Stefanie Powers' early career began as a teenager, dancing for the Michele Paniaff Ballet Company and Jerome Robbins. At the tender age of 16, she was put under contract by Columbia Pictures, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey in the twilight of the Hollywood Studio System. During her tenure with Columbia, she appeared in an impressive 15 motion pictures and was loaned to United Artists for the John Wayne production of McClintock!
As her career continued to flourish, MGM Television purchased her contract from Columbia, presenting her as the iconic "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E." in 1966. Her extensive television credits include over 200 guest appearances, 18 mini-series, and two weekly series, "The Feather and Father Gang" (1976) and the long-running "Hart to Hart" (1979).
In addition to her television work, Powers has had a distinguished stage career, beginning in 1964 with a production of "Under the Yum Yum Tree" in San Francisco, which ran for an impressive 12 years after its initial opening. She has appeared on and off Broadway in various musical shows and tributes, including "Matador" and "Love Letters" in the West End. Her British stage credits include "The King and I", "The Adjustment", and "84 Charing Cross Road".
In the United States, Powers has appeared in notable productions such as "Annie Get Your Gun", "Oliver", "Applause" (the revival),"Sunset Boulevard", and "Gotta Dance", directed by Jerry Mitchell. In 2018, she appeared in the film "The Artist's Wife" (2019) alongside Lena Olin and Bruce Dern, and reprised her role in a London revival of "84 Charing Cross Road".
Powers is also an advocate for wildlife conservation and is the creator of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, established in memory of her long-time life partner William Holden. She has received numerous fellowships and awards for her tireless work in conservation and is a faculty member of the Oxford Literary Festival at Christ Church College, Oxford, where she leads forums with authors of outstanding books on environmental issues.
As a dedicated conservationist, Powers has served on the boards of four zoos in North America and is an independent board member of a cluster of three mutual funds within the American Funds, one of the largest mutual fund families in the world. She has also presented the PBS 13-part series "Funding Your Dreams" as a guide for women contemplating investment options.
Throughout her illustrious career, Powers has received numerous accolades, including a script nomination from the Writers' Guild of America, five Emmy nominations for her acting roles, and a People's Choice Award. She currently resides in Los Angeles, London, and Kenya.