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

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy 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

  • Route 66

    Route 66

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • The Name of the Game

    The Name of the Game

  • The Secret Storm

    The Secret Storm

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

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

  • Torch Song

    Torch Song

  • Mildred Pierce

    Mildred Pierce

  • The Sixth Sense

    The Sixth Sense

  • Our Modern Maidens

    Our Modern Maidens

  • Checking Out: Grand Hotel

    Checking Out: Grand Hotel

  • The Big Parade of Comedy

    The Big Parade of Comedy

  • I Saw What You Did

    I Saw What You Did

  • One Must Die

    One Must Die

  • Fast Workers

    Fast Workers

  • The Only Thing

    The Only Thing

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

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

  • The Story of Esther Costello

    The Story of Esther Costello

  • What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

    What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

  • Queen Bee

    Queen Bee

  • Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

    Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

  • Strange Cargo

    Strange Cargo

  • Spring Fever

    Spring Fever

  • Susan and God

    Susan and God

  • The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

    The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

  • Journey to Murder

    Journey to Murder

  • The Ice Follies of 1939

    The Ice Follies of 1939

  • Four Walls

    Four Walls

  • Strait-Jacket

    Strait-Jacket

  • Hollywood: Style Center of the World

    Hollywood: Style Center of the World

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • The Taxi Dancer

    The Taxi Dancer

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

    Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

  • Paid

    Paid

  • Joan Crawford: Always the Star

    Joan Crawford: Always the Star

  • The Women

    The Women

  • Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

    Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

  • A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

    A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

  • Our Dancing Daughters

    Our Dancing Daughters

  • Johnny Guitar

    Johnny Guitar

  • Rebel Range

    Rebel Range

  • Harriet Craig

    Harriet Craig

  • Hollywood Canteen

    Hollywood Canteen

  • Daisy Kenyon

    Daisy Kenyon

  • We're switching to Hollywood

    We're switching to Hollywood

  • Grand Hotel

    Grand Hotel

  • Across to Singapore

    Across to Singapore

  • Rose-Marie

    Rose-Marie

  • Letty Lynton

    Letty Lynton

  • Paris

    Paris

  • The Merry Widow

    The Merry Widow

  • From the Ends of the Earth

    From the Ends of the Earth

  • Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

    Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

  • The Bride Wore Red

    The Bride Wore Red

  • Sudden Fear

    Sudden Fear

  • Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

    Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

  • Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

    Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

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

    Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

  • Proud Flesh

    Proud Flesh

  • Montana Moon

    Montana Moon

  • The Karate Killers

    The Karate Killers

  • No More Ladies

    No More Ladies

  • Dream of Love

    Dream of Love

  • Reunion in France

    Reunion in France

  • Laughing Sinners

    Laughing Sinners

  • Blow-Ups of 1946

    Blow-Ups of 1946

  • Garbo, by Joan Crawford

    Garbo, by Joan Crawford

  • Sadie McKee

    Sadie McKee

  • Because I Love Him

    Because I Love Him

  • A Star Is Born World Premiere

    A Star Is Born World Premiere

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • Chained

    Chained

  • Love on the Run

    Love on the Run

  • The Caretakers

    The Caretakers

  • West Point

    West Point

  • The Hollywood Revue of 1929

    The Hollywood Revue of 1929

  • Hollywood: The Dream Factory

    Hollywood: The Dream Factory

  • Flamingo Road

    Flamingo Road

  • Today We Live

    Today We Live

  • The Stolen Jools

    The Stolen Jools

  • 1925 Studio Tour

    1925 Studio Tour

  • The Circle

    The Circle

  • Goodbye, My Fancy

    Goodbye, My Fancy

  • Possessed

    Possessed

  • Journey to the Unknown

    Journey to the Unknown

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

    Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

  • Above Suspicion

    Above Suspicion

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

    1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

  • Mannequin

    Mannequin

  • Female on the Beach

    Female on the Beach

  • This Woman Is Dangerous

    This Woman Is Dangerous

  • Pretty Ladies

    Pretty Ladies

  • Woman on the Run

    Woman on the Run

  • A Woman's Face

    A Woman's Face

  • Twelve Miles Out

    Twelve Miles Out

  • Lady of the Night

    Lady of the Night

  • Trog

    Trog

  • Berserk!

    Berserk!

  • It's a Great Feeling

    It's a Great Feeling

  • The Midshipman

    The Midshipman

  • Untamed

    Untamed

  • Della

    Della

  • The Shirley Eder Tapes

    The Shirley Eder Tapes

  • The Best of Everything

    The Best of Everything

  • That's Entertainment, Part II

    That's Entertainment, Part II

  • The Unknown

    The Unknown

  • The Law of the Range

    The Law of the Range

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

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

  • Dance, Fools, Dance

    Dance, Fools, Dance

  • That's Entertainment!

    That's Entertainment!

  • Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

    Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

  • Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

    Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

  • A Slave of Fashion

    A Slave of Fashion

  • The Oscar

    The Oscar

  • Humoresque

    Humoresque

  • The Gorgeous Hussy

    The Gorgeous Hussy

  • The Boob

    The Boob

  • The Duke Steps Out

    The Duke Steps Out

  • The Shining Hour

    The Shining Hour

  • Forsaking All Others

    Forsaking All Others

  • Night Gallery

    Night Gallery

  • That's Entertainment! III

    That's Entertainment! III

  • Strange Witness

    Strange Witness

  • Our Blushing Brides

    Our Blushing Brides

  • Dancing Lady

    Dancing Lady

  • Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

    Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

  • When Ladies Meet

    When Ladies Meet

  • Possessed

    Possessed

  • The Damned Don't Cry

    The Damned Don't Cry

  • The Road to Edinburgh

    The Road to Edinburgh

  • At Home with Joan Crawford

    At Home with Joan Crawford

  • Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

    Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

  • Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

    Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

  • Sally, Irene and Mary

    Sally, Irene and Mary

  • I Live My Life

    I Live My Life

  • Rain

    Rain

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

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

  • Joan Crawford's Home Movies

    Joan Crawford's Home Movies

  • They All Kissed the Bride

    They All Kissed the Bride

  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

    Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

  • Autumn Leaves

    Autumn Leaves

  • This Modern Age

    This Modern Age

  • Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star

    Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star

  • Complicated Women

    Complicated Women

  • Winners Of The Wilderness

    Winners Of The Wilderness

  • Through Many Windows

    Through Many Windows

  • The Romance of Celluloid

    The Romance of Celluloid

  • Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

    Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

  • Showbiz Ballyhoo

    Showbiz Ballyhoo

  • 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'

  • This was the MARY

    This was the MARY

  • 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

    42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

  • Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

    Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

  • Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

    Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

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

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

  • Old Clothes

    Old Clothes

  • Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

    Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

  • How to Plan a Movie Murder

    How to Plan a Movie Murder

  • And One Was Loyal

    And One Was Loyal

  • The Understanding Heart

    The Understanding Heart

  • Bette and Joan

    Bette and Joan

  • Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

    Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

  • The Big Rock Candy Mountain

    The Big Rock Candy Mountain

  • Possessed

    Possessed