Joan Crawford

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

180

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

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • 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 Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • Route 66

    Route 66

  • The Secret Storm

    The Secret Storm

  • Laughing Sinners

    Laughing Sinners

  • Paris

    Paris

  • The Name of the Game

    The Name of the Game

  • Paid

    Paid

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

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

  • Trog

    Trog

  • Mannequin

    Mannequin

  • Untamed

    Untamed

  • Della

    Della

  • Berserk!

    Berserk!

  • The Oscar

    The Oscar

  • Harriet Craig

    Harriet Craig

  • The Unknown

    The Unknown

  • The Sixth Sense

    The Sixth Sense

  • Daisy Kenyon

    Daisy Kenyon

  • Rose-Marie

    Rose-Marie

  • The Midshipman

    The Midshipman

  • The Women

    The Women

  • 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

    1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

  • The Only Thing

    The Only Thing

  • The Gorgeous Hussy

    The Gorgeous Hussy

  • Forsaking All Others

    Forsaking All Others

  • Torch Song

    Torch Song

  • Hollywood Canteen

    Hollywood Canteen

  • Possessed

    Possessed

  • A Slave of Fashion

    A Slave of Fashion

  • The Boob

    The Boob

  • Sally, Irene and Mary

    Sally, Irene and Mary

  • Goodbye, My Fancy

    Goodbye, My Fancy

  • I Saw What You Did

    I Saw What You Did

  • Because I Love Him

    Because I Love Him

  • Our Modern Maidens

    Our Modern Maidens

  • West Point

    West Point

  • Lady of the Night

    Lady of the Night

  • That's Entertainment! III

    That's Entertainment! III

  • Female on the Beach

    Female on the Beach

  • Susan and God

    Susan and God

  • They All Kissed the Bride

    They All Kissed the Bride

  • When Ladies Meet

    When Ladies Meet

  • What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

    What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

  • Sadie McKee

    Sadie McKee

  • That's Entertainment!

    That's Entertainment!

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

    Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

  • It's a Great Feeling

    It's a Great Feeling

  • 1925 Studio Tour

    1925 Studio Tour

  • Mildred Pierce

    Mildred Pierce

  • Our Blushing Brides

    Our Blushing Brides

  • Zwischen Glück und Krone

    Zwischen Glück und Krone

  • Grand Hotel

    Grand Hotel

  • Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

    Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

  • Johnny Guitar

    Johnny Guitar

  • Reunion in France

    Reunion in France

  • Strait-Jacket

    Strait-Jacket

  • The Law of the Range

    The Law of the Range

  • Sudden Fear

    Sudden Fear

  • Rebel Range

    Rebel Range

  • Today We Live

    Today We Live

  • Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

    Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

  • Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

    Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

  • The Shirley Eder Tapes

    The Shirley Eder Tapes

  • Possessed

    Possessed

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • The Best of Everything

    The Best of Everything

  • Queen Bee

    Queen Bee

  • Humoresque

    Humoresque

  • A Star Is Born World Premiere

    A Star Is Born World Premiere

  • The Ice Follies of 1939

    The Ice Follies of 1939

  • A Woman's Face

    A Woman's Face

  • Above Suspicion

    Above Suspicion

  • The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

    The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

  • Strange Cargo

    Strange Cargo

  • The Damned Don't Cry

    The Damned Don't Cry

  • Dancing Lady

    Dancing Lady

  • Dance, Fools, Dance

    Dance, Fools, Dance

  • Autumn Leaves

    Autumn Leaves

  • The Karate Killers

    The Karate Killers

  • Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

    Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

  • The Big Parade of Comedy

    The Big Parade of Comedy

  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

    Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

  • Rain

    Rain

  • The Shining Hour

    The Shining Hour

  • The Bride Wore Red

    The Bride Wore Red

  • I Live My Life

    I Live My Life

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • Hollywood: The Dream Factory

    Hollywood: The Dream Factory

  • Flamingo Road

    Flamingo Road

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

    Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

  • The Stolen Jools

    The Stolen Jools

  • Chained

    Chained

  • Strange Witness

    Strange Witness

  • The Caretakers

    The Caretakers

  • This was the MARY

    This was the MARY

  • Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

    Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

  • Night Gallery

    Night Gallery

  • The Hollywood Revue of 1929

    The Hollywood Revue of 1929

  • Hollywood: Style Center of the World

    Hollywood: Style Center of the World

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • Twelve Miles Out

    Twelve Miles Out

  • Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

    Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

  • That's Entertainment, Part II

    That's Entertainment, Part II

  • Proud Flesh

    Proud Flesh

  • Fast Workers

    Fast Workers

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

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

  • Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

    Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

  • Woman on the Run

    Woman on the Run

  • Complicated Women

    Complicated Women

  • From the Ends of the Earth

    From the Ends of the Earth

  • The Merry Widow

    The Merry Widow

  • The Story of Esther Costello

    The Story of Esther Costello

  • Letty Lynton

    Letty Lynton

  • Spring Fever

    Spring Fever

  • The Duke Steps Out

    The Duke Steps Out

  • Blow-Ups of 1946

    Blow-Ups of 1946

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

    Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

  • Checking Out: Grand Hotel

    Checking Out: Grand Hotel

  • No More Ladies

    No More Ladies

  • The Understanding Heart

    The Understanding Heart

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

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

  • Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star

    Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star

  • Garbo, by Joan Crawford

    Garbo, by Joan Crawford

  • Montana Moon

    Montana Moon

  • Journey to the Unknown

    Journey to the Unknown

  • This Modern Age

    This Modern Age

  • Showbiz Ballyhoo

    Showbiz Ballyhoo

  • This Woman Is Dangerous

    This Woman Is Dangerous

  • The Romance of Celluloid

    The Romance of Celluloid

  • We’re Switching to Hollywood

    We’re Switching to Hollywood

  • Joan Crawford: Always the Star

    Joan Crawford: Always the Star

  • A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

    A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

  • Pretty Ladies

    Pretty Ladies

  • The Circle

    The Circle

  • Dream of Love

    Dream of Love

  • Our Dancing Daughters

    Our Dancing Daughters

  • 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

    42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

  • Across to Singapore

    Across to Singapore

  • Four Walls

    Four Walls

  • Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

    Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

  • Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

    Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

  • Love on the Run

    Love on the Run

  • Journey to Murder

    Journey to Murder

  • Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

    Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

  • The Taxi Dancer

    The Taxi Dancer

  • How to Plan a Movie Murder

    How to Plan a Movie Murder

  • Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

    Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

  • Joan Crawford's Home Movies

    Joan Crawford's Home Movies

  • One Must Die

    One Must Die

  • Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

    Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

  • Lykke og krone

    Lykke og krone

  • Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

    Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

  • Old Clothes

    Old Clothes

  • And One Was Loyal

    And One Was Loyal

  • Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

    Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

  • Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

    Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

  • The Road to Edinburgh

    The Road to Edinburgh

  • Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

    Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

  • 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'

  • Winners Of The Wilderness

    Winners Of The Wilderness

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

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

  • Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

    Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

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

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

  • Bette and Joan

    Bette and Joan

  • Betty Page the Totally Naked Truth

    Betty Page the Totally Naked Truth

  • At Home with Joan Crawford

    At Home with Joan Crawford

  • Possessed

    Possessed

  • The Big Rock Candy Mountain

    The Big Rock Candy Mountain

  • Through Many Windows

    Through Many Windows