![]() ![]() Personal LifeĬrawford was married four times, with three marriages to actors, one of whom was Douglas Fairbanks Jr. ![]() DeathĬrawford died of a heart attack on May 10, 1977, in New York City, leaving a multifaceted film legacy that would inspire analysis for years to come. She also penned the 1971 memoir My Way of Life. Crawford subsequently starred in several other thrillers and did television work. Though garnering a series of notable roles, by the late 1950s, Crawford's career had grown quiet, only to be revitalized yet again with the 1962 horror classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, co-starring with Bette Davis. Comeback in 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?' She became known for a steadfast devotion to her career and a willingness to adapt to different vehicles while cultivating a fan base. The film received several Academy Award nominations, and Crawford won for best actress.Ĭrawford would receive two more Oscar nominations over the years, one for her role as a schizophrenic nurse in another film by the name Possessed (1947), and the other as a playwright in the thriller Sudden Fear (1952), which she'd also produced. She rallied again with A Woman's Face (1941) before leaving MGM and signing with Warner Brothers, eventually garnering the lead role in 1945's Mildred Pierce, about a mother who rises from humble beginnings to become a successful restaurateur. Oscar for 'Mildred Pierce'Ĭrawford was a major, top-earning star of the 1930s, though by the end of the decade, her pictures were meeting with limited success. Clark Gable was also featured, and was a recurring co-star in works like Possessed (1931) and Strange Cargo (1940). She took on talking roles with projects like Hollywood Revue (1929) and Grand Hotel (1932), and her dancing skills were prominently displayed with Fred Astaire in the 1933 hit Dancing Lady. The actress hit it big with the smash Our Dancing Daughters (1928), in which she played a rich, lovelorn girl who moves to Charleston.Ī prolific and long-lasting film career was to follow, with Crawford ultimately going on to star in more than five dozen films. She starred in a number of silent films during this period and was given the name "Joan Crawford" from a magazine contest sponsored by the studio. She eventually danced in the Broadway show Innocent Eyes, and in 1925 started to work onscreen for MGM. Big Break in 'Our Dancing Daughters'Īfter a short time at Stephens College, Crawford left to pursue a dancing career, a pastime to which she'd dedicated herself. Because of her workload, she was unable to attend classes and her scholastic record was faked. Crawford would come to be known as Billie Cassin growing up, and periodically throughout of her entertainment career.Īfter her mother and stepfather split, Crawford attended two private schools, where she worked on the premises to pay for tuition while also being treated harshly, receiving corporal punishment for perceived misdeeds. Her parents separated before she was born, and her mother later married theater owner Harry Cassin. Early LifeĬrawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur in San Antonio, Texas, on Ma(though some sources have reported her birth date as 1904). She died on May 10, 1977, in New York City. She later became known for the horror classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and was the subject of the memoir Mommie Dearest. She was one of Hollywood's top stars of the 1930s, earning an Oscar for her lead role in 1945's Mildred Pierce. Joan Crawford began dancing at a young age, and went on to act in dozens of films.
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