Joan Crawford

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

175

Gender

Female

Birthday

1906-03-23

Day of death

1977-05-10 (71 years old)

Place of Birth

San Antonio, Texas, USA

Joan Crawford

Biography

Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, 1906 – May 10, 1977) was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion picture contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1925. Initially frustrated by the size and quality of her parts, Crawford launched a publicity campaign and built an image as a nationally known flapper by the end of the 1920s. By the 1930s, Crawford's fame rivaled MGM colleagues Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo. Crawford often played hardworking young women who find romance and financial success. These "rags-to-riches" stories were well received by Depression-era audiences and were popular with women. Crawford became one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars and one of the highest paid women in the United States, but her films began losing money. By the end of the 1930s, she was labeled "box office poison". After an absence of nearly two years from the screen, Crawford staged a comeback by starring in Mildred Pierce (1945), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. In 1955, she became involved with the Pepsi-Cola Company, through her marriage to company president Alfred Steele. After his death in 1959, Crawford was elected to fill his vacancy on the board of directors but was forcibly retired in 1973. She continued acting in film and television regularly through the 1960s, when her performances became fewer; after the release of the horror film Trog in 1970, Crawford retired from the screen. Following a public appearance in 1974, after which unflattering photographs were published, Crawford withdrew from public life. She became more and more reclusive until her death in 1977.

Known For

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Great Performances

    Great Performances

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

    Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

    Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • The Name of the Game

    The Name of the Game

  • Route 66

    Route 66

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

    Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

    The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

  • The Secret Storm

    The Secret Storm

  • No More Ladies

    No More Ladies

  • Mildred Pierce

    Mildred Pierce

  • Queen Bee

    Queen Bee

  • The Unknown

    The Unknown

  • Daisy Kenyon

    Daisy Kenyon

  • Johnny Guitar

    Johnny Guitar

  • Laughing Sinners

    Laughing Sinners

  • The Oscar

    The Oscar

  • The Circle

    The Circle

  • Sudden Fear

    Sudden Fear

  • Paid

    Paid

  • The Women

    The Women

  • Harriet Craig

    Harriet Craig

  • Fast Workers

    Fast Workers

  • Flamingo Road

    Flamingo Road

  • A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

    A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

  • The Midshipman

    The Midshipman

  • Hollywood Canteen

    Hollywood Canteen

  • Trog

    Trog

  • Proud Flesh

    Proud Flesh

  • The Damned Don't Cry: The Crawford Formula - Real and Reel

    The Damned Don't Cry: The Crawford Formula - Real and Reel

  • Della

    Della

  • Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

    Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

  • Pretty Ladies

    Pretty Ladies

  • Spring Fever

    Spring Fever

  • The Sixth Sense

    The Sixth Sense

  • Across to Singapore

    Across to Singapore

  • Torch Song

    Torch Song

  • Strait-Jacket

    Strait-Jacket

  • Sadie McKee

    Sadie McKee

  • What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

    What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

  • Rose-Marie

    Rose-Marie

  • The Caretakers

    The Caretakers

  • Rebel Range

    Rebel Range

  • Chained

    Chained

  • Four Walls

    Four Walls

  • Grand Hotel

    Grand Hotel

  • Paris

    Paris

  • A Woman's Face

    A Woman's Face

  • I Saw What You Did

    I Saw What You Did

  • The Hollywood Revue of 1929

    The Hollywood Revue of 1929

  • Untamed

    Untamed

  • Blow-Ups of 1946

    Blow-Ups of 1946

  • Possessed

    Possessed

  • A Star Is Born World Premiere

    A Star Is Born World Premiere

  • Possessed

    Possessed

  • Mannequin

    Mannequin

  • Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

    Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

  • Berserk!

    Berserk!

  • The Karate Killers

    The Karate Killers

  • The Story of Esther Costello

    The Story of Esther Costello

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

    Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

  • The Bride Wore Red

    The Bride Wore Red

  • Our Modern Maidens

    Our Modern Maidens

  • Checking Out: Grand Hotel

    Checking Out: Grand Hotel

  • The Boob

    The Boob

  • The Merry Widow

    The Merry Widow

  • The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

    The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

  • The Ice Follies of 1939

    The Ice Follies of 1939

  • From the Ends of the Earth

    From the Ends of the Earth

  • Our Dancing Daughters

    Our Dancing Daughters

  • The Best of Everything

    The Best of Everything

  • Hollywood: Style Center of the World

    Hollywood: Style Center of the World

  • West Point

    West Point

  • 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

    1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

  • Today We Live

    Today We Live

  • Reunion in France

    Reunion in France

  • The Damned Don't Cry

    The Damned Don't Cry

  • Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

    Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

  • That's Entertainment!

    That's Entertainment!

  • We're switching to Hollywood

    We're switching to Hollywood

  • The Taxi Dancer

    The Taxi Dancer

  • Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

    Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

  • Goodbye, My Fancy

    Goodbye, My Fancy

  • Dancing Lady

    Dancing Lady

  • The Only Thing

    The Only Thing

  • Journey to the Unknown

    Journey to the Unknown

  • Love on the Run

    Love on the Run

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • The Stolen Jools

    The Stolen Jools

  • Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

    Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

  • The Big Parade of Comedy

    The Big Parade of Comedy

  • One Must Die

    One Must Die

  • Hollywood: The Dream Factory

    Hollywood: The Dream Factory

  • Because I Love Him

    Because I Love Him

  • Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

    Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

  • Garbo, by Joan Crawford

    Garbo, by Joan Crawford

  • Sally, Irene and Mary

    Sally, Irene and Mary

  • Susan and God

    Susan and God

  • Journey to Murder

    Journey to Murder

  • Rain

    Rain

  • Twelve Miles Out

    Twelve Miles Out

  • It's a Great Feeling

    It's a Great Feeling

  • That's Entertainment, Part II

    That's Entertainment, Part II

  • This Woman Is Dangerous

    This Woman Is Dangerous

  • Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

    Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

  • 1925 Studio Tour

    1925 Studio Tour

  • Female on the Beach

    Female on the Beach

  • That's Entertainment! III

    That's Entertainment! III

  • The Gorgeous Hussy

    The Gorgeous Hussy

  • Joan Crawford: Always the Star

    Joan Crawford: Always the Star

  • The Duke Steps Out

    The Duke Steps Out

  • Our Blushing Brides

    Our Blushing Brides

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • When Ladies Meet

    When Ladies Meet

  • Night Gallery

    Night Gallery

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

    Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

  • Woman on the Run

    Woman on the Run

  • Dream of Love

    Dream of Love

  • The Law of the Range

    The Law of the Range

  • Battle-Axe: the Making of 'Strait-Jacket'

    Battle-Axe: the Making of 'Strait-Jacket'

  • Autumn Leaves

    Autumn Leaves

  • They All Kissed the Bride

    They All Kissed the Bride

  • The Shirley Eder Tapes

    The Shirley Eder Tapes

  • Forsaking All Others

    Forsaking All Others

  • Above Suspicion

    Above Suspicion

  • Lady of the Night

    Lady of the Night

  • Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

    Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

  • Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

    Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

  • A Slave of Fashion

    A Slave of Fashion

  • Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

    Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

  • How to Plan a Movie Murder

    How to Plan a Movie Murder

  • Strange Cargo

    Strange Cargo

  • Humoresque

    Humoresque

  • Montana Moon

    Montana Moon

  • Complicated Women

    Complicated Women

  • Letty Lynton

    Letty Lynton

  • Dance, Fools, Dance

    Dance, Fools, Dance

  • I Live My Life

    I Live My Life

  • The Shining Hour

    The Shining Hour

  • This Modern Age

    This Modern Age

  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

    Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

  • Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

    Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

  • Showbiz Ballyhoo

    Showbiz Ballyhoo

  • Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

    Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

  • Joan Crawford's Home Movies

    Joan Crawford's Home Movies

  • Winners Of The Wilderness

    Winners Of The Wilderness

  • Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

    Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

  • Dear Joan: We're Going to Scare You to Death

    Dear Joan: We're Going to Scare You to Death

  • The Understanding Heart

    The Understanding Heart

  • Tell Us She Was One of You: The Hollywood Blacklist and 'Johnny Guitar'

    Tell Us She Was One of You: The Hollywood Blacklist and 'Johnny Guitar'

  • Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star

    Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star

  • The Romance of Celluloid

    The Romance of Celluloid

  • Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

    Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

  • Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

    Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

  • The Road to Edinburgh

    The Road to Edinburgh

  • 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

    42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

  • Bette and Joan

    Bette and Joan

  • Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

    Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

  • Strange Witness

    Strange Witness

  • And One Was Loyal

    And One Was Loyal

  • At Home with Joan Crawford

    At Home with Joan Crawford

  • Through Many Windows

    Through Many Windows

  • Old Clothes

    Old Clothes

  • This was the MARY

    This was the MARY

  • The Big Rock Candy Mountain

    The Big Rock Candy Mountain

  • Possessed

    Possessed