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Alvin Powell
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Alvin Robert Powell II (born November 19, 1959)[2] is a former National Football League guard.[3][4] actor and celebrity bodyguard. He currently speaks about drug awareness and substance abuse.[5][6]
Key Information
Football career
[edit]Powell spent the 1984 USFL season with the Oklahoma Outlaws based in Tulsa and then moved with the team in 1985 to become one of the Arizona Outlaws based in Tempe, Arizona, after Oklahoma had merged with the Arizona Wranglers. He blocked for among others, quarterback Doug Williams who would later win Super Bowl XXII with the Washington Redskins. Powell was drafted into the NFL in 1984 by the Seattle Seahawks, in the second round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players (49th overall).[7][2] Powell joined the NFL in 1987 with the Seattle Seahawks.[8] The team was moderately successful that year, winning nine games, and losing six, before losing to the Houston Oilers in the AFC Wildcard playoff.[9] The next year, the team won nine games, and lost seven, before losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Playoff.[10]
He joined the Miami Dolphins in 1989, but only played in two games[8] before resigning.[3]
He played with the London Monarchs of the World Football League from 1991 to 1992.[11]
In his first season with the Seattle Seahawks (1987), he was involved in three kickoffs, gaining 23 yards. However, 14 of those came from one kickoff. He also fumbled the ball once. After that season, he never was involved in another NFL kickoff. In 1987, he played in a career-high twelve games.[8] That number sank to six the next year, and to two by 1989.
Filmography
[edit]Drug addiction and counseling
[edit]Powell started using crack cocaine in 1985,[3] and by 1988 was addicted to cocaine, and was smoking marijuana and drinking significant amounts of alcohol.[3]
Powell currently is a substance abuse counselor, helping people combat their drug problems.[5] He also speaks at schools about drugs.[5][6] Despite the fact that he is a devout Christian, he says that he never forces the people who he helps to believe in God.[5]
He runs the Saving Station Foundation, which teaches people about the dangers of drugs. It is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Alvin Powell". National Football League. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
- ^ a b "Alvin Powell". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Alvin Powell". Saving Station Foundation. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
- ^ "Alvin Powell - Drug Awareness". Stanstead, Quebec, Canada: Stanstead College. October 25, 2005. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Chris Barry (2005). "Life After Crack". Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Montreal Mirror. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
- ^ a b Stephannie Johnson (May 17, 2006). "Former NFL all-star Alvin Powell bombarded with emails from teens". Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
- ^ "1984 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Alvin Powell". Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
- ^ "1987 Seattle Seahawks". Archived from the original on February 5, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
- ^ "1988 Seattle Seahawks". Archived from the original on February 5, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
- ^ "Biography for Alvin Powell". IMDb. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "The Whole Nine Yards". TV Guide. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ "Snake Eyes". Short on What. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ McGregor, Glen (May 18, 2009). "Ex-NFL player inspires Cree teens". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
External links
[edit]- Alvin Powell at IMDb
- Alvin Powell at Saving Station Foundation
Alvin Powell
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and football career
Birth and background
Alvin Powell was born on November 19, 1959, in Panama City, Panama. [1] He was one of four children and grew up in a broken home, with his father living in the United States while his mother remained in Panama. [5] This family separation contributed to an unstable childhood environment marked by poverty and squalor, as Powell was shuttled back and forth between Panama and the United States, resulting in frequent school changes. [5] Powell described himself as a troubled child who excelled at sports but also engaged in criminal activities, beginning with expulsions from school as early as the second grade. [5] He faced multiple run-ins with the law in Panama, which prompted his relocation to the United States to continue his education. [3] He eventually settled in North Carolina and attended Pine Forest High School in Fayetteville. [1] Powell also dealt with learning disabilities and required three attempts to pass a required standardized test to graduate high school. [5] He began using marijuana during his high school years. [6] Powell later transitioned to college in the United States, where he pursued football. [1]College football
Alvin Powell played college football at Winston–Salem State University as an offensive guard for the Rams. [1] [7] His collegiate career spanned the years 1980 to 1982. [8] Listed at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 265 pounds, Powell anchored the offensive line during his time with the program. [7] Following his college tenure, his play at Winston–Salem State made him eligible for the 1984 NFL supplemental draft, where he was selected in the second round (49th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks. [9] Detailed statistics or specific individual achievements from his college seasons are limited in available records from the era. [1]Professional football career
Alvin Powell began his professional football career in the United States Football League (USFL), playing as an offensive guard. He joined the Oklahoma Outlaws for the 1984 season, appearing in 18 games and starting all 18 at right offensive guard.[8] In 1985, following the merger of the Oklahoma Outlaws with the Arizona Wranglers, he played for the Arizona Outlaws, appearing in 18 games while blocking for quarterback Doug Williams.[10] Concurrently, Powell was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round (49th overall) of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft.[1] Powell signed with the Seahawks and made his NFL debut in 1987, playing in 12 games and recording three kickoff returns for 23 yards along with one fumble.[1] He appeared in six games for Seattle in 1988.[1] In 1989, he played two games for the Miami Dolphins before concluding his NFL tenure.[1] Over his NFL career, Powell played in 20 games with no starts.[1] After his time in the NFL, Powell continued his playing career in other leagues. He played for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football from 1991 to 1992.[11] In 1992, he also appeared in one game for the Cleveland Thunderbolts of the Arena Football League as an offensive and defensive lineman.[12]Entertainment career
Acting roles
Alvin Powell transitioned from his professional football career to acting, taking on minor and supporting roles in film and television productions. [4] He is known for his appearances in Lucky Number Slevin (2006) as Tree and Death Wish (2018) as Chicago Cop. [4] His acting credits also include M. Muscle in Heads or Tails (1997), Nemrod's Man in Babel (1999), Desmond in Chasing Holden (2003), Bailiff in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2008 TV movie), Dee in Burning Mussolini (2009), and a bouncer in one episode of 19-2 (2015). These roles typically featured Powell as security personnel, law enforcement figures, or physically imposing characters, reflecting his athletic background. [4]Stunt work
Alvin Powell contributed to the stunt departments of several films between 1998 and 2009. [4] He performed stunts in the thriller Snake Eyes (1998), directed by Brian De Palma. [4] Powell followed this with additional stunt work on the crime comedy The Whole Nine Yards (2000) and the thriller Slow Burn (2000). [4] In 2002, he advanced to the position of stunt coordinator on the action film Steal. [4] His final credited stunt role came as a stunt performer on Burning Mussolini (2009), a project in which he also had an acting credit. [4]Later career and advocacy
Bodyguard work and counseling
After his stints in professional football and entertainment, Alvin Powell worked as a celebrity bodyguard, protecting high-profile entertainers such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, and Celine Dion. [13] [14] His physical build and experience in contact sports provided a natural foundation for this demanding role in personal security. [13] Powell's transition to substance abuse counseling stemmed from his own battle with addiction, which began in 1985 when he was introduced to crack cocaine by a teammate. [13] He became a full-blown addict within three years, struggling with crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. [11] [13] After entering treatment in Montreal in 1988, he achieved sobriety. [13] Powell now works as a substance abuse counselor at Chabad Lifeline in Montreal, where he draws on his personal recovery to assist others in overcoming drug addiction. [11] He focuses on helping individuals combat their substance abuse issues through direct counseling and guidance based on his lived experience. [11]Public speaking and foundation
Alvin Powell co-founded the Saving Station Foundation in 2004, a Montreal-based non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating substance abuse through education, prevention activities, programs, and support for schools, organizations, and communities.[13] [2] As its spokesperson and motivational speaker, he travels across Canada to deliver presentations on drug awareness, drawing from his own recovery from addiction to warn youth about its dangers and promote prevention.[15][16] His speaking engagements target schools, youth groups, and First Nations communities, where he shares his personal story of crack cocaine addiction during his NFL career and the path to recovery in a direct, no-nonsense style that avoids sugar-coating to build credibility with audiences.[16][15] Notable examples include multiple presentations at schools in Parry Sound in 2006, an address to aboriginal youth at the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation career fair in 2013, talks at Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School in Brampton in 2017, and sessions with youth and community members in Serpent River First Nation in 2018.[17][5][15][13] Powell stresses early intervention, noting that drug use can begin as young as age 11 and advocating for prevention education to start in Grade 6 before high school risks escalate.[16] As a devout Christian, he adopts a non-proselytizing approach in his talks, focusing exclusively on his experiences and practical prevention messages without discussing religion.[13]Filmography
Acting credits
Alvin Powell has credits as an actor in various films and television series, typically in supporting or minor roles that draw upon his imposing physical presence from his professional football days.[4] His acting work spans from 1997 to 2018 and often appears in action-oriented or thriller projects.[4] The following table lists his verified acting credits in chronological order:| Year | Title | Role | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Heads or Tails | M. Muscle | Film |
| 1999 | Babel | Nemrod's Man | Film |
| 2003 | Chasing Holden | Desmond | Film |
| 2006 | Lucky Number Slevin | Tree | Film |
| 2008 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Bailiff | TV Movie |
| 2009 | Burning Mussolini | Dee | Film |
| 2015 | 19-2 | Bouncer | TV series |
| 2018 | Death Wish | Chicago Cop | Film |
Stunt credits
Alvin Powell has received credits for stunt work in several feature films, primarily in action and thriller genres.[18] His stunt credits, listed in chronological order, are as follows:[18]| Year | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Snake Eyes | Stunts |
| 2000 | The Whole Nine Yards | Stunts |
| 2000 | Slow Burn | Stunts |
| 2002 | Steal | Stunt coordinator |
| 2009 | Burning Mussolini | Stunt performer |