Joan Crawford entered the motion-picture industry in 1925 after signing a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that paid seventy-five dollars a week. Born Lucille Fay LeSueur in San Antonio, Texas, she transitioned from a career as a traveling chorus dancer to becoming one of the most prominent film actors in the United States throughout the twentieth century.
Early Career and Transformation
Before achieving prominence, she worked as a dancer in revues and appeared on Broadway in the 1924 show Innocent Eyes. After moving to Hollywood, the studio publicity department orchestrated a contest to rename her, moving away from her original name to the screen identity Joan Crawford. Initially, she served as a body double for Norma Shearer in the 1925 production Lady of the Night, followed by small roles in films such as The Circle and Pretty Ladies.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Studio Stardom and Rags-to-Riches Roles
By the 1930s, Crawford established a public image as a flapper, securing fame that rivaled her contemporaries at MGM. She frequently portrayed hardworking women finding success, a character archetype that resonated with Depression-era audiences. Although her career faced a decline that led to a label of box office poison by the end of the 1930s, she staged a comeback in 1945, starring in Mildred Pierce, a performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Corporate Involvement and Later Years
In 1955, she married Alfred Steele, the president of the Pepsi-Cola Company, which facilitated her deep involvement with the brand. Following his death in 1959, she filled his vacancy on the board of directors until her retirement in 1973. She remained active in film and television through the 1960s, though roles became more sporadic. Her final film appearance was in the 1970 production Trog, after which she withdrew from public life until her death in New York City in 1977.
Fast facts
- Born: 1906, San Antonio
- Died: 1977, New York City
- Academy Award for Best Actress: 1946
- Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award: 1970
- Burial Site: Ferncliff Cemetery
- Primary Employers: Warner Bros. Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Known Religious Affiliation: Christian Science
Questions readers ask
What was the result of Joan Crawford's transition to the Pepsi-Cola board?
After the death of her husband, Alfred Steele, she was elected to fill his vacancy on the board of directors and served until her retirement in 1973.
Did Joan Crawford continue acting after her Academy Award win?
Yes, she continued to act in both film and television projects consistently through the 1960s, eventually retiring from the screen after her final film in 1970.
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Actress — 1946
- Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award — 1970
- Worked as actor, film actor and television actor
.jpg)