Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford Facts
| Sign | Aries |
| Born |
Mar 23, 1905 San Antonio, TX |
| Died |
May 10, 1977 New York City, NY |
| Age | Died at 72 |
| Total Facts | 86 |
Joan was dancing in a chorus line in 1925 when she was spotted by MGM and offered a screen test. Joan, who wanted more than anything to continue dancing, turned down the offer at first. But another chorus girl persuaded Joan to try the test, and a few weeks later she was put under contract.
Measurements: 35-25-35 (as model 1930), 35-25 1/2-37 (precise studio stats, 1937) (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Met her biological father only once when he visited her on the set of Chained (1934). She would never see him again.
Niece-in-law of Robert Fairbanks.
Often wore shoulder pads.
On AFI's "100 Years 100 Stars", she was ranked the #10 Female Greatest Screen Legend.
One of the original MGM Contract Stars from the studio's early period.
Salary for 1941, $195,673.
She disliked her 'new' name and initially encouraged others to pronounce it Jo-Anne Crawford. In private, she liked to be referred to as Billie.
She had a cleanliness obsession. She used to wash her hands every ten minutes and follow guests around her house wiping everything they touched, especially doorknobs and pieces from her china set.
She has a granddaughter, Chrystal, from son Christopher. She has a granddaughter Carla, born c. 1970, from daughter Cathy. She has eight grandchildren altogether (four from Christopher and two each from Cindy and Cathy).
She has a grandson, Casey LaLonde, by her daughter Cathy. He was born c. 1972.
She taught director Steven Spielberg how to belch while filming their episode of "Rod Serling's Night Gallery" (1969).
She was a favorite model of Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for their early experiments in animation ("The Hand Behind the Mouse," by Leslie Iwerks).
She was actually Fred Astaire's first on-screen dance partner. They appeared in Dancing Lady (1933).
She was an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee and was active in liberal causes all her life. She was a supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter.
She was named as 'the other woman' in at least two divorces.
She was of French descent on her father's side, and Irish/Scottish/English descent on her mother's side.
She was so dedicated to her fans that she always personally responded to her fan mail by typing them responses on blue paper and autographing it. A great deal of her spare time and weekends were spent doing this.
She was voted the 47th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
She would never smoke a cigarette unless she opened the pack herself, and would never use another cigarette out of that pack if someone else had touched it.
Sister of actor Hal Le Sueur.
Thanked by Courtney Love in the liner notes of Hole's album "Celebrity Skin".
WAMPAS Baby of 1926
Was approached twice by the producers of the Airport disaster movie series. She was offered two different roles in both Airport 1975 (1974) and Airport '77 (1977), but refused.
Was asked to take over Carole Lombard 's role in They All Kissed the Bride (1942) after she died in a air crash during a war bond tour. She then donated all of her salary to the Red Cross who found Lombard's body, and promptly fired her agent for taking his usual 10%.
Was born Catholic but converted to Christian Science in later years.
Was forced by MGM boss Louis B. Mayer to drop her real name Lucille LeSueur because it sounded too much like "sewer".
Was in consideration for the part of Hildy Johnson in His Girl Friday (1940), but Rosalind Russell was cast instead.
Was very close friends with William Haines and his partner Jimmy Shields.
When her daughter Christina Crawford decided to become an actress, Joan demanded that she change her last name, so it wouldn't appear that Christina was using it to further her career. Christina refused.
When Joan adopted her eldest daughter, Christina Crawford, she first named her 'Joan, Jr.'. Baby pictures from the book 'Mommie, Dearest' show baby Christina lying on a towel with 'Joan, Jr.' monogrammed on it. Later, for reasons that can only be speculated, Joan changed the baby's name to Christina. Joan did the same thing to her adopted son, who was named 'Phillip Terry, Jr.', after the man that Joan was married to at the time he was adopted. After her divorce to Phillip Terry was finalized, Joan changed the boy's name to Christopher.
Whenever she stayed in a hotel, no matter how good and well-reputed it was, Joan always scrubbed the bathroom herself before using it.
While touring the talk show circuit to promote What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), Bette Davis told one interviewer that when she and Joan Crawford were first suggested for the leads, Warner studio head Jack L. Warner replied: "I wouldn't give a plugged nickel for either of those two old broads." Recalling the story, Bette Davis laughed at her own expense. The following day, she reportedly received a telegram from Crawford: "In future, please do not refer to me as an old broad!".
Wore size 4C shoes. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Worked as an elevator operator at Harzfeld's department store in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.