Interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California (Great Mausoleum, Columbarium of Providence, N-15459).Daughter, Janice.A former reporter for the "Chicago Tribune" newspaper, Powell once did a story exposing the activities of some local Mafia racketeers. When the story came out Powell's life was threatened, so he and his wife left Chicago for Psadadena, CA, where he got a job as a reporter for the "Los Angeles Express". He was hired to write some screenplays based on his experiences in Chicago, and then became a director.His father was a newspaper publisher in Peoria, IL, and founded the "Peoria Evening Star" newspaper.