Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Peter Lawford
Peter Lawford Facts
| Sign | Virgo |
| Born |
Sep 7, 1923 London, England |
| Died |
Dec 24, 1984 Los Angeles, CA |
| Age | Died at 61 |
| Total Facts | 29 |
A frequent and accomplished guest on the game show "Password All-Stars" (1961), Lawford was the all-time champion at the "lightning round", prompting 5 out of 5 correct guesses in only 12 seconds.
Ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Became U.S. Citizen in 1960.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 488-489. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
Cousin of Betty Lawford.
Ex-brother-in-law of John F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Sargent Shriver, Robert F. Kennedy.
Father of actor Christopher Lawford.
Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
Former son-in-law of Dan Rowan.
He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggio.
He was a year old before his parents were married. His parents were married to other people when he was conceived (he was given his mother's husband's surname Aylen on his birth certificate). He did not learn of his illegitimacy until he was 27 years old.
His ex-wife Patricia Kennedy died on 17th September 2006 from complications from pneumonia at the age of 82.
His mother's childhood nickname for him was Pierrot.
His production company, Chrislaw, was named after his son Christopher Lawford.
In his 20s, he worked at a country club. A prestigious member of the club once complained to the management that Lawford was eating lunch and fraternizing with the black employees, and that he should be fired. This member was Joseph P. Kennedy, who years later became his father-in-law!
Is portrayed by Angus Macfadyen in The Rat Pack (1998) (TV) and by Ian Buchanan in Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair (1993) (TV).
Largely due to political reasons, he and former friend Frank Sinatra were estranged after the mid-1960s. In fact, when Lawford came to attend a Sinatra performance at Caeser's Palace in Las Vegas some years later, Sinatra reportedly found out about it and refused to go on until after Lawford had left.
Member of the "Rat Pack", with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop. Appeared together in Ocean's Eleven (1960) and Sergeants 3 (1962).
Met his third wife, Mary Rowan (daughter of Dan Rowan), in December 1970 while he was appearing on her father's TV show, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (1967).
Nephew of Ernest Lawford.
Never obtained a formal education; educated through tutors.
Romantically linked with actresses Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Dorothy Dandridge, June Allyson, Lee Remick, Kim Novak, Judy Holliday, Evelyn Keyes, and socialites Sharman Douglas and Melissa Weston.
Since he spent his early childhood in France, he spoke French before he spoke English. Later, he struggled to learn English.
Son of actor Sidney Lawford.
The producers of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) originally wanted him to play Edwin Flagg. The role would eventually go to Victor Buono.
Uncle of Maria Shriver.
Was the first member of the Rat Pack to pass away. With the death of Joey Bishop in October, 2007, no surviving members of the Rat Pack remain.
When he was child he fell through a French door and cut his right arm very badly; consequently, he never regained full use of his right arm and hand. Thus, he was turned down as unfit for military duty and did not serve during World War II.
With Patricia Kennedy, 4 children: Christopher Lawford (b. 1955), Sydney Maleia Kennedy Lawford (b. 1956), Victoria Francis Lawford (b. 1958), and Robin Elizabeth Lawford (b. 1961).