During his tenure with the LA Galaxy, soccer player Robbie Rogers resided merely a few blocks distant from the shabby Holloway Motel situated on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.
“I walked by it all the time,” Rogers tells me. “I kind of noticed it, but didn’t notice it.”
Unbeknownst to all, including himself, it turned out that the longtime manager of the motel and its sole occupant was none other than Tony Powell, a once prominent British soccer player who vanished from the sport around 40 years back following his retirement.
It seems that after moving to West Hollywood, Powell intentionally went into seclusion by ending all communication with his family and friends in the U.K., even his two daughters from his former marriage.
Why?
Because Powell was secretly gay.
The tale of Powell is featured in “The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel,” a documentary set to debut globally for the first time this coming Sunday, at a packed showing during the Tribeca Festival in New York City.
The movie, helmed by directors Ramiel Petros and Nicholas Freeman, and produced by Rogers, chronicles the journey of Powell, now aged 77, after he vacated the motel two years back due to its closure and subsequent transformation into temporary accommodation for homeless people. During this journey, Powell reconnects with his family members, including his daughters, as well as the sister of his deceased lover David, who passed away from AIDS in the 1980s.
While watching the movie, viewers may find themselves angry at Tony for his decisions, yet they might also feel compassion towards him as his background becomes clear. This is deeply entrenched in homophobia,” remarks Rogers, who publicly came out in 2013 and joined the Galaxy following a brief retirement. “I hope that what viewers take from this film is that confronting the truth can be terrifying, but the other side of that fear is truly enchanting.
Petros and Freeman initially encountered Powell, as they frequently saw him sipping wine from a balcony at a motel almost every day. Their initial intention was to create a brief film focusing on the closing down of the motel and the city’s ongoing homeless issue.
Initially, Powell shared insights into his personal life. As Petros explained, “Usually, when working on a brief project, one might find excitement in exploring around a dozen concepts, but they often lose steam with further investigation. However, Tony’s tale was exceptional. With each layer we unveiled or story we developed, it seemed to reveal even more captivating and emotional narratives.
It was then that the filmmakers contacted Rogers and producer Andrew D. Corkin to be part of the project. As they received their support and Tony’s approval, Freeman mentioned, “This is when we truly delved into his life.” Moreover, he continued, “What started as a casual meeting transformed into an extraordinary opportunity.
As a passionate cinephile, I’ve had the pleasure of sharing a powerful documentary with Powell and his beloved sisters. In a heartfelt moment, Rogers expressed his joy, saying, “I’m simply overjoyed that this film was created as it significantly transformed Tony’s life.
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2025-06-07 18:16