Stefanie Powers

**Stefanie Powers** — born *Stefania Zofya Paul* on 2 November 1942 in Los Angeles, California—emerged from a turbulent childhood to become one of television’s most enduring stars. After a studio contract with Columbia Pictures at sixteen forced her to adopt the Anglo‑Saxon stage name *Stefanie Powers*, she spent the early 1960s appearing in a string of supporting film roles such as *Experiment in Terror* (1962), *McLintock!* (1963) and the medical drama *The Interns* (1962) and its sequel. Her breakthrough on the small screen arrived with the short‑lived but visually iconic series *The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.* (1966‑67), where her “*tempestuous* good looks” earned a TV‑Guide cover feature. The real turning point, however, was her casting as the sophisticated detective Jennifer Hart opposite Robert Wagner in the mystery series *Hart to Hart* (1979‑84), a role that garnered two Emmy nominations and five Golden Globe nods and cemented her place in pop‑culture folklore.

Beyond the small screen, Powers cultivated a rich and varied career that spanned stage, music, and wildlife activism. She toured in celebrated productions such as *The King and I* (2002‑05), originated the role of Helene Hanff in the UK tour of *84 Charing Cross Road* (2018), and released a debut CD, *On The Same Page* (2003), drawing from the Great American Songbook. Her personal life intertwined with Hollywood royalty: a marriage to actor Gary Lockwood (1966‑72), a high‑profile partnership with William Holden until his death in 1981, a second marriage to French aristocrat Patrick Houitte de La Chesnais (1993‑99), and a long‑lasting relationship with Tom Carroll until his passing in 2014. An avid polo player and a dedicated wildlife advocate, she founded the William Holden Wildlife Foundation and serves on several conservation boards. Recognized with a Hollywood Walk‑of‑Fame star (1992) and the Sarah Siddons Award (1993), Powers remains an active and beloved figure in entertainment and philanthropy.