Crawford, Joan ([1905]-1977)

Dates

• Existence: [1905]-1977

Biography

Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur in San Antonio, Texas around 1905. She began dancing at an early age. She began acting in MGM-produced films in 1925. Fame didn't come until 1928, when Crawford appeared in the smash-hit "Our Dancing Daughters." Her natural, un-accented voice helped her transition to talkies in the late 1920s. Throughout the early- and mid-1930s, Crawford was a major box office draw. By the end of the decade, however, her star had dimmed, in part due to sub-par roles and a younger batch of actresses coming up in the industry. She left MGM for Warner Bros. in the early 1940s. In 1945, Crawford received an academy award for "Mildred Pierce," a film that helped relaunch her career. Crawford worked steadily through the late 1940s and 1950s, although with waning success. In 1962, her career was briefly revived once more when "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" was released. Crawford continued to act until her death on May 10, 1977.

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