Sgt. Al Powell is a fictional character in the Die Hard series of films, portrayed by actor Reginald VelJohnson.

Powell is somewhat modeled on the stereotypical image of the Los Angeles Police Department's uniform wearing officers, i.e. he's nearing his mid 40s to 50s, is fond of sugary snacks, such as doughnuts, and twinkees, and is relatively overweight. Powell is a family man, and in his entrance in the first film, is buying twinkies for his pregnant wife (whom we never see). Although Powell is a law abiding officer, he doesn't shy away from using his gut instinct, and while his superiors treat McClane with suspicion, and ignore his advice, Powell befriends him and helps him to defeat the terrorists.

Though initially serving no purpose other than to provide moral support to McClane, Powell is revealed to be haunted by the memory of a teenager he mistakenly shot when he was younger. The event traumatized him, and he has been unable to pull his gun since. At the end of the movie, seconds after meeting McClane face-to-face for the first time, Karl appears, brandishing his Steyr AUG and preparing to kill McClane as revenge for killing his brother Tony earlier in the film. Before he can kill McClane, Powell cuts him down with six bullets from his revolver, overcoming his inner demons and saving the life of his friend. This act of redemption gives Powell the confidence he needs to accept the mistake of his past and move on with his life.

In Die Hard 2, Powell has been promoted since the first film, is no longer a patrol officer, and now has his own office. Powell is absent from Die Hard with a Vengeance, which takes place in New York City. He isn't scheduled to appear in the upcoming fourth installment, Live Free or Die Hard, and there is no update on his relationship with John McClane.

In other media

Powell makes an appearance in the video games Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza and Die Hard: Vendetta.

Quotes

Convenience Store Clerk: I thought you guys just ate donuts.<br/>Al (with an armload of Twinkies): Heh. They're for my wife.<br/>Clerk (sarcastically): Yeah.<br/>Al: She's pregnant.<br/>Clerk: Yeah. <br/>Al: Bag it. <br/>Clerk: Big time. <br/>

John McClane (referring to a twinkie): Yucck. What do they put in these things?<br/>Al (recites): 'Sugar, enriched flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, polysorbate 60 and yellow dye #5.'

Al (sings "Let it Snow"): 'Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the...the uh, dum, de dum's delightful...'

Al: Guys, you want to cut through the red tape? They practically turned this car into Swiss cheese!

Al: The man is hurting! He's alone, tired, and he hasn't seen diddly-squat from anybody down here. Now you're going to stand there and tell me that he's going to give a damn about what you do to him, IF he makes it out of there alive? Why don't you wake up and smell what you're shoveling?<br/>Dwayne T. Robinson: Now you listen to me, Sergeant. Any time you want to go home, you consider yourself dismissed.<br/>Al: No sir. You couldn't drag me away!

Al (after Chief Robinson notices the FBI has arrived): You want a breath mint?

Al (after confiding to John about shooting an unarmed teenager): You know, when you're a rookie, they can teach you everything there is about being a cop, except how to live with a mistake.

Al: I hear ya, partner. LA's finest are on it.