On this day in 1984, actor William Powell died at the age of 91. Powell was best known for his role in the popular “Thin Man” movies, in which he and co-star Myrna Loy starred as detective couple Nick and Nora Charles. In the original movie and in the book by author Dashiell Hammett, the “Thin Man” character was a mysterious stranger, but the nickname quickly became associated with Powell’s suave, sophisticated Nick Charles character. Before the advent of sound, Powell frequently appeared in silent films as a villain.