Let me tell you about Stefanie Powers, a woman whose life has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the late '70s, Stefanie was set to star in a Broadway production of Cyrano de Bergerac. But here's the twist—New York's newspapers went on strike, and that freed her up to star in the pilot of Hart to Hart. "When newspaper strikes would happen, no play would come from out of town because there was no way to publicize them," Stefanie exclusively shares with Closer. "I will be forever grateful to whichever union caused the strike and allowed me to work on the pilot."
Hart to Hart: The Glamorous Mystery Duo
This unexpected turn of events led to a television phenomenon. From 1979 to 1984, Stefanie teamed up with Robert Wagner to play Jennifer and Jonathan Hart, a glamorous couple who solved mysteries while mingling with the world's elite. "I had worked with Robert before," Stefanie reminisces, describing their relationship as more like siblings. "Sometimes, we'd get into laughing fits on set, and they'd have to send us home. It was just one of those things where you couldn't help but laugh."
A Friendship Rooted in Hollywood's Early Days
Stefanie's friendship with Robert dates back to her early days in Hollywood. She knew both his late wife, Natalie Wood, and his current spouse, Jill St. John, even longer. They all shared a common bond growing up in Los Angeles in the '50s. "Los Angeles in the 1950s was like growing up in a small town," Stefanie, now 82, explains. "It was an industry town, and everybody knew everybody. There wasn't a set I walked on as a teenager where I didn't know someone."
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From Small Roles to a Breakthrough
Stefanie's journey in the entertainment industry wasn't always easy. After many small roles in films, she finally got her big break when she was cast as a secret agent on TV's The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.. "We made 29 episodes a year, which is almost unheard of in today's world," she recalls. Despite the show not being picked up for a second season, it provided an incredible training ground. "We had Boris Karloff playing in drag in 'The Mother Muffin Affair' [episode]," she says. "It was such a treat to work with him. Those experiences shaped me into the actress I am today."
Stefanie's life took a romantic turn when she met Oscar-winning actor William Holden at a dinner party at the age of 19. Their relationship blossomed over the years, and they embarked on a romance in 1972 that lasted until his passing in 1981. "We both had curiosities about people, places, history, art, and wildlife," she explains. "In pursuit of all of those interests, we traveled extensively." One of their most memorable adventures took her to Kenya, where Stefanie found a new passion.
African Adventures and Love
Kenya, where Stefanie maintains a home and runs the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, was the backdrop for many of her most romantic moments with Bill. "One of the sides we shared the most was our love of Africa and just being outdoors," she recalls. "We'd sleep under the sky, track animals, catch them, and ship them to zoos and parks all over the world. It was a real-life adventure." But life wasn't always easy. One night in Los Angeles, Bill suffered convulsions after drinking. Stefanie acted quickly, likely saving his life, but found herself at a crossroads. Despite warnings from friends, she decided to stay by his side. "For about six of the nine years we were together, he was sober," she explains. "That was very meaningful for both of us."
A Tragic Loss and Moving Forward
In 1981, while Stefanie was filming in Hawaii, Bill passed away after hitting his head during a binge. This time, she wasn't there to save him. "That was a very, very tragic period," Stefanie admits. Her co-star, Robert Wagner, also lost his wife, Natalie Wood, the same year. "We held each other up," she says. Despite the heartbreak, Stefanie continued to pursue her passion for acting. She's enjoyed playing roles like Anna in The King and I and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Would Bill have approved of her playing the delusional Norma? "I'm sure Bill and I would have had a good laugh," Stefanie says. "How things come around."
Stefanie cherishes the immediacy of theater work. "After the curtain goes up, no one can say, 'Cut, I've got a hair in the lens,'" she explains. "You have a beginning, a middle, and an end every night. Eight times a week. Also, I get to do many more varied roles in theater than I would get a chance to do on film. It's very challenging and often rewarding."
A Legacy of Conservation
After Bill's passing, Stefanie founded the William Holden Wildlife Foundation. "Our mission statement for the charity is wildlife conservation through education and alternatives to habitat destruction," she explains. The Kenya-based organization provides programs to teach people how to adopt more environmentally supportive practices in farming and rural life. "In the last 25 years, we've been serving about 11,000 students a year," she says. "We usually rebuild their schools, install books, charts, and education programs about biodiversity and how it affects their lives."
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Many conservationists believe Africa may hold the key to global climate change solutions. "The hardcore truth is that electric cars are not going to change the climate," Stefanie asserts. "What is going to change the climate is a reimagining of the overexploited factory farming system that the world is engaged in." Stefanie has been moved by the transformation of once-un可持续 villages. "To see people who were starving now living off the land that they thought was dead is quite rewarding," she says. "I'd like people to know that there is worthwhile work going on and it's working—which is some very positive news."
