City," "Tombstone," "Deadwood," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," and "Red Dawn."
  • 3

    Did Powers Boothe serve in the military?

    Yes, Powers Boothe served in the United States Army during the 1960s.
  • 4

    Was Powers Boothe known for playing villains in movies and TV shows?

    Yes, Powers Boothe was known for his compelling portrayals of villains in various films and television shows throughout his career.
  • 5

    Did Powers Boothe ever win any major acting awards?

    Yes, Powers Boothe won an Emmy Award in 1980, for his portrayal of cult leader Jim Jones in the TV movie "Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones."

Career
Following his graduation, Powers Boothe became a part of the repertory team of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and went on to play major roles in ‘Troilus and Cressida’ and ‘Henry IV, Part 2.’ He made his New York stage debut in 1974 in the production of ‘Richard III.’ He made his Broadway theater debut five years later, with a starring role in James McLure’s one-act play, ‘Lone Star.’
Boothe garnered national attention in the year 1980 when he played Jim Jones in the TV film ‘Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones.’ His portrayal of the cult leader received critical acclaim and it earned him an Emmy Award. From 1983 to 1986, the actor played Philip Marlowe in ‘Philip Marlowe, Private Eye’. He also did the movies ‘A Breed Apart’, ‘Red Dawn’ and ‘The Emerald Forest’ during this time. In 1987, he played Cash Bailey in the action film ‘Extreme Prejudice’ and Jackson Swallow in the television movie ‘Into the Homeland’. Boothe ended the decade with his role in the 1989 war film, ‘Stalingrad’.
In 1990, he appeared in two episodes of the TV series ‘Family of Spies’. That year, he also did the TV movie ‘By Dawn's Early Light’. He then bagged film roles in ‘Rapid Fire,’ ‘Tombstone,’ and ‘Blue Sky.’ After playing the challenging role of Dr. Philip Benesch in the TV film, ‘Web of Deception’ (1994), the actor landed roles in the movies ‘Sudden Death’ and ‘Nixon.’ In the late 1990s, he portrayed various characters in the film ‘U Turn’ and in the TV films ‘True Women’ and ‘The Spree.’
Boothe started the new millennium with a role in the movie ‘Men of Honor,’ that starred superstars Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in the lead roles. He then played a voice role in the series ‘Justice League.’ In 2004, he was cast as Cy Tolliver in the TV series ‘Deadwood’. In 2005 and 2006, he voiced Gorilla Grodd / Red Tornado—the super-intelligent telepathic supervillain—in the animated series ‘Justice League Unlimited.’ The actor also worked in the anthology ‘Sin City’ and the direct-to-video ‘Superman: Brainiac Attacks’ during this time period.
In 2007, Boothe starred in the baseball film ‘The Final Season’ and also played the role of Noah Daniels in the TV series ‘24’. The following year, he reprised his role as Noah Daniels in the sequel ‘24: Redemption’. That year, he also had a voice role in the flick ‘Edison and Leo.’
In the early 2010s, he played a number of voice roles, including one in the ‘The Looney Tunes Show’, a popular animated sitcom that premiered on Cartoon Network. In 2012, Boothe began playing Lamar Wyatt in the musical drama series ‘Nashville’. That year, he was featured in three episodes of the series ‘Hatfields & McCoys’ as well. Also the same year, the American actor played Gideon Malick in the superhero film ‘The Avengers’ and “The Rancher” in the action comedy film ‘Guns, Girls and Gambling’. He went on to portray a role in the neo-noir action drama movie ‘Sin City: A Dame to Kill For’ in 2014. His final live-action appearance was in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’ in 2016.
Apart from films, Powers Boothe had also provided his voice to several video games, including ‘Turok,’ ‘Area 51,’ ‘Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction’ and ‘Hitman: Absolution.’
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Family & Personal Life
Powers Allen Boothe was born on June 1, 1948 in Snyder, Texas, USA, to Merrill Vestal, a rancher, and Kathryn Emily. He had two brothers. He studied at Snyder High School and later attended Southwest Texas State University. He then proceeded to earn his master's degree from Southern Methodist University.
Coming to his love life, Boothe married Pam Cole, his college sweetheart, in 1969. The couple had two kids, Parisse and Preston, and remained married until the actor’s death. Boothe died on May 14, 2017 in Los Angeles from the effects of pancreatic cancer. He was 68 at the time.
Facts About Powers Boothe
Powers Boothe was known for his distinctive deep voice, which added gravitas to many of his roles.
In addition to his successful acting career, Boothe also lent his voice to various video games and animated TV shows.
Boothe won an Emmy award for his portrayal of cult leader Jim Jones in the TV movie "Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones."
Despite his tough guy persona on screen, Powers Boothe was known to be a kind and generous person off camera, often helping out friends and colleagues in need.
Boothe had a great sense of humor and loved to play practical jokes on set, keeping his co-stars entertained during long filming days.

Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
1980 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980)

How To Cite

Article Title
- Powers Boothe Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/powers-boothe-43287.php

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