Joan Crawford

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Joan Crawford and Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Joan Crawford

American actress

Also known as: Lucille Lesueur

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

Original name:: Lucille Fay LeSueur

Born:: March 23, 1904?, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.

Died:: May 10, 1977, New York, New York

Also Known As:: Lucille Lesueur; Lucille Fay LeSueur

Awards And Honors:: Academy Award (1946); Academy Award (1946): Actress in a Leading Role; Cecil B. DeMille Award (1970)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "The Sixth Sense" (1972); "Trog" (1970); "The Virginian" (1970); "Night Gallery" (1969); "Journey to Midnight" (1968); "The Secret Storm" (1968); "The Lucy Show" (1968); "Berserk" (1967); "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1967); "I Saw What You Did" (1965); "Della" (1964); "Strait-Jacket" (1964); "Route 66" (1963); "The Caretakers" (1963); "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962); "Zane Grey Theater" (1959–1961); "The Best of Everything" (1959); "On Trial" (1959); "General Electric Theater" (1954–1959); "The Story of Esther Costello" (1957); "Autumn Leaves" (1956); "Queen Bee" (1955); "Female on the Beach" (1955); "Johnny Guitar" (1954); "Torch Song" (1953); "The Revlon Mirror Theater" (1953); "Sudden Fear" (1952); "This Woman Is Dangerous" (1952); "Goodbye, My Fancy" (1951); "Harriet Craig" (1950); "The Damned Don't Cry" (1950); "Flamingo Road" (1949); "Daisy Kenyon" (1947); "Possessed" (1947); "Humoresque" (1946); "Mildred Pierce" (1945); "Hollywood Canteen" (1944); "Above Suspicion" (1943); "Reunion in France" (1942); "They All Kissed the Bride" (1942); "When Ladies Meet" (1941); "A Woman's Face" (1941); "Susan and God" (1940); "Strange Cargo" (1940); "The Women" (1939); "The Ice Follies of 1939" (1939); "The Shining Hour" (1938); "Mannequin" (1937); "The Bride Wore Red" (1937); "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" (1937); "Love on the Run" (1936); "The Gorgeous Hussy" (1936); "I Live My Life" (1935); "No More Ladies" (1935); "Forsaking All Others" (1934); "Chained" (1934); "Sadie McKee" (1934); "Dancing Lady" (1933); "Today We Live" (1933); "Rain" (1932); "Letty Lynton" (1932); "Grand Hotel" (1932); "Possessed" (1931); "This Modern Age" (1931); "Laughing Sinners" (1931); "Dance, Fools, Dance" (1931); "Great Day" (1930); "Paid" (1930); "Our Blushing Brides" (1930); "Montana Moon" (1930); "Untamed" (1929); "Our Modern Maidens" (1929); "The Hollywood Revue of 1929" (1929); "The Duke Steps Out" (1929); "Dream of Love" (1928); "Our Dancing Daughters" (1928); "Four Walls" (1928); "Across to Singapore" (1928); "Rose-Marie" (1928); "The Law of the Range" (1928); "West Point" (1927); "Spring Fever" (1927); "Twelve Miles Out" (1927); "The Unknown" (1927); "The Understanding Heart" (1927); "The Taxi Dancer" (1927); "Winners of the Wilderness" (1927); "Paris" (1926); "The Boob" (1926); "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" (1926); "Sally, Irene and Mary" (1925); "Old Clothes" (1925); "The Circle" (1925); "Pretty Ladies" (1925)

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Joan Crawford (born March 23, 1904?, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.—died May 10, 1977, New York, New York) was an American motion-picture actress who made her initial impact as a vivacious Jazz Age flapper but later matured into a star of psychological melodramas. She developed a glamorous screen image, appearing often as a sumptuously gowned, fur-draped, successful career woman.

Crawford danced in nightclubs under the name Billie Cassin, and by 1924 she was dancing in Broadway musicals. On the screen from 1925, she danced her way through such popular films as Our Dancing Daughters (1928), Dance, Fools, Dance (1931), and Dancing Lady (1933). Among her early successes as a dramatic actress were The Women (1939), Susan and God (1940), Strange Cargo (1940), and A Woman’s Face (1941).

A major turning point in Crawford’s career was her performance in Mildred Pierce (1945), for which she won an Academy Award. The story of an emotional and ambitious woman who rises from waitress to owner of a restaurant chain, it was followed by such high-quality pictures as Humoresque (1947), Sudden Fear (1952), and The Story of Esther Costello (1957). Later successful roles were in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and The Caretakers (1963).

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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Crawford was married to the actors Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (1929–33), Franchot Tone (1935–39), and Phillip Terry (1942–46) and to Alfred Steele (1955–59), chairman of the Pepsi-Cola Company. After his death in 1959 she became a director of the company and in that role hired her friend Dorothy Arzner to film several Pepsi commercials. Crawford’s adopted daughter Christina published Mommie Dearest (1978), an account of the harsh childhood that Christina and an adopted brother had at their mother’s hands, and a film version was produced in 1981.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.