Who was Joan crawford?

Joan crawford was two times iconic Oscar winning American actress who appeared in more than 80 movies. Her career started as a chorus girl, then to silent films in 1925 and continued to shine upto 1970s. An actress who can adapted easily to changing times in makeup, costumes and craftsmanship. She was called as the first “Queen of the Movie” in 1937 by Life Magazine. She was also known for her perfectionism and demanding nature on set. 

She had a remarkable career spanning several decades and left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry. She was known for her striking presence on screen and ability to portray complex and strong-willed characters. She was known for her performances in melodramas, film noirs, horrors and psychological thrillers, earning her numerous awards and nominations throughout her career. Additionally, her off-screen persona, glamorous image and also for lovers offscreen contributed to her fame and enduring popularity.

Joan crawford-Birthay and Early Life

Joan Crawford was born on March 23, 1906 in San Antonio, Texas as Lucille Fay Lesueur to Thomas Lesueur and Anna Belle Johnson. She had an elder brother Hal Le Sueur. Her father abondoned her family when she was just born.

So her mother moved six months old Lucille along with her elder brother in the Oklahoma territory, United States. There her mother married Henry Cassin. He was a Vaudiville theatre manager who operated the Lawton Opera House and the Air Dome Theatre. Her stepfather used to take her to the theatre and allowed her to watch acting and dancing performances. From that she wanted to be a dancer.

In 1916 her stepfather was accused of embezzlment of four thousand dollars. So they moved to Kansas city where she attended at St. Agnes Academy.  Her mother soon divorced in Kansas city and she went on to work- cooking and cleaning at a very young age. She attended various schools while growing up, but her formal education was limited

Later she attended Rocking Academy and Stephens college in Columbia. While she was at Rocking Academy, for the first time she had a serious relationship with Ray Sterling, a trumphet player.

Physical Appearance:Height-Weight-Eyes &Zodiac sign

Images of Joan Crawford

Acting career and movies 

She started her career as a waitress, dancer and chorus girl before her debut on Broadway. A typical star whose career started as a chorus girl, then to silent films in 1925 and continued to shine uptp 1970s. Her bid eyes, wide mouth, broad shoulder and a height of 5 feet 4 inches  with her skillful, talented acting attract millions of people in the world.  She wanted to be the best dancer in the world. She was performing a chorus line in New York city  where she was picked to dance on Broadway in 1924 revue “Innocent Eyes”.

Letter a talent scout of MGM Harry Rapf discovered her and offered a screen test. On January1, 1925 she signed a contract with MGM and set out for Hollywood. She made her silent film debut in the 1925 film “Lady of the Night.”

Some of her notable silent films she appeared in include “Our Dancing Daughters” (1928), “The Unknown” (1927), and “The Crowd” (1928). Her performances in these films helped established her as one of the leading actresses of the silent era and solidy her as one of the greatest star of MGM.

Her first full-length sound film was “untamed” in 1929, alongside with Robert Montgomery. During that time most of the actors where unemployed due to unable to make transition from silent era to sound movie. But she could make it and became one of the most popular actress of that time. 1930 came “Paid” which she was cast opposite to Robert Armstrong. Many films were released of her in 1931. Among them three were paired with Clark Gable. They were “Dance, Fools, Dance”, “Laughing Sinners” and “Possessed”. She was paired with Neil Hamilton in “This Modern Age” (1931).

She was paired with Clark Gable in eight movies more than with any other leading man. She also had a romantic raltionship with him. It became the most notorious affairs in the history of Hollywood. “Grand Hotel” came in 1932 was first all star production of MGM casting Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery together. The film became one of the highest grossing movies of 1932. She played the role of a prostitute in 1932 film “Rain”. She was paired agian with Clark Gable in “Dancin Lady” in 1933.

In “Sadie Mckee” 1934 she played the title role. For the fifth and sixth time she was paired with Gable in “Chained” and “For Saking All Others” in 1934. She continued to shine in the mid 1930s. In 1935 she was co-starred with Robert Montgomery and Franchot Tone in “No More Ladies” and “I Live My Life” was another film thast came in that year. She was paired for the seventh time with Gable in ” Love on the Run” in 1936. “The Gorgeous Hussy”  of 1936 was also her a box office hit film.

Her late 1930s films could not draw much attention to the oublic and her career became faded.  “The Bride wore Red” (1937) and “Mannequin” (1938) were failed badly in box-ofice.  She left MGM in 1943, made a contract with Warner Bros where she became of rival of Bette Davis.  Her first film under Warner Bros was and all star film “Hollywood Canteen” (1944)

“Mildred Pierce” (1945) was her first starring role for Warner Bros. She also won an Academy Award for best actress for this film and her career started shine agian. This role is often regarded as one of her most iconic performances and is widely celebrated as a significant achievement in her career.

After her Oscar-winning performance in “Mildred Pierce”,  Crawford appeared in a variety of films throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Although her roles became less frequent as she aged she continued to work in film and television. Notable films from this period include “Sudden Fear” under RKO productions and  “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962). She was starred alongside Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. Both film were critical and commercial success. For both films she was nominated for Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

she continued to act in films such as “Strait-Jacket” (1964) and “I Saw What You Did” (1965). She also made guest appearances on television shows and starred in the anthology horror series “Night Gallery.” Her big screen final film was ” Trog” in 1970. In this low-budget British horror film, Crawford played the role of Dr. Brockton, 

She remained a prominent figure in Hollywood until her death in 1977. While her later career may not have reached the heights of her earlier years, Crawford’s legacy as one of Hollywood’s most enduring and iconic actresses endures.

Joan Crawford Spouses

How many times Joan Crawford married?

Joan Crawford married four times. The first three were actors and all ended in divorces. The fourth one was a bussinessman.

First Husband of Joan Crawford-Douglas Fairbanks

Douglas was an American actor, producer, businessman and a highly decorated naval officer. They met for the first time in a theatre. Joan was attracted to Douglas. It was love at first sight. In 1928 both were in serious love and they were dating.. Douglas proposed on December 31^st 1928 and Crawford accepted him. It is said Joan accepted the proposal to better herself, to achieve stardomm in the Hollywood. “Our Modern Maiden” in 1929 was the only motion picture that Crawford and Douglas worked together. 

They married on June 3rd, 1929 at the Saint Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church. Douglas was 21 and Crawford was 19 years old at that time. They belong to different backgrounds. Douglas belongs to a wealthy and educated family while Joan came from a near poverty. Douglas family did not accepted their marriage. By late 1930 their relation became deteriorated. Crawford taken interest in Gable and had a relationship in 1931. At the same Crawford was absorbed in her career.

But Douglas still loved her and did not want the marriage to an end. Crawford had a few miscarriages and even admitted she had an abortion. Douglas wanted children to save their marriage. By the end of 1932, Douglas filed for divorce and finalised on May 12, 1933.

Second Husband of Joan Crawford-Franchot Tone.

Franchot was a well- educated American actor and and producer. He was a leading star of 1930s and 1940s. They met while filming the movie “Today We Live” in 1933 and fell in love. The film was not successful. They together teamed up in another six films. ” Dancing Lady” (1933) was a film which starred Clark Gable , Franchot and Crawford together. One can wonder what would be for Crawford working together with Gable- a man she was once having a love affairs and Trot whom she falling in love with. Trot and  Crawford worked together in-

• “Sadie” 1934
• “No More Ladies” 1935
• “The Gorgeous Hussy” and “Love on the Run” 1936
• “The Bride Wore Red” 1937

The two love birds began dating after filming “Dancing Lady”. Rumours were flying around Hollywood about their affairs. In 1935 Franchot was filming “Dangerous”(1935) with Bette Davis the future rival of Crawford . She was jealous of the romantic scene between the two. Many believe that the reason behind the fued between Crawford and Davis was both Crawford and Davis love Franchot.

They married on October 11, 1935. It was first marriage of Franchot. Franchot introduced Crawford to the world of radio and they appeared together in many radio broadcasts. They appeared together their last radio broafcast in “Message to the World” in 1960.

The couple had no children despite many considerable efforts due to Crawford’s miscarriage. They divorced three-and-a-half years later in 1939. The reason of their divorce, according to Crawford, was Franchot’s alcoholic and physically abusive nature. There were also career pressures and conflicting schedule. Later they remain friend. It is said that Franchot proposed in 1964 to remarry.

Third Husband of Joan Crawford- Phillip Tery

Terry was an American actor known for his roles in films such as “The Lost Weekend” and “The Stranger.” Crawford and Tery met in June 1942 through a mutual friend in Hollywood. They were introduced to each other at social gatherings and events within the entertainment industry. They started dating and married on July 20, 1942 in a simple ceremony. It was first marriage of Phillip.

The couple appeared to be in love and there was a strong sexually chemistry between the two. She adopted Christopher while she marrried to Phillip. However their marriage could not stay long. Crawford filed for divorce and they divorced on April 25, 1946. The reason of being divorce according to Crawford was physical and emotional abuse.

It is said that Crawford paid a large sum of money to Phillip. Despite their seperation they remained on good terms. Crawford later said in an interview that Phillip was a good and nice man, but they were not made for each other. 

Fourth Husband of Joan Crawford- Alfred N. Steele

Steele was  an American soft drink bussinessman, the CEO of Pepsi-Cola company. They married on May 10, 1955 at the Flamingo Hotl in Las Vegas. It was the third marriage of  Steele. She often referred to him as the “Love” of her life. However their happily live was short. Unfortunately, Steele suddenly died on April 19, 1959. It deeply affected Crawford. After her husband she promote Pepsi-Cola. In 1965 Crawford was designated as the first Woman of the Year by the United Service Organisations of New York for her contribution as an actress, an executive and huminatarian.

Joan Crawford children

Joan Crawford had no biological children. She had a total of four adopted children:

1. Christina Crawford- She was adopted by Joan Crawford in 1940. She had a tumultuous relationship with her mother.
2. Christopher Crawford-He was adopted by Crawford in 1943. 
3. Cynthia Crawford-She was adopted by Crawford in 1947.
4. Cathy Crawford-She was adopted by Crawford in 1947

Among the four children Christina was closest to her mother and most well- known of her children. Cathy and Cynthia were faternal twin daughter. She wrote” Mommie Dearest” which depicted the tumultous relationship with her mother. Both Cynthia and Cathy maintained a low profile and little is known about their life.

Networth of Joan Crawford

Crawford was at the peak of her career in the 1930s and 1940s and she was one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. She had a fluctuating net worth throughout her lifetime due to her successful film career and various personal ventures. Adjusted for inflation, her net worth during her prime years would have been substantial. However, it’s important to note that her net worth might have varied significantly depending on the sources of income, investments, and expenses throughout her life. At the time of her death she was worth around $2 million which is to be about $8-$10 million today with inflation.

Joan Crawford death

The iconic actress passed away on May 10, 1977, at the age of 73. She died of a heart attack in her New York City apartment. She is survived by by her four children: Cathy, Cynthia, Christina, and Christopher, and four grandchildren.

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Reference-

• https://www.nytimes.com
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com
• https://en.wikipedia.org