.
Early life and boxing
George “Nosher” Powell (1928–2013)
George Frederick Bernard “Nosher” Powell (15 August 1928 – 20 April 2013) was a British heavyweight boxer, stuntman, actor, and all-round tough man who left a mark on mid-20th-century film and television. Known for his cockney humour, iron jaw, and no-nonsense style, Powell’s career spanned over five decades, from post-war boxing rings to the sets of James Bond, Star Wars, and Superman.
Born in Camberwell, South London, Nosher grew up in a working-class family and earned his nickname from his hearty appetite. During the Blitz, his family home was bombed, forcing relocation to Dorset, where he attended Swanage Grammar School. After serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps during his National Service, he took up boxing seriously, turning professional in the early 1950s.
He fought as a heavyweight in 51 professional bouts, winning most by knockout. He was once ranked among Britain’s top five heavyweights. In 1958, he fought the final boxing match ever held at London’s Harringay Arena, an event he won.
Breakthrough into film
His first known screen work was as a stunt performer in Laurence Olivier’s Henry V (1944). By the 1960s, Powell had established himself as one of Britain’s leading stunt specialists, appearing in or coordinating stunts for some of the biggest productions of the era including "Ben Hur" and "The Charge of the Light Brigade".
Among his other major film credits were From Russia With Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), You Only Live Twice (1967), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), and For Your Eyes Only (1981) — part of a long association with the James Bond franchise that saw him double for both Sean Connery and Roger Moore. He was also part of the stunt team for A Clockwork Orange(1971), Where Eagles Dare (1968), Kelly’s Heroes (1970), The Guns of Navarone (1961), Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), Superman (1978), and Conan the Destroyer (1984).
As an actor, Powell often played toughs, soldiers, or heavies, appearing in Zulu Dawn (1979), The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission (1985), The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery (1966), and The Sweeney. His television credits included The Saint, The Avengers, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), and The Professionals.
Family and legacy
Nosher married Pauline Wellman in 1952, and they had two sons, Greg and Gary Powell—both of whom followed him into the stunt profession. Alongside his brother, fellow stuntman Dennis “Dinny” Powell, the family became synonymous with British stunt work.
Powell died peacefully in his sleep on 20 April 2013, aged 84. His autobiography, Nosher! The Autobiography of a Working Man’s Stuntman, captures his wit, grit, and warmth.
Legacy
Nosher Powell was part of the golden age of physical stunt performance—an era before CGI, when danger was real and courage counted.
