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Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography

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Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography

by Lawrence J. Quirk

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3305 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	313 pages

Joan Crawford was one of the most iconic and controversial stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. Her career spanned four decades, during which time she starred in over 80 films and won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was known for her fiery personality, her glamorous lifestyle, and her tumultuous personal life.

Early Life and Career

Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur on March 23, 1904, in San Antonio, Texas. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather. Crawford began her career as a chorus girl in the 1920s. She moved to Hollywood in 1925 and signed a contract with MGM Studios.

Crawford's early films were mostly musicals and comedies. She made her breakthrough role in the 1932 film Grand Hotel. For her performance, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Crawford went on to star in a number of successful films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including The Women (1939),Mildred Pierce (1945),and Sudden Fear (1952).

Personal Life

Crawford's personal life was as dramatic as her career. She was married four times, twice to the same man. Her first marriage was to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in 1929. They divorced in 1933. Crawford then married Franchot Tone in 1935. They divorced in 1939. Crawford married Philip Terry in 1942. They divorced in 1946. Crawford married Alfred Steele in 1955. They divorced in 1962.

Crawford had four children, two adopted and two biological. Her adopted daughter, Christina, wrote a tell-all book about her mother in 1978. The book, Mommie Dearest, painted a portrait of Crawford as a cruel and abusive parent. The book was later adapted into a film in 1981.

Later Career and Death

Crawford's career declined in the 1950s and 1960s. She made fewer films and her roles were less significant. She also struggled with alcoholism and prescription drug abuse. Crawford died of a heart attack on May 10, 1977, at the age of 73.

Legacy

Joan Crawford was one of the most iconic stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. She was known for her fiery personality, her glamorous lifestyle, and her tumultuous personal life. Crawford's films continue to be enjoyed by fans around the world, and she remains an enduring symbol of Hollywood glamour.