Joan Crawford
Born Lucille Le Sueur on
March 23, 1908
in San Antonio, TX
Died
May 10, 1977
of heart attack in Manhattan, NY
Joan Crawford, one of Hollywood's true movie queens, had a career that spanned more than 50 years and 80 films. She won one Oscar for her title role in "Mildred Pierce" in 1945. But Crawford is best known for roles in which she played a self-made, strong woman who fought hard for success but usually had to pay a price for that success. In some ways, her life followed her roles. She was married four times, and divorced actors Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Franchot Tone and Philip Terry. But she was widowed by the man who made her happiest, Pepsi Cola executive Alfred Steele. He died in 1959 after three years of marriage. Her film roles included "chorines" and flappers in the '20s, career women, repressed older women and, finally, in 1962, the victimized sister in the suspense-horror classic "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" Her last film, "Trog," was made in 1970. In addition to her portrayal of an ambitious mother in "Mildred Pierce," her best performances were in "Dancing Lady" (1933), "The Women" (1939), "Harriett Craig" (1950), "Sudden Fear" (1952), "Johnny Guitar" (1954), and "Queen Bee" (1955). Her "Queen Bee" role was the epitome of the tough, driving woman, and speaking of it once she said, "Really. I love playing bitches." In her Hollywood heyday, she lived in a 27-room mansion and was sometimes referred to as "the empress" because of her grand style. She never forgot the glamour of early Hollywood. She once said: "I always try to look like a star by appearing in public as well groomed as possible."
|
Related stars
|
|
Points of interest
Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Best Actress | Mildred Pierce | Win |
| 1947 | Best Actress | Possessed | Nomination |
| 1952 | Best Actress | Sudden Fear | Nomination |
Permalink
|
Delicious
|
Digg
|
Facebook
|
Twitter
|
Enjoy more stories like this for 
Three thoughts about Joan Crawford
Fantastic actress, well deserving of her star!
I met Joan Crawford in Toledo, Ohio when she opened the Pepsi-Cola plant. I was a little girl and I heard a radio announcement that she would be there. My mother drove my sister and I to the opening. We were first in line to receive an autographed photo of her. She signed it and handed it to my sister. When I asked for my own photo she said, "share that with your sister" and motioned for Security to move us aside. When I protested, she gave me that same look as in the film, "Mommie Dearest." She scared me and we moved along. I still love her films though and yes, we still have that autographed photo.
I don't believe the story by Lisa Zion. Joan was famous for signing autographs, no way would she have refused. Plus it's silly to compare a look she supposedly gave you to a look that FAYE DUNAWAY pulled in that poor excuse of a film.
Anyhow, Joan totally deserved her walk of fame star. She is a find example of what a glamourous Hollywood actress should look like, no one today is like her. She was a brilliant actress too, she definately should have won at lease another Oscar if not two. She had a good heart also, she paid annonymously for some poor studio workers to have hospital treatment, she never wanted anyone to find out it was her, but Billy Wilder (I think) mentioned it after her death when defending her against her wicked daughter.
Share a thought about Joan Crawford
Did you ever meet Joan Crawford? Share your memory.
Which other stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame have connections to Joan Crawford?
Are other places in the world important to Joan Crawford?
Does Joan Crawford deserve this star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?