Colin Powell: Colin Powell. Actor: Madam Secretary. Colin Luther Powell (April 5, 1937 - October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American Secretary of State. He served as the 15th United States national security advisor from 1987 to 1989 and as the 12th Chairman of the Joint...