Ben Powers, who played Thelma's (BernNadette Stanis) husband
Keith Anderson on the final season of the classic CBS sitcom "Good
Times," has died. He was 64.
Powers died April 6 in New Bedford, Mass., his family
announced. No cause of death was revealed.
Powers joined the cast of "Good Times" for its
sixth and final season from 1978 to 1979 season, playing Keith, a professional
football player. His character and Thelma wed in the third episode of that
season, but he injures his leg while walking out of the church, straining their
relationship.
Powers also had a regular role as "Moochie" on the
CBS detective drama show, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, from 1984 to 1985.
Powers had a small part in "Cheech & Chong's Next Movie"
(1980). He was back with the comedy pair in "Things Are Tough All
Over" (1982). He also appeared in "The Man Who Loved Women"
(1983) starring Burt Reynolds. He also guest-starred on shows such as
"Gimme a Break," "Flamingo Road," "The Greatest American
Hero" and "Laverne & Shirley."
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Providence, R.I., by his
grandparents, Alton "Ben" Powers attended the Rhode Island School of
Design for painting and sketching before focusing on acting.
He performed stand-up comedy routines in Providence,
incorporating impressions and songs into his act, where he was discovered by a
Hollywood agent. Gigs at the Playboy clubs in Los Angeles, New York and Boston
led to a job in 1977 on the revived version of "Laugh-In."
Survivors include his mother and his sisters Yvonne and
Maya.
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The cast of 'Good Times' from left to right: Ralph Carter,
Janet Jackson,
Esther Rolle, BernNadette Stanis, Ben Powers,
Ja'net DuBois, and
Jimmie Walker
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