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Taryn Power
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Taryn Stephanie Power[citation needed] (September 13, 1953 – June 26, 2020) was an American actress.
Key Information
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Early life, family and education
[edit]Power was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1953, to actors Tyrone Power and Linda Christian.[1] When her parents divorced in 1956, her mother took Taryn and her elder sister Romina to live all around the world, mainly spending their childhoods in Mexico City (her mother's mother's home),[2] Italy, and Spain.[3] Power's father died in 1958 of a heart attack when she was five years old.[citation needed] She was educated during her later youth at boarding schools in England.[2]
Career
[edit]Taryn Power acted in eight films. Her first two were in Spanish, and the rest were mostly English language films. The first film was the Mexican film Maria (1972); she was the starring role and was cast when she was 18 years old.[2] She played Valentine De Villefort in The Count of Monte Cristo (1975), which starred Richard Chamberlain, Donald Pleasence, and Tony Curtis; her character's father was played by Louis Jourdan.[2] She played Dione in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977), starring Patrick Wayne (son of John Wayne)[2] and Jane Seymour. On television, she acted in an episode of Matt Houston.[2]
Personal life and death
[edit]In 1975, she met photographer Norman Seeff in Los Angeles, and eventually married him shortly before the birth of her first child, Tai. Her relationship with Seeff faded, ending in divorce in 1982.
Power lived with rock musician Tony Sales (son of comedian Soupy Sales) in the 1980s. They had two children together: Anthony Tyrone Sales (born 1982) and Valentina Fox Sales (born 1983).[2]
Power married William Greendeer and with him had a fourth child, Stella Greendeer, on April 21, 1996.[4]
Taryn Power died from leukemia on June 26, 2020, after a 4+1⁄2-year battle against the disease.[5]
Filmography
[edit]| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1972 | María | María | |
| 1974 | Un Viaje de locos | Fedora | |
| 1975 | The Count of Monte Cristo | Valentine De Villefort | |
| 1976 | Tracks | Stephanie | |
| House of Pleasure for Women | Olimpia | Alternative title: Bordella | |
| 1977 | Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger | Dione | Alternative title: Sinbad at the World's End |
| 1984 | The Sea Serpent | Margaret | Alternative title: Serpiente de Mar |
| 1990 | Eating | Anita | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Helene Holstead | 1 episode |
| 1985 | Matt Houston | Deborah | 1 episode |
Award nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Saturn Award | Nominated | Best Actress - Fantasy | Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger |
References
[edit]- ^ Deutsch, Linda (2 January 1975). "Taryn Power Has No Recollection Of Her Movie-idol Father". Lewiston Evening Journal. Associated Press – via Google News.
- ^ a b c d e f g Evans, Hilary (10 June 1985). "Tyrone Power's Daughter Taryn Steps into the Family Business". People. Vol. 23, no. 23. Archived from the original on 2011-02-16.
- ^ Berumen, F.J.G. (2016). Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-4766-1411-3. Retrieved 5 November 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Ty's Children". tyrone-power.com. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ nj (2020-06-28). "Farewell to Taryn Power, Romina Power's younger sister and actress". njmmanews.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
External links
[edit]- Taryn Power at IMDb
- Taryn Power discography at Discogs
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
 | This article about a United States film actor born in the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Taryn Power
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Family background
Taryn Stephanie Power was born on September 13, 1953, in Los Angeles, California, to prominent Hollywood actors Tyrone Power and Linda Christian.[5] Her father, Tyrone Power (1914–1958), was a leading man in over 50 films during the 1930s through 1950s, known for swashbuckling roles in pictures such as The Mark of Zorro (1940) and Captain from Castile (1947), establishing him as one of 20th Century Fox's biggest stars.[6] Her mother, Linda Christian (1923–2011), was a Mexican-born actress who gained fame in Hollywood and international cinema, appearing in films like Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948) and becoming the first actress to portray a Bond girl in the 1954 television adaptation of Casino Royale.[7] The couple married on January 27, 1949, in a high-profile ceremony in Rome, Italy, attended by thousands of fans, but their union was marked by the pressures of stardom and mutual infidelities.[8] Power was the younger of two daughters from her parents' marriage; her older sister, Romina Power, was born on October 2, 1951, and later pursued a successful career as an actress and singer, notably as part of the duo Al Bano & Romina Power. The family initially enjoyed a glamorous life in Beverly Hills, with the children often appearing in publicity photos alongside their famous parents, reflecting the era's celebrity culture.[9] However, the parents' divorce, finalized on May 11, 1955, after six years of marriage, disrupted this stability, with Christian gaining custody of the young girls amid allegations of mental cruelty from both sides.[10] Tyrone Power's sudden death on November 15, 1958, at age 44, from a heart attack while filming Solomon and Sheba in Madrid, Spain, profoundly altered the family's dynamics, leaving Taryn, then five years old, and Romina without their father and thrusting Christian into single parenthood.[6] Power's third wife, Deborah Minardos, whom he had married just months earlier on May 7, 1958, gave birth posthumously to their son, Tyrone Power Jr., on January 22, 1959, making him Taryn's half-brother; the siblings later formed a close bond in adulthood despite the circumstances of his birth.[11] These early losses contributed to a fragmented family structure, with the sisters primarily raised by their mother in Europe and Mexico, while navigating the lingering shadow of their parents' Hollywood legacy.[12]Childhood and education
Following her parents' divorce in 1955, when she was nearly two years old, Taryn Power lived primarily with her mother, Linda Christian, and her older sister, Romina, in Mexico City, where she was raised by a nanny and her maternal grandmother amid her parents' frequent separations.[13] At age seven, around 1960, she relocated with her mother to Europe, initially to Rome, where Christian pursued her acting career and later married actor Edmund Purdom in 1963; the family subsequently spent time in Spain due to Christian's professional commitments. Power's education reflected her peripatetic upbringing across multiple countries. She attended boarding schools in Italy, where she developed an interest in performing, and became fluent in English, Spanish, and French.[14] The death of her father, Tyrone Power, in 1958 while filming in Spain, when Taryn was five, left her with no personal memories of him, as their time together had been limited by the divorce and his career demands; her earliest recollection was kneeling at his graveside shortly after.[13] To connect with his legacy, she later watched his films and attended annual memorial services organized by his fans, which helped her piece together aspects of his life and career.[13] Growing up in the shadow of her mother's acting profession and her sister's emerging pursuits in modeling and entertainment in Europe during the late 1960s, Power gained early exposure to the industry, though she initially showed little personal inclination toward it, prioritizing her education before returning to the United States in her late teens.Career
Debut and early roles
Taryn Power entered the acting profession in 1972, drawing inspiration from her parents' illustrious careers in film—Tyrone Power, a leading man of Hollywood's Golden Age, and Linda Christian, a prominent actress known for roles in films like Tarzan and the Mermaids. Despite the weight of this family legacy, she initially approached the industry with a sense of independence, seeking to establish her own path rather than directly emulating her father's swashbuckling persona.[14] Her professional debut occurred in 1972 with the Mexican drama María, directed by Tito Davison and based on the Colombian novel by Jorge Isaacs. In this her first starring role, Power portrayed the titular character, a young woman in a tragic romance set against Colombia's 19th-century backdrop, marking her introduction to international cinema and her sole lead in a Spanish-language production. The film, shot primarily in Mexico, highlighted her early versatility in handling emotionally intense narratives, though it received modest attention outside Latin American markets.[15][16] Following her debut, Power continued with supporting roles in Latin American cinema, including the 1974 Argentine comedy Un viaje de locos, directed by Rafael Cohen. Cast as Fedora, she played one of two beauty contest winners embarking on a chaotic trip to Bariloche, showcasing her comedic timing alongside co-stars like Donald and Claudia de Colombia. This lighthearted adventure film represented her transition toward more ensemble-driven projects and further honed her on-screen presence in non-English language environments.[17] By 1973–1974, Power relocated her focus to Hollywood, signing with a talent agent to pursue opportunities in American productions amid the competitive landscape of the era's film industry. As the daughter of two Hollywood icons, she navigated initial media attention that often emphasized her lineage over her talents, positioning her as a "nepo baby" subject to heightened scrutiny regarding her qualifications and potential. This period of establishment was marked by auditions and minor appearances, setting the stage for her breakthrough in English-language roles shortly thereafter.[5][12]Major film and television work
Taryn Power achieved her breakthrough in the mid-1970s with the role of Valentine de Villefort in the television film The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975), an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel directed by David Greene, where she portrayed the prosecutor's daughter caught in a web of betrayal and romance opposite Richard Chamberlain as Edmond Dantès.[18] This performance marked her transition from minor Spanish-language films to prominent English-language television, showcasing her poise in period drama.[1] In 1976, Power appeared in two contrasting features: the psychological war drama Tracks, directed by Henry Jaglom, in which she played Stephanie, the compassionate companion to Dennis Hopper's shell-shocked Vietnam veteran; and the Italian-Spanish production House of Pleasure for Women (also known as Bordella), where she portrayed Olimpia, a character in a period drama exploring themes of vice and redemption. These roles highlighted her versatility in both introspective character studies and international ensemble adventures. Power's most commercially successful outing was her supporting turn as Dione, the scholarly inventor's daughter who joins Sinbad's quest against a sorceress, in the fantasy adventure Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977), directed by Sam Wanamaker and starring Patrick Wayne as Sinbad alongside Jane Seymour; the film, featuring stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen, grossed $16 million domestically and appealed to audiences with its blend of myth and spectacle.[19] She also appeared as Helene Holstead in an episode of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977), contributing to the show's mystery-adventure format. By the 1980s, Power's focus shifted to limited television work, including a guest spot as the enigmatic heiress Deborah in the Matt Houston episode "Killing Time" (1985), where her character becomes entangled in a terrorist plot and romantic intrigue with investigator Matt Houston (Lee Horsley). Power's screen career continued with the role of Margaret in the adventure film The Sea Serpent (1984), involving a sea monster threat, and concluded with the role of Anita in the ensemble comedy Eating (1990), directed by Henry Jaglom, which explored women's relationships through dinner conversations and featured a diverse cast including Nelly Alard and Lisa Richards; this marked the slowdown in her output after a decade of sporadic projects. Spanning 1972 to 1990, her body of work encompassed roughly ten films and a handful of television appearances, emphasizing supporting parts in fantasy, drama, and adventure genres.[1]Awards and recognition
Taryn Power's acting career, spanning less than two decades and centered on supporting roles in fantasy and adventure films, resulted in one notable industry nomination. She received a Saturn Award nomination in 1978 for Best Supporting Actress in a Genre Film for her role as Dione in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. Comprehensive databases such as IMDb confirm this accolade, reflecting some recognition within genre cinema despite the niche appeal of her work. She received no nominations from prestigious bodies like the Primetime Emmy Awards or Golden Globe Awards, which typically honor broader television and film achievements. This gap underscores the challenges faced by actors in short-lived careers focused on specialized genres, where mainstream recognition often eludes performers despite dedicated fan appreciation for roles like her portrayal of Dione in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.[20] Posthumously, following her death from leukemia in 2020, Taryn Power has been occasionally referenced in discussions of the Power family legacy, particularly in biographical pieces on her father, Tyrone Power, though no formal industry tributes or festival honors have been documented. Her contributions remain celebrated primarily among enthusiasts of 1970s fantasy cinema, highlighting a lasting but understated impact.[1][21]Personal life
Relationships and marriages
Taryn Power's first marriage was to photographer Norman Seeff in 1978; the couple divorced in 1982.[5] After her divorce from Seeff, Power married musician Tony Fox Sales, son of comedian Soupy Sales, in the 1980s (exact date unknown); the marriage ended in divorce.[5] In 1993, Power married William Greendeer in a tribal ceremony; the marriage later ended in divorce, though the exact date remains unknown.[5][4] Power and Greendeer relocated to a farm on the Winnebago reservation in Wisconsin in 1994, representing a significant shift away from her Hollywood career.[4][22] No additional relationships for Power are documented following the 1990s, during which she prioritized privacy and family life in rural Wisconsin.[22]Children and family
Taryn Power had four children from her three marriages. Her eldest daughter, Tai Dawn Seeff, was born on December 28, 1978, in Los Angeles, with her first husband, photographer Norman Seeff.[23] With her second husband, musician Tony Fox Sales, Power welcomed son Anthony Tyrone Sales on September 4, 1982, in Los Angeles, followed by daughter Valentina Fox Sales on September 10, 1983.[23] Her youngest child, daughter Stella Bianca Greendeer, was born on April 21, 1996, to her third husband, William Greendeer.[4] In the early 1990s, Power moved to Wisconsin with her children, embracing a quieter family-oriented life and deliberately stepping back from acting to focus on motherhood.[4] Power remained closely connected to her extended family, sharing a strong bond with her sister Romina Power through shared reminiscences of their childhood and their father's legacy, while also engaging with nephews and nieces from her half-brother Tyrone Power Jr.'s family.[12]Illness and death
In the later years of her life, Taryn Power was diagnosed with leukemia and maintained a private battle against the disease, with limited public disclosure during her treatment.[24] She fought the illness for approximately one and a half years before her condition deteriorated.[24][25] Power passed away on June 26, 2020, at the age of 66, in her home in Viroqua, Wisconsin, due to complications from leukemia, surrounded by her four children and four grandchildren.[24][21] Her death was announced by her sister, Romina Power, who shared a heartfelt tribute on social media highlighting Taryn's role as a loving mother, grandmother, and devoted sibling.[24] Following her passing, a private funeral service was held for family members, reflecting the personal nature of her final arrangements.[21] From 2020 to 2025, media remembrances often connected her legacy to that of her father, the renowned actor Tyrone Power, emphasizing her place within Hollywood's storied family lineage.[24]Filmography
Feature films
Taryn Power appeared in seven feature films over her career, spanning drama, comedy, adventure, and fantasy genres. Many of her early projects were international co-productions, reflecting her work in Mexico, Argentina, Italy, and Spain alongside American and British films. Her roles ranged from leads in her debut to supporting parts in later works, with no films credited after 1990.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | María | María | Lead role in this Mexican drama directed by Tito Davison, based on a Colombian novel about a tragic love story.[15] |
| 1974 | Un viaje de locos | Fedora | Supporting role in this Argentine comedy about two beauty contest winners on a chaotic trip, directed by Rafael Cohen.[17] |
| 1976 | Tracks | Stephanie | Supporting role in this American drama about a Vietnam veteran's train journey, directed by Henry Jaglom and co-starring Dennis Hopper.[26] |
| 1976 | Bordella (House of Pleasure for Women) | Olimpia | Supporting role in this Italian satirical comedy about a brothel owner, directed by Pupi Avati.[27] |
| 1977 | Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger | Dione | Lead supporting role as a Greek scholar's daughter aiding Sinbad in this British fantasy adventure with stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen, directed by Sam Wanamaker.[28] |
| 1985 | The Sea Serpent | Margaret | Supporting role in this Spanish-American horror-fantasy about a radioactive sea monster, directed by Amando de Ossorio.[29] |
| 1990 | Eating | Anita | Minor role in this American comedy-drama exploring women's lives through food and relationships at a birthday party, directed by Henry Jaglom.[30] |