Diana Lewis was born on the 18th September, 1919, in New Jersey. She was one of three children, her parents were Vaudeville actors, who encouraged their children to join them on the stage.
Unfortunately not much is known about her life until she started her film career at the age of 16 when she had a small part in the movie 'It's a Gift'. She then landed a contract with MGM and gradually became better known in Hollywood. At this time she also married fellow actor Jay Faye, whom she would later divorce.
In 1939 she met William Powell, who was 27 years her senior and after an impetuous courtship they got married after knowing each other for only three weeks. Diana now went by the name of 'Mousie', a nickname given to her by Bill because of her petit size (she was only 5'1" in height).
After sticking to her career for three years and making some big hits such as 'Cry Havoc' and 'Johnny Eager', Mousie stopped working and became a full time wife. Bill's and Mousie's marriage is thought to be one of the happiest ever seen in Hollywood. Mousie replied to a question at the age of 62, "I love him more now than the day I married him." And Bill replied with "I'd have been a dead man without her. She's my life."
Mousie was very active in charitable work and also had two hobbies: painting and sports. She was especially fond of golf and tennis. She became the founder of the Palette Club in California and The 'Mousetrap Open', a golf tournament which still runs today but under the name 'Founders Award'.
William Powell died in 1984 after being married to Mousie for 44 years. Diana continued to live a quiet life until her death from pancreatic cancer on the 18th January, 1997 at the age of 77. She is laid to rest with William Powell at Desert Memorial Park, California.
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Filmography:
1934
It's a Gift
1935
An Hour Late
Enter Madam
All the Kins Horses
Choose Your Partners
1936
Grand Slam Opera
1937
Love Nest on Wheels
1938
He Couldn't Say No
Gold Diggers in Paris
1939
First Offenders
1940
Forty Little Lovers
Andy Hardy Meets Debutant
Bitter Sweet
Go West
1941
The People Vs. Dr Kildare
Johnny Eager
1942
Whistling in Dixie
Seven Sweethearts
1943
Cry Havoc
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