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 Lucy Show

The Virginian

Great Performances

The Merv Griffin Show

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

What's My Line?

All Movies (167)

• Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bette and Joan2017 · as Self (archive footage)
• Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?2016 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tell Us She Was One of You: The Hollywood Blacklist and 'Johnny Guitar'2016 · as Self (archive footage)
• Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other2016 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Shirley Eder Tapes2012 · as Self
• Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe2012 · as Self (archive footage)
• Possessed2011 · as (archive footage)
• Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture2010
• Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France2009
• 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood2008 · as Various Roles (archive footage)
• Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story2007 · as Self (archive)
• Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition2006 · as Self (archive footage)
• 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage2006 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Damned Don't Cry: The Crawford Formula - Real and Reel2005 · as Self (archive)
• Checking Out: Grand Hotel2004 · as Self / Flaemmchen (archive footage)
• Complicated Women2003 · as Self (archive footage)
• Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• Battle-Axe: the Making of 'Strait-Jacket'2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces2000 · as Self (archive footage / uncredited)
• Joan Crawford: Always the Star1996 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Casting Couch1995
• Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• That's Entertainment! III1994 · as (archive footage)
• Gay! Gay! Hollywood1994
• Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre1989 · as Self
• Going Hollywood: The '30s1984 · as (archive footage)
• Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage1983 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982 · as (in "Humoresque") (archive footage)
• Showbiz Ballyhoo1982 · as Self (archive footage)
• Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!1982 · as Self (archive footage)
• Bob Hope's World of Comedy1976 · as Self (archive footage)
• That's Entertainment, Part II1976 · as (archive footage)
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975 · as Self (archive footage)
• That's Entertainment!1974 · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Dear Joan: We're Going to Scare You to Death1972 · as Joan Fairchild
• Hollywood: The Dream Factory1972 · as Self (archive footage)
• Journey to Murder1971 · as Host
• Trog1970 · as Dr. Brockton
• Night Gallery1969 · as Miss Menlo
• Garbo, by Joan Crawford1969 · as Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
• Journey to the Unknown1969 · as Self - Host
• The Big Rock Candy Mountain1969 · as Self
• This was the MARY1968 · as Self/Narrator
• Berserk!1967 · as Monica Rivers
• The Karate Killers1967 · as Amanda True
• The Oscar1966 · as Joan Crawford
• I Saw What You Did1965 · as Amy Nelson
• Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964 · as Miriam Deering in Car (uncredited)
• The Big Parade of Comedy1964 · as Bobby (archive footage)
• Della1964 · as Della Chappell
• Strait-Jacket1964 · as Lucy Harbin
• How to Plan a Movie Murder1964 · as Self
• The Caretakers1963 · as Lucretia Terry
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?1962 · as Blanche Hudson
• Lykke og krone1962
• One Must Die1961
• The Best of Everything1959 · as Amanda Farrow
• Woman on the Run1959 · as Susan Conrad
• Zwischen Glück und Krone1959
• Strange Witness1958 · as Ruth Marshall
• The Story of Esther Costello1957 · as Margaret Landi
• Autumn Leaves1956 · as Millicent Wetherby
• Queen Bee1955 · as Eva Phillips
• Female on the Beach1955 · as Lynn Markham
• The Road to Edinburgh1954 · as Mary Andrews
• A Star Is Born World Premiere1954 · as Self
• Johnny Guitar1954 · as Vienna
• Torch Song1953 · as Jenny Stewart
• At Home with Joan Crawford1953 · as Self
• Sudden Fear1952 · as Myra Hudson Blaine
• This Woman Is Dangerous1952 · as Elizabeth Austin
• Goodbye, My Fancy1951 · as Agatha Reed
• Harriet Craig1950 · as Harriet Craig
• The Damned Don't Cry1950 · as Ethel Whitehead
• It's a Great Feeling1949 · as Joan Crawford (uncredited)
• Flamingo Road1949 · as Lane Bellamy
• Daisy Kenyon1947 · as Daisy Kenyon
• Through Many Windows1947 · as Self - Narrator
• Possessed1947 · as Louise Howell
• Humoresque1947 · as Helen Wright
• Blow-Ups of 19461946 · as Self
• Mildred Pierce1945 · as Mildred Pierce
• Hollywood Canteen1944 · as Self
• Above Suspicion1943 · as Frances Myles
• Reunion in France1942 · as Michele de la Becque
• They All Kissed the Bride1942 · as Margaret Johanna 'M.J.' Drew
• Joan Crawford's Home Movies1942 · as Self
• When Ladies Meet1941 · as Mary 'Minnie' Howard
• A Woman's Face1941 · as Anna Holm
• A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound1940 · as Self
• Susan and God1940 · as Susan Trexel
• Hollywood: Style Center of the World1940 · as Self
• Strange Cargo1940 · as Julie
• The Women1939 · as Crystal Allen
• From the Ends of the Earth1939 · as Self
• Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 81939 · as Joan Crawford
• The Ice Follies of 19391939 · as Mary McKay
• The Shining Hour1938 · as Olivia Riley Linden
• Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 61938 · as Self
• Mannequin1938 · as Jessie Cassidy
• The Bride Wore Red1937 · as Anni Pavlovitch
• The Romance of Celluloid1937 · as Self (archive footage)
• Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 121937 · as Self (uncredited)
• The Last of Mrs. Cheyney1937 · as Mrs. Fay Cheyney
• Love on the Run1936 · as Sally Parker
• The Gorgeous Hussy1936 · as Margaret "Peggy" O'Neal
• I Live My Life1935 · as Kay Bentley
• No More Ladies1935 · as Marcia Townsend Warren
• Forsaking All Others1934 · as Mary Clay
• Chained1934 · as Diane Lovering
• Sadie McKee1934 · as Sadie
• Dancing Lady1933 · as Janie Barlow
• Fast Workers1933 · as Ivy Stevens (Archive Footage) (Uncredited)
• Today We Live1933 · as Diana 'Ann' Boyce-Smith
• Rain1932 · as Sadie Thompson
• Grand Hotel1932 · as Flämmchen
• Letty Lynton1932 · as Letty Lynton
• Possessed1931 · as Marian Martin aka 'Mrs. Moreland'
• This Modern Age1931 · as Valentine 'Val' Winters
• We’re Switching to Hollywood1931 · as Self
• Laughing Sinners1931 · as Ivy 'Bunny' Stevens
• The Stolen Jools1931 · as Joan Crawford
• Dance, Fools, Dance1931 · as Bonnie Jordan
• Paid1930 · as Mary Turner
• Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 11930 · as Self
• Our Blushing Brides1930 · as Geraldine 'Gerry' March
• Montana Moon1930 · as Joan
• The Hollywood Revue of 19291929 · as Self
• Untamed1929 · as Alice "Bingo" Dowling
• Our Modern Maidens1929 · as Billie Brown
• The Duke Steps Out1929 · as Susie
• Dream of Love1928 · as Adrienne Lecouvreur
• Our Dancing Daughters1928 · as Diana 'Di' Medford
• Four Walls1928 · as Frieda
• Across to Singapore1928 · as Priscilla Crowninshield
• Rose-Marie1928 · as Rose-Marie
• The Law of the Range1928 · as Betty Dallas
• West Point1928 · as Betty Channing
• Spring Fever1927 · as Allie Monte
• Twelve Miles Out1927 · as Jane
• The Unknown1927 · as Nanon Zanzi
• The Understanding Heart1927 · as Monica Dale
• The Taxi Dancer1927 · as Joselyn Poe
• Winners Of The Wilderness1927 · as René Contrecoeur
• Bardelys the Magnificent1926 · as Court Gossip (uncredited)
• The Merry Widow1926 · as Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
• Paris1926 · as The Girl
• The Boob1926 · as Jane
• Tramp, Tramp, Tramp1926 · as Betty Burton
• Sally, Irene and Mary1925 · as Irene O'Dare
• Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ1925 · as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
• The Only Thing1925 · as Party Guest (uncredited)
• Old Clothes1925 · as Mary Riley
• Time, the Comedian1925 · as Art Student (as Lucille LeSueur)
• The Midshipman1925 · as Extra - Driver of Police Car (uncredited)
• The Circle1925 · as Young Lady Catherine
• Pretty Ladies1925 · as Bobby
• A Slave of Fashion1925 · as Mannequin (uncredited)
• Proud Flesh1925 · as Party Guest (uncredited)
• 1925 Studio Tour1925 · as Self
• Lady of the Night1925 · as Body Double for Norma Shearer
• And One Was Loyal— · as Ann Howard
• Rebel Range— · as Stella Faring

All TV Shows (19)

• The Sixth Sense1972 · as Joan Fairchild
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• The Name of the Game1968 · as Committee Member (uncredited)
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E.1964 · as Amanda True
• The Lucy Show1962 · as Joan Crawford
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Virginian1962 · as Stephanie White
• Route 661960 · as Morgan Harper
• Startime1959 · as Self
• Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Stella Faring
• Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre1956 · as Sarah / Melanie Davidson Hobbs
• The Secret Storm1954 · as Joan Borman Kane
• The Oscars1953 · as Self
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Ann Howard
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Ruth Marshall
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Mary Andrews
• The Colgate Comedy Hour1950 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self