| Celebrated Name: | Joan Crawford |
|---|---|
| Real Name/Full Name: | Lucille Fay LeSueur |
| Gender: | Female |
| Age at the time of death: | 73 years old |
| Birth Date: | March 23, 1904 |
| Date of death: | 10 May 1977 |
| Birth Place: | San Antonio, Texas, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 160.02 cm |
| Weight: | 49 kg |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Husband/Spouse (Name): |
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (m. 1929; div. 1933), Franchot Tone (m. 1935; div. 1939), Phillip Terry (m. 1942; div. 1946), Alfred Steele (m. 1955; died 1959) |
| Children: | Yes ( Christina Crawford, Cindy Crawford, Christopher Crawford, Cathy Crawford) |
| Dating/Boyfriend (Name): |
N/A |
| Profession: | American film actress, Singer, Pin-up girl, Dancer, Film Producer, Screenwriter |
| Net Worth in 2024: | $8 million |
| Last Updated: | January 2024 |
Lucille Fay LeSueur, famously known as Joan Crawford is an American Film Actress who began her career as a dancer. Her debut performance was as a chorus girl on Broadway. Her career lasted for six decades (55 years). She is well known for playing diverse roles and multi-layered performances.
Maybe you know about Joan Crawford very well, But do you know how old was she at the time of her death and what is her net worth in 2024? If you do not know, We have prepared this article about details of Joan Crawford’s short biography-wiki, career, professional life, personal life, today’s net worth, age, height, weight, and more facts. Well, if you’re ready, let’s start.
Early Life & Biography
Lucille Fay LeSueur was of English, French, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. She was born in San Antonio, Texas. She was the third child of Thomas E. LeSueur, a construction laborer, and Anna Bell Johnson. Her mother apparently was still under 20 when her siblings were born, and she died on August 15, 1958. Joan Crawford’s elder sister Daisy LeSueur died before Lucille’s birth, and she had another brother, Hal LeSueur.
Thomas LeSueur abandoned the family when Lucille was ten months old. Crawford’s mother then got married to Henry J. Cassin. Crawford lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, with her family. Henry owned a theatre where Joan liked to watch vaudeville acts perform on the stage. At that time, Crawford was unaware that Cassin, who she believed was her biological father, was not her actual father until her brother Hal told her the truth. She preferred to be called Billie in her childhood. Cassin allegedly began sexually abusing her when she was eleven years old, and the sexual abuse had continued until she went to St. Agnes Academy, a Catholic girls’ school.
Crawford was only schooled till the primary level. Her ambition was to become a dancer. In 1922, she began to study at St. Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, but withdrew as she was not ready for college.
Personal Life
Crawford married four times. Her first husband was Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. They got married in 1929 but got divorced after four years, in 1933. She then married Franchot Tone in 1935. Their marriage ended in 1939. Her next marriage was in 1942, with Phillip Terry. They got divorced in 1946. Her last marriage, in 1955, was with Alfred Steele, but he died in 1959.
Joan Crawford adopted five children, but one of them was reclaimed. Her four adopted children are Christina Crawford, Cindy Crawford, Christopher Crawford, and Cathy Crawford.
It is said that Joan Crawford had a rough relationship with her two elder children Christina and Christopher. After the death of Joan, Christina released a tell-all memoir, “Mommie Dearest,” which was an insight about Joan’s abusive behavior against her children. The book states that Joan might have adopted children as part of a publicity stunt, as she was deemed unfit for raising children by her adopted daughter, Chistina.
Age, Height, and Weight
Being born on March 23, 1904, Joan Crawford was 73 years old. Her height was 160.02 cm tall, and her weight was 49 kg.
Career
Under the name Lucille LeSueur, Crawford began dancing and was spotted dancing in Detroit by producer Jacob J. Shubert. She then performed in his show, Innocent Eyes, in New York City.
Pete Smith recognized her ability to become a successful star but felt the need to alter her name and hence organized a contest called “Name the Star” in Movie Weekly to select her new stage name. Though the initial choice was “Joan Arden,” they finally went with Joan Crawford.
Credited as Lucille LeSueur, her first film was Lady of the Night in 1925. She was very hardworking and earned a name for herself really quickly. In 1926, Joan was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars. That same year, she performed in Paris, along with Charles Ray. In a few years, she became a very popular romantic female lead actress alongside many of the MGM’s top male stars. Crawford appeared in The Unknown (1927), starring Lon Chaney, Sr. In 1927, she appeared beside William Haines in Spring Fever. In 1928, Crawford starred in Across to Singapore, but her role in Our Dancing Daughters as Diana Medford was the most captivating one and earned her all the stardom.
To rid herself of her Southwestern accent, Crawford tirelessly practiced diction and elocution and made a successful transition to talkies. Her first all-talking was in Untamed (1929), which also starred Robert Montgomery. Montana Moon (1930), was a major success at the time of its release. Her next movie, Paid with Robert Armstrong, was another success. In 1931, MGM cast Crawford in five films. Crawford achieved a great deal of success in Letty Lynton (1932). Her gown with large ruffled sleeves became a sensational style and was even picked up by Macy’s. Crawford’s films in the 1930s were one of the most popular and highest-grossing films of this era. Today We Live (1933), No More Ladies (1935), I Live My Life (1935), The Gorgeous Hussy (1936), Love on the Run (1936), and many more were well received by critics.
Crawford, as Fay Cheyney in The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937), led to her proclamation the first “Queen of the Movies” by Life magazine, but her popularity soon began to reduce gradually. On May 3, 1938, Crawford was dubbed “Box Office Poison” in an open letter in the Independent Film Journal. She made a comeback in 1939 with her role as home-wrecker Crystal Allen in The Women.
Crawford signed with Warner Bros for $500,000 for a three-movie deal. Her first film for the studio was Hollywood Canteen (1944). The success of Mildred Pierce, the movie she starred in 1945, got her an academy award and revived her movie career. Her next film was Humoresque (1946), Possessed (1947), was the film for which she received the second Academy Award nomination.
Crawford worked in the radio series as well!
Her last public appearance was made on September 23, 1974, at a book party cohosted with her old friend Rosalind Russell at New York’s Rainbow Room. When Crawford saw the unflattering photos that appeared in the papers the next day, she canceled all public appearances, began declining interviews, and left her apartment less and less. Dental problems left her needing round-the-clock nursing care. She quit drinking in 1974.
Awards & Achievements
Joan Crawford has earned many awards and has been nominated several times for receiving prestigious awards.
- Oscar for ‘Best Actress in leading role’ in 1946 for Mildred Pierce.
- Oscar nominee for ‘Best Actress in leading role’ in 1948 for Possessed.
- Oscar nominee for ‘Best Actress in leading role’ in 1953 for sudden fear.
- Golden Globes USA nominee in 1953 and 1955.
- BAFTA Awards nominee in 1954 for the category of ‘Best Foreign Actress.’
- Golden Globes USA 1970 Cecil B. DeMille Award.
- 1945 and 1946 winner of Golden Apple awards for ‘Most Cooperative Actress.’
- Laurel Award in 1953 for Best Dramatic Performance.
- Laurel Award in 1954 for Top Female Musical Performance.
- Laurel Awards nominee in 1966.
- Walk of Fame in 1960.
Net Worth & Salary of Joan Crawford in 2024
As of January 2024, Joan Crawford was an American actress who had a net worth equal to $8 million. She was worth around $2 million dollars at the time of her death. Her salary was estimated to be around $65,250 thousand dollars. Joan Crawford left her estate to her adopted twins Cathy Crawford and Cindy Crawford. However, her other children Christina Crawford and Christopher Crawford, were excluded.
Joan Crawford was an actress during the early ’90s, who was immensely talented. Crawford, who began her career as a dancer, mold herself into an able and versatile actress. She appeared in more than 30 movies and won prestigious awards, including the Oscar. She died of a heart attack on May 10th, 1977.