Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography explores the life and career of one of Hollywood's great dames. Joan Crawford’s New York Times obituary stated that, “Miss Crawford was a quintessential superstar—an epitome of timeless glamour who personified for decades the dreams and disappointments of American women.”. Learn about one of science's most intriguing geniuses. She received an Academy Award for Best … At this point, Joan was at a … Joan Crawford was already a Hollywood icon for five years by the time Bette Davis made her Tinseltown debut in 1930. Gable co-starred with Crawford in eight movies, more than anyone else, and the two are rumored to have pursued an affair on and off for decades. The star’s last movie, the B-level shocker Trog, was released in 1970, after which she did a few TV roles and then retired to her Manhattan apartment. The couple later adopted a son, Phillip Terry, Jr. By the time she was born, her parents had separated, and by the time she was a teenager, she'd had three stepfathers. A $1,000 public renaming contest was announced, and the winning entry seemed to satisfy everyone except the bearer of the name, who thought it sounded like “crawfish.” Her good friend and sometime costar William Haines nicknamed her Crawford Cranberry. She was born on March 23, 1904. Joan Crawford Biopic. The true story of how a little girl from Oklahoma overcame her abusive, poverty stricken home to become one of the biggest movie stars of all time. Well, the eyes and mouth were certainly large and vivid, but the woman herself was barely 5’ 3". Here are seven incredible tidbits about the superstar scientist. Joan's first film of 1939 continued the string of less-than-successful efforts: She and James Stewart starred as struggling skaters in The Ice Follies of 1939, cheesily designed primarily to showcase the Ice Follies revue, which had recently signed with MGM. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He writes about how she brought up her children, and quotes a number of friends who observed her as a mother. Learn these tidbits about 'Wheel of Fortune's' letter-turn leading lady. Joan Crawford was born on August 22, 1937. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 1,349 likes. Though opinions on her acting talent have remained mixed, Crawford did pull off an Oscar win for Mildred Pierce, and she worked very hard at being an actress and star. Joan Crawford was born a Southern belle in San Antonio, Texas, but her life was nothing like the glamorous romp we know it as today. After she left MGM, Crawford tested for and won the title role in Mildred Pierce at Warner Bros. Few musicians remain as beloved and revered as the late Bob Marley, whose music continues to inspire and influence music, fashion, politics and culture around the world. She developed a glamorous screen image, appearing often as a sumptuously gowned, fur-draped, successful career woman. In 1968, Christina Crawford — the adopted daughter of movie legend Joan Crawford — took ill while taping an episode of CBS’ The Secret Storm. By Donald Spoto Updated: 07:52 EDT, 11 February 2011 She used illegal baby brokers and traveled with baby Christina, who was born to a young unwed woman in Hollywood, to New York and then Nevada to legalize the adoption. FREE Shipping. He writes about how she brought up her children, and quotes a number of friends who observed her as a mother. Omissions? David Bret wrote in his biography ' Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr' that … Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Her … Crawford’s adopted daughter Christina published Mommie Dearest (1978), an account of the harsh childhood that Christina and an adopted brother had at their mother’s hands, and a film version was produced in 1981. By 1922, Billie was winning Charleston contests in Kansas City, and headed to Chicago and then New York to dance on stage. Joan Crawford, original name Lucille Fay LeSueur, (born March 23, 1904?, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.—died May 10, 1977, New York, New York), American motion-picture actress who made her initial impact as a vivacious Jazz Age flapper but later matured into a star of psychological melodramas. She received an Academy Award for Best … Joan Crawford’s first movie role was in Our Dancing Daughters in 1928. She was spotted in the chorus of The Passing Show of 1924 by MGM producer Harry Rapf, given a screen test, and offered a contract. Lucille grew up mostly poor in San Antonio, Texas, Lawton, Oklahoma, and Kansas City, Missouri. were some of her biggest hits and were made in the 1930s. Trouble began early when Joan… Her birth name was Lucille Fay LeSueur. There is a dispute as to the year of her birth, but only a year or so. Corrections? Crawford was married to the actors Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (1929–33), Franchot Tone (1935–39), and Phillip Terry (1942–46) and to Alfred Steele (1955–59), chairman of the Pepsi-Cola Company. Learn about the man and the legend that go well beyond his fruitful name. Sadly, she is probably equally well known as “Mommie Dearest,” the purported abusive parent of her adopted daughter’s memoir and the 1981 film version starring Faye Dunaway. If you’ve seen Johnny Guitar, you’ll know that its most memorable moments capture the enmity between Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge’s characters. After his death in 1959 she became a director of the company and in that role hired her friend Dorothy Arzner to film several Pepsi commercials. Learn about the author, who died in February 2016. David Bret wrote in his biography ' Joan Crawford… [Note 1] – Mey 10, 1977) wis an American film an telly actress wha begoud her career as a dancer an stage shawgirl . From overcoming oppression, to breaking rules, to reimagining the world or waging a rebellion, these women of history have a story to tell. Photograph: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images. was apparently a publicity concoction. For a brief time, this boy’s name was Phillip Terry II; when the marriage dissolved, he was rechristened Christopher Crawford. ‘Joan would only get angry and probably vent her rage on the kids.’ Perhaps she could, like so many, have intervened and pricked the bubble of silence, but Joan Crawford was a … Best known for her portrayals of ruthless women, Crawford counted Hollywood's most memorable actors among her co-stars.

This is a wonderful overview of her life, with many details. Joan Crawford, original name Lucille Fay LeSueur, (born March 23, 1904?, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.—died May 10, 1977, New York, New York), American motion-picture actress who made her initial impact as a vivacious Jazz Age flapper but later matured into a star of psychological melodramas. Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography explores the life and career of one of Hollywood's great dames. He became the stepfather of Christina Crawford. On the plus side, Curtiz did guide his broad-shouldered star to an Oscar. They were certainly good friends, and when Gable’s wife Carole Lombard was killed in a 1942 plane crash, Crawford took over her scheduled role in the film They All Kissed the Bride and donated her salary to the American Red Cross. Her early life was one of happiness living with her \"Mommie Dearest\". 32. Fatefully, Christina and Christopher were not. Originally discovered in New York as part of a chorus on stage, Crawford signed with MGM in 1924.The Mildred Pierce actress was "an excellent businesswoman who, in her four-decade career, understood how to shift her looks to reflect the modern woman," writes Vulture, adding … And the media certainly have been fascinated by Joan Crawford for the past 80-odd years. Bob Thomas knew her and spoke with her over many years. Joan Crawford’s Biography. Feud examines Joan Crawford's life throughout the filming of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?, taking an incisive look at her struggle to find work in … Read about her extraordinary life. She was a good dancer, though, and -- perhaps seeing dance as her ticket to a career in show bus… Her other child, a son, was adopted when Crawford was married to Phillip Terry. The superstar has a large fan base in different countries. A stepfather came and went, leaving Lucille with a new name, Billie Cassin. Not a nasty tell-all, but even-handed and well balanced. Crawford’s mother … Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. As depicted in FX's miniseries Feud: Bette and Joan, Crawford had three other adopted children. Among the films Crawford is believed to have been featured in are 'Velvet Lips,' 'The Plumber' and 'She Knows Best.' (1962). Her movie career lasted from 1925 until 1970, and for most of that time, she was top-billed and swaddled in glamour. Joan Crawford with Christina, Christopher and her adopted twin daughters, Cindy and Cathy, in 1949. With Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, Steve Forrest, Howard Da Silva. Her father’s name was Thomas, and her mother was Anna Bell. 00. $3.99 shipping. British explorer, diplomat and accomplished archaeologist Gertrude Bell has been described as "the female Lawrence of Arabia." Lucille's parents were Thomas LeSueur, a laborer, and Anna Bell Johnson. Directed by Frank Perry. Joan Crawford’s Bio. The year is another matter. Originally discovered in New York as part of a chorus on stage, Crawford signed with MGM in 1924.The Mildred Pierce actress was "an excellent businesswoman who, in her four-decade career, understood how to shift her looks to reflect the modern woman," writes Vulture, adding … By the time she was born, her parents had separated, and by the time she was a teenager, she'd had three stepfathers. The story of an emotional and ambitious woman who rises from waitress to owner of a restaurant chain, it was followed by such high-quality pictures as Humoresque (1947), Sudden Fear (1952), and The Story of Esther Costello (1957). On the screen from 1925, she danced her way through such popular films as Our Dancing Daughters (1928), Dance, Fools, Dance (1931), and Dancing Lady (1933). The alcohol-fueled conflict spilled over onto the film’s Arizona location: let’s just say that at one point, McCambridge’s clothes ended up spread on the highway outside the actresses’ motel. A … Though Crawford found a regular place in the Top Ten Money-Making Stars poll during the early and mid-1930s, in 1938 she, along with Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and Katharine Hepburn, were labeled “box-office poison” by the Independent Theatre Owners Association of America. She seems so big on screen, right? MGM chief Louis B. Mayer saw potential in the new contract player, but not as either Lucille LeSueur or Billie Cassin. Cathy Crawford LaLonde, daughter of Hollywood legend Joan Crawford, died Friday at her home in Pennsylvania after a long battle with lung cancer, her family confirmed to Deadline. Bob Thomas knew her and spoke with her over many years. In 1978 Christina Crawford shocked the world with the first tell-all celebrity memoir, in which she exposed her Hollywood filmstar mother Joan as a cruel, abusive alcoholic. Indeed, during her nearly five-decade career, Joan Crawford starred in some of the most widely-praised films of her time. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. The abusive and traumatic adoptive upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother, screen queen Joan Crawford, is depicted. When she was 11 months old, she was taken to Nevada, where she was formally adopted by Joan and renamed Christina. Usually ships within 1 to 3 weeks. The family was abandoned by her father around the time of the girl’s birth, and her mother took in laundry to make ends meet — a possible source of Joan’s later horror of wire hangers. Whatever the path that leads to the discovery of Joan's body of film work, Cukor was right: Joan Crawford will never die. A series of substandard roles dimmed her star for a bit, but Joan was always good at comebacks. On January 24, 1966, Indira Gandhi was sworn in as India's first female prime minister. She was the third child of Thomas E. LeSueur, a construction laborer, and Anna Bell Johnson. Crawford always claimed 1908, which would put her age at 16 when she was placed under contract to MGM in January 1925. Though no birth certificate exists for Joan Crawford (née Lucille LeSueur), everyone agrees on the March 23 date of her birth. The couple wed six weeks later on July 21, 1942. This is a wonderful overview of her life, with many details. From silent star to camp queen, Joan Crawford and her astonishing 45-year film career are the stuff of a Gatsby-esque legend of survival and reinvention. More Buying Choices $3.04 (35 used & new offers) Paperback $580.32 $ 580. In addition, Crawford was rarely seen in color until 1953’s Torch Song, and by that time her appearance had reached a height of artificiality that rendered the question of natural hair color moot. Joan Crawford has been gone for more than four decades, but she is still remembered as the quintessential star product of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Indeed, during her nearly five-decade career, Joan Crawford starred in some of the most widely-praised films of her time. Simultaneously glorious, tragic, tawdry, and hype-filled, her story is the very embodiment of the real version of the American Dream. Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur on March 23, 1904, in San Antonio, Texas, to Anna Belle (Johnson) and Thomas E. LeSueur, a laundry laborer. She was born in San Antonio, Texas. Not a nasty tell-all, but even-handed and well balanced. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the actress' complicated life. 4.0 out of 5 stars 2. She was later adopted by screen legend Joan Crawford, originally named Joan Crawford Jr. Her director, Michael Curtiz, was a notorious tyrant; on the first day of production, he became enraged by what he perceived as shoulder pads and reportedly ripped Joan’s dress at the neckline — only to uncover bare, if unusually ample, shoulders. He writes about how she brought up her children, and quotes a number of friends who observed her as a mother. Among her early successes as a dramatic actress were The Women (1939), Susan and God (1940), Strange Cargo (1940), and A Woman’s Face (1941). It wasn't an easy life; Crawford worked a variety of menial jobs. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur on March 23, 1905 or '06, in San Antonio, Texas. Christina Crawford was born on June 11, 1939, to teenage parents. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joan-Crawford, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Biography of Joan Crawford, Turner Classic Movies - Biography of Joan Crawford, Texas State Historical Association - The Handbook of Texas Online - Biography of Joan Crawford, Joan Crawford - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Whatever the path that leads to the discovery of Joan's body of film work, Cukor was right: Joan Crawford will never die. Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur on March 23, 1905, in San Antonio, Texas, to Anna Belle (Johnson) and Thomas E. LeSueur, a laundry laborer. On the other hand, the legendary Crawford-Bette Davis feud during filming of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Check out these seven surprising facts about one of the longest-serving monarchs in European history. Joan Crawford in 1928 during her first film role in “Our Dancing Daughters” No More Ladies, Sadie McKee, Love on the Run, Grand Hotel etc. The star’s real birth name was the far more modest “Lucille Fay LeSueur,” and her parents Thomas and Anna struggled to make ends meet for their young family. Joan Crawford has gone for more than four decades, but she is still remembered as the quintessential star product of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Lucille Fay LeSueur was of English, French, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. " Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography explores the life and career of one of Hollywood's great dames. Crawford adopted three children — Christina and twins Cathy and Cindy — as a single parent, which was prohibited in California. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. She was a leading film personality for more than fifty years, from her beginnings as a dancer in silent films of the 1920s, to her portrayals of working-class shop girls in the Depression thirties, to her Oscar-winning performances in classic films such as Mildred Pierce . And the media certainly have been fascinated by Joan Crawford for the past 80-odd years. Updates? Her entire filmography spans a 45-year period from 1925 to 1970 and includes over 70 films, from silent pictures to talkies. Among the films Crawford is believed to have been featured in are 'Velvet Lips,' 'The Plumber' and 'She Knows Best.' Joan Crawford, a biography. Even though she had had four husbands — actors Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Franchot Tone, and Phillip Terry and Pepsi-Cola president Alfred Steele — and many lovers, Crawford was always close to Clark Gable. Her mother apparently was still under 20 when her siblings were born, and she died on August 15, 1958. That means she is currently 82 years old. Bob Thomas knew her and spoke with her over many years. She became a Christian Scientist and, according to some sources, stopped drinking. Obviously, celluloid and the VHS and DVD have in themselves already granted immortality to certain films and their stars. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. by Bob Thomas | Jan 1, 1978. Joan Crawford and Bette Davis in 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' She was a leading film personality for more than fifty years, from her beginnings as a dancer in silent films of the 1920s, to her portrayals of working-class shop girls in the Depression thirties, to her Oscar-winning performances in classic films such as Mildred Pierce . Hardcover $45.00 $ 45. Joan Crawford (1906-1977) was one of the most active and glamorous stars in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. This is a wonderful overview of her life, with many details. Later successful roles were in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Learn about the formidable Hollywood legend's fascinating life and career. If you want to be acknowledged about the biography of Joan Crawford, then check this part out. By the time she was born, her parents had separated, and by the time she was a teenager, she'd had three stepfathers. As for the complexion and hair color, the freckles were erased with makeup and the hair changed with the role. Super biography about Joan Crawford. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Joan Crawford’s New York Times obituary stated that, “Miss Crawford was a quintessential superstar—an epitome of timeless glamour who personified for decades the dreams and disappointments of American women.”. The show that revolves around the volatile relationship between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis during their 1962 movie What Ever Happened to Baby Jane has led to different accusations and mysterious personality of the classical start herself. Was introduced to Joan Crawford in May of 1942 by drama critic Harry Mines. Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur on March 23, 1904, in San Antonio, Texas, to Anna Belle (Johnson) and Thomas E. LeSueur, a laundry laborer. She developed a glamorous screen image, appearing often as a sumptuously gowned, fur-draped, … A major turning point in Crawford’s career was her performance in Mildred Pierce (1945), for which she won an Academy Award. Feud examines Joan Crawford's life throughout the filming of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?, taking an incisive look at her struggle to find work in … It was due to her faith that she refused aggressive treatment for the cancer which eventually led to her death, on May 10, 1977, at age 69, 71, 72, or 73. Here are seven facts about her fascinating life and complex legacy. Super biography about Joan Crawford. She was a leading film personality for more than fifty years, from her beginnings as a dancer in silent films of the 1920s, to her portrayals of working-class shop girls in the Depression thirties, to her Oscar-winning performances in classic films such as Mildred Pierce. Joan Crawford was already a Hollywood icon for five years by the time Bette Davis made her Tinseltown debut in 1930. Joan Crawford’s elder sister Daisy LeSueur died before Lucille’s birth, and she had another brother, Hal LeSueur. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Crawford tent on its leet o the greatest female starns o Clessic Hollywood Cinema . (1962) and The Caretakers (1963). Other sources, like IMDb, say 1905, and some say 1904, which biographer Donald Spoto argues is impossible since her brother Harold was born in September 1903. Obviously, celluloid and the VHS and DVD have in themselves already granted immortality to certain films and their stars. Joan Crawford a popular and well-known celebrity in United States. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Not a nasty tell-all, but even-handed and well balanced. But the Crawford family is a little bit more complicated than that. Thomas LeSueur abandoned the family when Lucille was ten months old. Crawford danced in nightclubs under the name Billie Cassin, and by 1924 she was dancing in Broadway musicals. Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; (Mairch 23, 190? Super biography about Joan Crawford. How Joan Crawford ruthlessly used her body to control co-stars, directors, and anyone who could advance her career. She was 72. It wasn't an easy life; Crawford worked a variety of menial jobs. The consensus seems to have settled on 1906 as the most likely year of Crawford’s birth, but there is no definitive proof. It wasn't an easy life; Crawford worked a variety of menial jobs. She didn’t have a great fortune to leave, but her twins were provided for, as were a number of charities.
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