The Untold Story of Tony Powell: From Soccer Stardom to a Life of Secrecy
During his time with the LA Galaxy, soccer player Robbie Rogers often passed by the dilapidated Holloway Motel on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. “I walked by it all the time," Rogers recalls. "I noticed it, but didn’t really pay attention.” What he didn’t know was that the motel was home to Tony Powell, a former British soccer star whose life took a mysterious turn 40 years ago.
After retiring from soccer, Powell chose to cut ties with his family and friends back in the UK, including his two daughters from a previous marriage. The reason? He was living a secret life as a gay man. Powell’s remarkable journey is now captured in the documentary “The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel,” which will premiere at the Tribeca Festival in New York City this Sunday.
Directed by Ramiel Petros and Nicholas Freeman and produced by Rogers, the film follows Powell, now 77 years old, as he vacated the motel two years ago, just before it was transformed into temporary housing for the homeless. The documentary highlights Powell’s emotional reunions with his family, including his daughters and the sister of his late partner, David, who passed away from AIDS in the 1980s.
Rogers reflects on the film’s impact, saying, “Watching the film, you may feel anger towards Tony for his past choices, but it also evokes empathy as you understand the deep-rooted homophobia he faced.” Rogers, who came out in 2013 before rejoining the Galaxy after a brief retirement, hopes audiences will take away a powerful message: “Confronting the truth can be terrifying, but the beauty that awaits on the other side is worth it.”
The filmmakers initially approached Powell after noticing him enjoying a glass of wine on the motel balcony. Their original goal was to create a short documentary addressing the motel’s closure and the local homelessness crisis. However, as Powell began to share his life story, the project evolved into something much deeper. “Each layer we uncovered revealed even more compelling and emotional narratives,” says Petros.
With the encouragement of Rogers and fellow producer Andrew D. Corkin, Petros and Freeman delved further into Powell’s life. “What started as a chance encounter transformed into a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Freeman adds.
The filmmakers have already shared the documentary with Powell and his sisters. Rogers expresses his gratitude, stating, “I’m thrilled this documentary was made; it has truly changed Tony’s life.”
As “The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel” makes its debut, it promises to shed light on issues of identity, acceptance, and the profound impact of facing one’s truth.
