Joe Powell

Joe Powell (21 March 1922 – 30 June 2016) was a British stuntman and actor whose long and daring career earned him the title “the daddy of British stuntmen.” Born in Shepherd’s Bush, London, Powell grew up with a strong sense of adventure that would later define his life both in wartime and on film sets.

He joined the British Army as a teenager, serving first with the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers Cadet Corps before transferring to the Grenadier Guards during the Second World War. His military service took him to some of the most intense battles of the conflict, including the 1942 Dieppe raid—where he was briefly knocked unconscious—and the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Known for his physical endurance and discipline, he also boxed competitively for the regimental team, skills that later proved invaluable in his stunt career.

After the war, a chance meeting with actor Dennis Price led Powell to Pinewood Studios, where he began working as a film extra. His boxing background and fearlessness quickly caught the attention of filmmakers, and he soon became part of a stunt team led by Captain Jock Easton. From there, his career flourished. Powell performed in many of cinema’s great epics and adventure films, including The Guns of Navarone (1961), The Longest Day (1962), Cleopatra (1963), Zulu (1964), Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965), and The Man Who Would Be King (1975). He also contributed to several James Bond productions, helping shape the franchise’s reputation for spectacular action.

Powell’s daring work earned him a place in The Guardian’s list of the ten greatest film stunts ever performed, highlighting his skill, courage, and ingenuity. In addition to his on-screen achievements, he documented his life in his autobiography The Life and Times of a Fall Guy (2007), offering a vivid account of both the perils and thrills of his profession.

Twice married—first to Marguerite and later to Juliet—Powell was the father of four sons and a daughter. His younger brother, Eddie Powell, also became a highly respected stuntman, and together they left a lasting mark on the golden age of British action cinema. Joe Powell passed away in London on 30 June 2016 at the age of 94, remembered as a pioneer whose fearlessness helped define the art of stunt performance.