Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford

Acting
Born 1906-03-23 - Died 1977-05-10San Antonio, Texas, USA

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.

Movies (172)

A Woman's Face
6.8

A Woman's Face

1941Movie6.8
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
6.6

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

1982Movie6.6
Grand Hotel
7.0

Grand Hotel

1932Movie7.0
Strait-Jacket
6.6

Strait-Jacket

1964Movie6.6
Possessed
6.9

Possessed

1947Movie6.9
Possessed
7.0

Possessed

1931Movie7.0
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
7.5

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

2025Movie7.5
Mildred Pierce
7.6

Mildred Pierce

1945Movie7.6
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
7.9

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

1962Movie7.9
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
7.3

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

1964Movie7.3
Forsaking All Others
6.0

Forsaking All Others

1934Movie6.0
Above Suspicion
6.2

Above Suspicion

1943Movie6.2
The Women
7.2

The Women

1939Movie7.2
Mannequin
6.0

Mannequin

1938Movie6.0
Johnny Guitar
7.4

Johnny Guitar

1954Movie7.4
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
8.0

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995Movie8.0
Dream of Love
7.3

Dream of Love

1928Movie7.3
Bob Hope's World of Comedy

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

1976Movie
Across to Singapore
7.0

Across to Singapore

1928Movie7.0
Sudden Fear
7.2

Sudden Fear

1952Movie7.2
Chained
7.0

Chained

1934Movie7.0
Trog
4.6

Trog

1970Movie4.6
I Saw What You Did
6.2

I Saw What You Did

1965Movie6.2
Hollywood Canteen
7.3

Hollywood Canteen

1944Movie7.3
Woman on the Run
6.0

Woman on the Run

1959Movie6.0
This Woman Is Dangerous
5.9

This Woman Is Dangerous

1952Movie5.9
Night Gallery
6.7

Night Gallery

1969Movie6.7
This Modern Age
5.9

This Modern Age

1931Movie5.9
Complicated Women
6.9

Complicated Women

2003Movie6.9
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
7.3

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

1925Movie7.3
The Oscar
5.1

The Oscar

1966Movie5.1
That's Entertainment!
7.4

That's Entertainment!

1974Movie7.4
That's Entertainment! III
7.1

That's Entertainment! III

1994Movie7.1
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
7.2

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

1972Movie7.2
The Romance of Celluloid
7.0

The Romance of Celluloid

1937Movie7.0
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
6.8

Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

2000Movie6.8
Susan and God
6.5

Susan and God

1940Movie6.5
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
7.0

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983Movie7.0
Berserk!
5.7

Berserk!

1967Movie5.7
Reunion in France
6.5

Reunion in France

1942Movie6.5
Sally, Irene and Mary
5.7

Sally, Irene and Mary

1925Movie5.7
The Unknown
7.6

The Unknown

1927Movie7.6
Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

Flappers, Speakeasies, and the Birth of Modern Culture

2010Movie
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
4.3

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

2007Movie4.3
Our Blushing Brides
5.6

Our Blushing Brides

1930Movie5.6
It's a Great Feeling
6.0

It's a Great Feeling

1949Movie6.0
Tell Us She Was One of You: The Hollywood Blacklist and 'Johnny Guitar'

Tell Us She Was One of You: The Hollywood Blacklist and 'Johnny Guitar'

2016Movie
Humoresque
7.0

Humoresque

1947Movie7.0
The Bride Wore Red
6.7

The Bride Wore Red

1937Movie6.7
The Merry Widow
6.7

The Merry Widow

1926Movie6.7
Lykke og krone
9.0

Lykke og krone

1962Movie9.0
Dancing Lady
6.9

Dancing Lady

1933Movie6.9
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
2.0

Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell

1995Movie2.0
Strange Witness

Strange Witness

1958Movie
The Ice Follies of 1939
5.6

The Ice Follies of 1939

1939Movie5.6
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
5.9

The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

1937Movie5.9
Zwischen Glück und Krone
10.0

Zwischen Glück und Krone

1959Movie10.0
The Best of Everything
6.3

The Best of Everything

1959Movie6.3
That's Entertainment, Part II
7.0

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976Movie7.0
Going Hollywood: The '30s
9.0

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984Movie9.0
The Boob
6.0

The Boob

1926Movie6.0
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

1989Movie
When Ladies Meet
6.9

When Ladies Meet

1941Movie6.9
Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

Johnny Guitar: A Western Like No Other

2016Movie
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
6.0

Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

1982Movie6.0
Our Modern Maidens
5.6

Our Modern Maidens

1929Movie5.6
Rain
6.6

Rain

1932Movie6.6
No More Ladies
5.0

No More Ladies

1935Movie5.0
Daisy Kenyon
6.6

Daisy Kenyon

1947Movie6.6
Goodbye, My Fancy
6.4

Goodbye, My Fancy

1951Movie6.4
Flamingo Road
7.0

Flamingo Road

1949Movie7.0
Strange Cargo
7.0

Strange Cargo

1940Movie7.0
Dance, Fools, Dance
6.5

Dance, Fools, Dance

1931Movie6.5
Journey to Murder
7.0

Journey to Murder

1971Movie7.0
Queen Bee
6.3

Queen Bee

1955Movie6.3
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
6.8

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

1940Movie6.8
The Damned Don't Cry
7.0

The Damned Don't Cry

1950Movie7.0
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
5.8

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

1940Movie5.8
The Big Parade of Comedy
7.2

The Big Parade of Comedy

1964Movie7.2
The Karate Killers
5.1

The Karate Killers

1967Movie5.1
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
6.3

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975Movie6.3
The Gorgeous Hussy
5.5

The Gorgeous Hussy

1936Movie5.5
Sadie McKee
7.0

Sadie McKee

1934Movie7.0
Letty Lynton
7.0

Letty Lynton

1932Movie7.0
Possessed

Possessed

2011Movie
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
7.2

Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

2012Movie7.2
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
7.5

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

2009Movie7.5
The Midshipman
7.0

The Midshipman

1925Movie7.0
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
5.7

The Hollywood Revue of 1929

1929Movie5.7
Pretty Ladies
5.8

Pretty Ladies

1925Movie5.8
Autumn Leaves
7.0

Autumn Leaves

1956Movie7.0
The Stolen Jools
5.6

The Stolen Jools

1931Movie5.6
Proud Flesh
7.2

Proud Flesh

1925Movie7.2
I Live My Life
6.6

I Live My Life

1935Movie6.6
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
7.5

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

1996Movie7.5
Torch Song
5.9

Torch Song

1953Movie5.9
A Star Is Born World Premiere
8.0

A Star Is Born World Premiere

1954Movie8.0
The Shining Hour
6.7

The Shining Hour

1938Movie6.7
Female on the Beach
5.7

Female on the Beach

1955Movie5.7
The Casting Couch
8.3

The Casting Couch

1995Movie8.3
They All Kissed the Bride
5.9

They All Kissed the Bride

1942Movie5.9
Today We Live
6.3

Today We Live

1933Movie6.3
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
5.9

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

1926Movie5.9
Hollywood: The Selznick Years
4.4

Hollywood: The Selznick Years

1961Movie4.4
The Circle
5.4

The Circle

1925Movie5.4
Time, the Comedian
3.0

Time, the Comedian

1925Movie3.0
Dear Joan: We're Going to Scare You to Death
7.0

Dear Joan: We're Going to Scare You to Death

1972Movie7.0
The Caretakers
6.4

The Caretakers

1963Movie6.4
Blow-Ups of 1946
6.0

Blow-Ups of 1946

1946Movie6.0
Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

1994Movie
Fast Workers
5.0

Fast Workers

1933Movie5.0
The Road to Edinburgh

The Road to Edinburgh

1954Movie
Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star
6.9

Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star

2002Movie6.9
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
6.0

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

2006Movie6.0
1925 Studio Tour
6.3

1925 Studio Tour

1925Movie6.3
Joan Crawford's Home Movies

Joan Crawford's Home Movies

1942Movie
Gay! Gay! Hollywood
3.3

Gay! Gay! Hollywood

1994Movie3.3
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
6.1

Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

2008Movie6.1
Our Dancing Daughters
6.3

Our Dancing Daughters

1928Movie6.3
Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

2009Movie
Four Walls
7.3

Four Walls

1928Movie7.3
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
7.0

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

2004Movie7.0
Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12
5.0

Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

1937Movie5.0
Garbo, by Joan Crawford
6.0

Garbo, by Joan Crawford

1969Movie6.0
Love on the Run
6.5

Love on the Run

1936Movie6.5
Montana Moon
4.7

Montana Moon

1930Movie4.7
This was the MARY

This was the MARY

1968Movie
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
7.8

Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story

2007Movie7.8
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
6.6

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story

2006Movie6.6
West Point
7.5

West Point

1928Movie7.5
Bette and Joan

Bette and Joan

2017Movie
At Home with Joan Crawford
5.8

At Home with Joan Crawford

1953Movie5.8
The Law of the Range
4.7

The Law of the Range

1928Movie4.7
Della
7.2

Della

1964Movie7.2
Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

Johnny Guitar: A Feminist Western?

2016Movie
Showbiz Ballyhoo

Showbiz Ballyhoo

1982Movie
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

1930Movie
A Slave of Fashion
6.0

A Slave of Fashion

1925Movie6.0
Bardelys the Magnificent
7.4

Bardelys the Magnificent

1926Movie7.4
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
4.0

Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

1939Movie4.0
Laughing Sinners
5.3

Laughing Sinners

1931Movie5.3
Harriet Craig
7.5

Harriet Craig

1950Movie7.5
Spring Fever
6.9

Spring Fever

1927Movie6.9
Twelve Miles Out
6.5

Twelve Miles Out

1927Movie6.5
Lady of the Night
5.8

Lady of the Night

1925Movie5.8
The Only Thing
5.0

The Only Thing

1925Movie5.0
Paid
6.7

Paid

1930Movie6.7
The Story of Esther Costello
7.0

The Story of Esther Costello

1957Movie7.0
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

1938Movie
The Green Fog
6.1

The Green Fog

2018Movie6.1
From the Ends of the Earth
5.0

From the Ends of the Earth

1939Movie5.0
One Must Die

One Must Die

1961Movie
The Big Rock Candy Mountain

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

1969Movie
The Understanding Heart
8.0

The Understanding Heart

1927Movie8.0
Battle-Axe: the Making of 'Strait-Jacket'
8.0

Battle-Axe: the Making of 'Strait-Jacket'

2002Movie8.0
Untamed
6.3

Untamed

1929Movie6.3
Old Clothes
5.0

Old Clothes

1925Movie5.0
We’re Switching to Hollywood
5.2

We’re Switching to Hollywood

1931Movie5.2
Through Many Windows

Through Many Windows

1947Movie
Winners of the Wilderness
7.7

Winners of the Wilderness

1927Movie7.7
The Taxi Dancer
7.7

The Taxi Dancer

1927Movie7.7
Journey to the Unknown

Journey to the Unknown

1969Movie
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy

2007Movie
The Shirley Eder Tapes

The Shirley Eder Tapes

2012Movie
Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition
6.7

Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

2006Movie6.7
The Duke Steps Out
6.5

The Duke Steps Out

1929Movie6.5
How to Plan a Movie Murder
6.5

How to Plan a Movie Murder

1964Movie6.5
And One Was Loyal

And One Was Loyal

Movie
Paris
7.0

Paris

1926Movie7.0
Rebel Range

Rebel Range

Movie
Rose-Marie
7.0

Rose-Marie

1928Movie7.0
The Damned Don't Cry: The Crawford Formula - Real and Reel

The Damned Don't Cry: The Crawford Formula - Real and Reel

2005Movie

TV Shows (17)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Great Performances
6.1

Great Performances

1971Series6.1
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
The Lucy Show
7.0

The Lucy Show

1962Series7.0
The Virginian
6.5

The Virginian

1962Series6.5
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
Route 66
6.7

Route 66

1960Series6.7
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
6.2

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

1956Series6.2
The Name of the Game
7.0

The Name of the Game

1968Series7.0
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Colgate Comedy Hour
6.9

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950Series6.9
The Secret Storm
4.5

The Secret Storm

1954Series4.5
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
7.2

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

1964Series7.2
Startime
6.8

Startime

1959Series6.8
The Sixth Sense
6.3

The Sixth Sense

1972Series6.3
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
The Tim Conway Show
6.5

The Tim Conway Show

1970Series6.5