Buy Me A Coffee :D

Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

Powell, Nosher

Nosher Powell
Photo from Mr. Powell's book Nosher.

Nosher Powell (né George Frederick Bernard Powell) was born on August 15, 1928, in Camberwell, London, England, UK.  His father was a carter (deliverer of fish to market) broke and sold trotting horses, boxed, and ran an illegal gambling joint (where Powell was a lookout as a child), to help pay the rent. Powell's mother was the one who nicknamed him "Nosher" because of his very hearty appetite as an infant.
Powell and his family's home was bombed during WWII and they had to be evacuated to Dorset, West Hampshire, Sussex where Nosher attended school at Swanage Grammar School, then to Devon.

Powell started boxing as a young man after he and his family moved back to London where watched boxers at Blackfriars Road (where his father boxed). One of Powell's first jobs as a teen was as a porter (in charge of a building's entrance) at Covent Garden Market, but had to leave for National Service with the Royal Army Medical Corps.  During his RA service, he boxed in Egypt (where he was stationed). After his service, he turned professional boxer and later
 became a heavyweight champion in unlicensed as well as professional boxing. He sparred with American boxer Joe Louis for a month, Muhammad Ali, and Sugar Ray Robinson.  He retired from boxing in 1960.

His boxing lead him to be a doorman at Brewer Street (and the Jack of Clubs in the basement below) in SoHo, and later as a"minder"/bodyguard for quite a few visiting celebrities, including: Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Jr., John Paul Getty, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Ava Gardner.  It wasn't too long before he was taking on small parts in film and television.


Powell was married to Pauline Powell (née Wellman) in 1951, they had two sons, Greg, and Gary.

Powell died in his sleep on April 20, 2013, he was survived by his sons.



Film Actor
Boom Boom! The Best of the Original Basil Brush Show~2001 (V) archive footage
Shiner~2000 - Special Character
Legionnaire~1998 - uncredited Soldier
Willow~1988 - uncredited Nelwyn Villager (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Eat the Rich~1987 - Secretary Nosher

Krull~1983 - uncredited Slayer in the Swamp (see Actor Connections - Film)
Victor/Victoria~1982 - uncredited Man In Bar (see Actor Connections - Film)
If You Go Down in the Woods Today~1981 - Guvnor's Henchman
The Stick-Up~1977 - uncredited Manager
Never Too Young to Rock~1976 -
Carry On Dick~1974 - uncredited Footpad
Love Thy Neighbour~1973 - Bus Driver
The MacKintosh Man~1973 - Armed Guard
Nearest and Dearest~1972 - Bouncer
The Alf Garnett Saga~1972 - uncredited Ginger
On the Buses~1971 - Betty's Husband
The Legend of Spider Forest~1971 - Gang Member
You Can't Win 'Em All~1970 - uncredited Horse Rider
One More Time~1970 - uncredited Man (see Actor Connections - Film)
The Italian Job~1969 - uncredited
The Magic Christian~1969 - uncredited Ike Jones - Boxer

Sophie's Place~1969 - uncredited Casino Security
Crossplot~1969
Oliver!~1968 - uncredited Man
School for Sex~1968 - Hector (second from left)
Circus of Fear (Psycho-Circus)~1966 - Red
The Sandwich Man~1966 - Nosher - Bus Driver
She~1965 - uncredited British Soldier
A Fistful of Dollars~1964 (Per un pugno di dollari)~1964 - uncredited Cowboy con cartel 'adios amigo'
A Shot in the Dark~1964- uncredited Man
Call Me Bwana~1963 - uncredited Man
The Road to Hong Kong~1962- uncredited Man (right with SWAD alum Maurice Bush to Nosher's right, and Nosher's brother Dinny, to the right of Bush) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Gorgo~1960 - ? (see Actor Connections - Film)
Violent Playground~1958 - (uncredited)
The Dark Avenger~1955 - (uncredited)
King's Rhapsody~1955 - (uncredited)
Demetrius and the Gladiators~1954- uncredited Gladiator
The Slasher~1953 - uncredited Instructor
Cosh Boy~1952 - (uncredited)
The Hundred Hour Hunt (Emergency Call)~1952 - Boy Booth
Wall of Death (There Is Another Sun)~1951 - Teddy Green, champ boxer
Oliver Twist~1948 (uncredited)

Film Stunts
Legionnaire~1998 (stunts as well as teaching Jean-Claude Van Damme how to box)
First Knight~1995
Willow~1988  (see Actor Connections - Film)
Eat the Rich~1987 (uncredited)
My Beautiful Laundrette~1985 (coordinator)
A View to a Kill~1985 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Krull~1983
Octopussy~1983 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Victor/Victoria~1982 (stunts) (see Actor Connections - Film)
For Your Eyes Only~1981 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Flash Gordon~1980 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Moonraker~1979 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Superman~1978 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
The Spy Who Loved Me~1977 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Star Wars~1977 (uncredited)
Brannigan~1975 (uncredited)
The Man with the Golden Gun~1974 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
The MacKintosh Man~1973 (uncredited)
Live and Let Die~1973 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Pope Joan~1972 (uncredited)
Nearest and Dearest~1972 (uncredited)
Diamonds Are Forever~1971 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
The Last Valley~1971 (uncredited)
Legend of Spider Forest~1971 (uncredited)
Waterloo~1970 (uncredited)
You Can't Win 'Em All~1970 (uncredited stunts; horse stunt coordinator)
Cromwell~1970 (uncredited)
Carry On Henry~1970 (uncredited stunt double: Sid James)
The Magic Christian~1969 (coordinator)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service~1969 (uncredited)
Battle of Britain~1969 (uncredited)
The Italian Job~1969 (uncredited stunts; stunt double)
The Assassination Bureau~1969 (uncredited)
Crossplot~1969 (uncredited)
Where Eagles Dare~1968 (uncredited)
Great Catherine~1968 (uncredited)
Oliver!~1968 (uncredited)
Salt and Pepper~1968 (uncredited)
The Charge of the Light Brigade~1968 (uncredited)
The Dirty Dozen~1967 (uncredited)
You Only Live Twice~1967 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Casino Royale~1967 (uncredited)
Half a Sixpence~1967 (uncredited)
A Man for All Seasons~1966 (uncredited)
Khartoum~1966 (uncredited)
Psycho-Circus (Circus of Fear)~1966 (uncredited)
For a Few Dollars More (Per qualche dollaro in più)~1965 (uncredited stunts; stunt double)
Battle of the Bulge~1965 (uncredited)
Thunderball~1965 (uncredited)
The Hill~1965 (uncredited)
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes~1965 (uncredited stunts; stunt double for Gert Fröbe)
The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders~1965 (uncredited)
The Secret of Blood Island~1965 (uncredited)
Lord Jim~1965 (uncredited)
Goldfinger~1964 (uncredited)
One Way Pendulum~1964 (uncredited stunt arranger)
A Fistful of Dollars (Per un pugno di dollari)~1964 (uncredited)
Becket~1964 (stunts) (uncredited)
The Pink Panther~1963 (uncredited)
From Russia with Love~1963 (uncredited)
Call Me Bwana~1963 (uncredited)
Cleopatra~1963 (uncredited)
Lawrence of Arabia~1962 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
The Longest Day~1962 (uncredited)
The Road to Hong Kong~1962 (uncredited)
The Day of the Triffids~1962 (uncredited)
The Guns of Navarone~1961 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
Exodus~1960 (uncredited)
Sword of Sherwood Forest~1960 (uncredited)
Ben-Hur~1959 (uncredited)
The Mouse That Roared~1959 (uncredited)
A Night to Remember~1958 (uncredited)
The Horror of Dracula~1958 (uncredited)
Dunkirk~1958 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - Film)
The Bridge on the River Kwai~1957 (uncredited)
The Quatermass Xperiment~1955 (uncredited)
Doctor at Sea~1955 (uncredited)
Lilacs in the Spring~1955 (uncredited)
Beau Brummell~1954 (uncredited)
Demetrius and the Gladiators~1954 (uncredited)
Hell Below Zero~1954 (uncredited)
The Robe~1953 (uncredited)
The Master of Ballantrae~1953 (uncredited)
Wall of Death~1951 (stunts: boxing trainer for Laurence Harvey)
Passport to Pimlico~1949 (uncredited)
Bonnie Prince Charlie~1948 (uncredited)
Caesar and Cleopatra~1945 (uncredited)
Henry V (The Chronicle History of King Henry the Fifth with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France)~1944 (uncredited)

Film Fight/Boxing trainer
Legionnaire~1998 (uncredited boxing trainer: Jean-Claude van Damme)
The Sailor's Return~1978 (fight sequence arranger)

TV Actor
The 100 Greatest Family Films~2005 - Himself
The Ultimate Film~2004 - Himself
Lads Army~2004 - Himself in 2.5 and 2.6
Boom Boom! The Best of the Original Basil Brush Show~2001 (archive footage)
This is Your Life~1972-1994 - Himself in:
     Mike Reid
     Jack Berg
     Fred 'Nosher' Powell
The Detectives~1993 - McKenna Employee 1 in Teed Off
The Comic Strip Presents~1982-1992 -
     John's Minder in Red Nose of Courage
     Corelli in Spaghetti Hoops
     McGahey in GLC: The Carnage Continues
     Mr. Knuckles in Five Go Mad on Mescalin
     Fingers in Five Go Mad in Dorset
Canned Carrott~1990
Good Morning Britain~1987 - himself
The Pyrates~1986 - Firebeard
The Two Ronnies~1985 - Neville in 11.2
Ellis Island~1984 (mini) - uncredited Man
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood~1984 (as Fred Powell) - Guard 2
The Steam Video Company~1984 - Nosh in Amityville II Luton Town 3 (right)
Up the Elephant and Round the Castle~1983 - Mr. Hawkins in May the Best Man Win
An Audience with Kenneth Williams~1983 - Himself
The Comic Strip Presents~1983 - Mr. Knuckles in Five Go Mad on Mescalin
Are You Being Served?~1983 - Roger - Truck Driver in Calling All Customers
Juliet Bravo~1980 - Villian in The Draughtsman
Blakes 7~1979 - uncredited Goth Warrior in The Keeper
The Cannon and Ball Show~1979 - Mr. Black in Christmas Episode
Sykes~1973-1979 -
     Billy Knuckle in:
          Six Million Dollar Sykes
          Salesman
     Camper in Holiday Camp
The Sweeney~1978 - uncredited
     Kearny's Heavy (in blue) in One of Your Own
     Miller's Heavy in Down to You, Brother
     Pub Brawler in Night Out
Sykes~1976 - Camper in Holiday Camp
Rule Britannia!~1975 - Man in Pub in Once a Friend, Always a Friend
My Honourable Mrs.~1975 - Lorry Driver in Chinese Blues
Carry On Laughing!~1975 - Pikeman in One in the Eye for Harold
The Larry Grayson Hour of Stars~1974 -
Reg Varney~1974 - Various Characters in 2.2
Monty Python's Flying Circus~1973 - Jack Bodell in Dennis Moore: Boxing Tonight
Shut That Door!~1973 - Himself in 2.3
A Christmas Night with the Stars~1972 - Milkman in 25 December 1972
New Scotland Yard~1972 - Willie Herod in The Banker
On the Buses~1969-1971 -
     Vic in The Strain
     Bert in:
          The Canteen
          Bus Drivers' Stomach
The Persuaders!~1971 - English Tourist in Restaurant (voice is dubbed) in Overture

Doctor at Large~1971 - Labourer in A Situation Full of Promise
An Apple a Day~1971 -
The Benny Hill Show~1971 - Doubling for Benny Hill, Bob Todd and Lesley Goldie in Undercover Sanitary Inspector
'Wiltons' - The Handsomest Hall in Town~1970 - Staff/Patron
Happy Ever After~1970 - Larter in Come Back Stranger
Oh in Colour~1970 - Various Characters in 1.2
Department S~1970 - Carl Young in A Small War of Nerves
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)~1969 - Lord Dorking in Just for the Record
My Partner the Ghost~1969 - Lord Dorking in Just for th eRecord
As Good Cooks Go~1969 - in A Good Pull Up for Bentleys (Comedy Playhouse)
The Avengers~1967-1969 -
     Karate Opponent (uncredited) in Take Me to Your Leader
     Ministry Guard (uncredited) in The Morning After
     Henrik in Mission... Highly Improbable
Virgin of the Secret Service~1968 - Ivan in Persuasion of a Million Drops
The Magnificent Six and ½~1968 - Circus Strong Man ( 'Peewee Had a Little Ape')
Sanctuary~1968 - The Opponent in A Labour of Love
Two of a Kind~1967 - Himself in 10 December 1967
The World of Wooster~1967 - Porky Jupp in Jeeves and the Greasy Bird
The Saint~1962-1967 -
     George Benson in The Persistent Patriots (seen here choking Roger Moore)
     The Angel in The Crooked Ring
Mickey Dunne~1967 - Tojo in Over the Hill
Adam Adamant Lives!~1966 -
     First Security Guard in Death Begins at Seventy
     Lukas in Allah Is Not Always with You


The Baron~1966 - Charlie in Epitaph for a Hero
Barney Is My Darling~1965 - in The 2000 Pound a Year Man
Dixon of Dock Green~1963-1965 -
     Taxi Driver in:
          The Man Who Was Going to Die
          Castles in the Air
     Tom Rowe in Unwelcome Stranger
It's a Square World~1964 -  Man playing piano attached to submarine in 7.13

TV Stunts
The Secret Life of Ian Fleming~1990 (uncredited) (see Actor Connections - TV)
The Comic Strip Presents~1988 (uncredited coordinator: The Strike)
Ellis Island~1984 (mini) (uncredited)
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood~1984 (uncredited)
Blakes 7~1979 (uncredited: The Keeper)
The Sweeney~1975 (uncredited)
Goodies, The~1973 (stunts: Jousting) (#4.29)
The Benny Hill Show~1971 (stunt double: Bob Todd)
Department S~1969 (uncredited)
On the Buses~1969 (uncredited)
The Saint~1962 (uncredited)
Richard the Lionheart~1962 (uncredited)
It's a Square World~1960 (uncredited)
The Adventures of Robin Hood~1955 (uncredited)

Books
Nosher~2001 - Nosher Powell
Nosher!~1999 - Nosher Powell
Bare Fists: The History of Bare Knucklel Prize Fighting~2001 - mention
Understanding Television and Movies: Studies in Culture and Communication~ - mention

Boxing
No. 3 in British heavyweight rankings.
Record:
     78 fights, 51 as a professional. 16 losses (9 of which were KO, 2 by TKO, 5 on points)

Miscellany
2013 - Powell had wished that donations rather than flowers should be sent to Freddie Mills Boys Club after his death.

During his off time, Powell would tour in jousting tournaments around the country with the British Jousting Association as Sir Frederick of Gaywood. His younger brother, Dinny (also a stuntman/actor) played as Viscount Oval, and Powell's son, Greg, as Sir Gregory of Dulwich.

No comments: