Diana Lewis

Diana Lewis was born on September 18, 1919, in Asbury Park, New Jersey, to parents who were vaudeville entertainers. The family relocated to Hollywood, where Diana, along with her siblings Maxine and J.C., pursued careers in the entertainment industry. She made her cinematic debut in the 1934 comedy, *It's A Gift*. At just sixteen, Diana married actor Jay Faye and subsequently secured a contract with MGM, featuring in films such as *Andy Hardy Meets Debutante* and *Bitter Sweet*. During the filming of *Gold Diggers in Paris*, she formed a close friendship with actress Carole Landis. Unfortunately, Diana's marriage to Jay ended in 1939, the same year she met the renowned actor William Powell, who was over two decades her senior. After a brief romance, the couple eloped on January 6, 1940.

Diana took on supporting roles in films like *Johnny Eager* and *Cry Havoc*, but she decided to retire from acting in 1943 to focus entirely on her role as a wife. Their marriage was known to be one of the happiest in Hollywood, with William affectionately calling her "Mousie" due to her petite stature. Although they did not have children, Diana grew close to her stepson, William David Powell. Outside of her home life, she dedicated much of her time to charity work and enjoyed golfing. Following William's passing in 1984 at the age of ninety-one, Diana led a quiet existence in Palm Springs until her death from pancreatic cancer on January 18, 1997. She was interred alongside William at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.