Joan Crawford was an American actress born in 1904. She began her career as a Broadway dancer and promoted herself through dance competitions which led to movie roles. Crawford became a popular actress during the Depression era for playing hard working women who found success. She won the Best Actress Academy Award in 1945 and had a successful career until retiring in 1970. Crawford was married four times and adopted four children.

1. 1904 – 1977
Heritage Minute by Amelia B.
JOAN CRAWFORD, actress

2. Lucille Fay LeSueur, later known as Joan
Crawford, was born on March 23, 1904. She started
her career as a dancer who performed on Broadway.
She promoted herself by winning dance
competitions which led to movie roles.
From Dancer to Actress

3. As Lucille began in movies, the fan
magazine called Movie Weekly held a
contest to decide on Lucille’s acting name.
The winning name was Joan Crawford.
Joan’s movies became very popular
during the Depression-era because she
usually played a hard working woman
who finds romance and success.

4. Joan appeared in over 40 films during her
life and was one of the highest paid women
in the United States in the 1930’s. She had
many leading roles, including several with
the famous actor, Clark Gable.
In 1945, she won the Academy Award
for Best Actress for her role in the
movie, Mildred Pierce (see photo above).

5. Joan was married four times and adopted four
children as her own. After Joan’s death, her oldest
daughter, Christina, wrote a book called Mommie
Dearest in which she told of abuse from her mother
throughout her life. It became a bestselling book
which was made into a movie.
Personal Life

6. When Joan’s fourth husband passed
away, she filled his spot on the Board of
Directors of the Pepsi-Cola Company.
She served on it from 1959 – 1973.
She retired from acting in 1970 and
became a recluse until she died from
a heart attack on May 10, 1977.

7. Joan Crawford was voted the 10th greatest
female star ever by the American Film Institute.
Her hand and footprints are imprinted at the
Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and she has a star
on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Joan’s Legacy