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Peter Lawford

Peter Lawford in Royal Wedding (1951). Royal Wedding ( MGM) is a 1951 Hollywood musical comedy Film set in London in 1947 at the time of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth
Born Peter Sydney Lawford
September 7, 1923(1923-09-07)
London, England, UK
Died December 24, 1984 (aged 61)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active 1930-1983
Spouse(s) Patricia Kennedy (1954-1966) Mary Rowan (1971-1975)Deborah Gould (1976-1977) Patricia Seaton (m. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Patricia Kennedy may refer to Patricia Kennedy Lawford (1924 - 2006 a member of the U 1984- his death)

Peter Sydney Lawford (September 7, 1923 – December 24, 1984) was a British-born American actor, member of the "Rat Pack," and brother-in-law to President John F. Kennedy, perhaps more noted in later years for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works The Rat Pack was a group of popular entertainers most active between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention In his earlier professional years (late 1930s through the 1950s) he had a strong presence in popular culture and starred in a number of highly acclaimed films.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Born in London, on September 7, 1923, the son of English World War I hero Sir Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford and the former May Somerville Bunny, he spent his early childhood in France and began acting at a young age. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Lieutenant-General Sir Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford KCB ( 16 November 1865 Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England - This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Lawford's mother was said to have dressed him as a girl in private up until age eleven. Lady Lawford and Sir Sydney were not married when Peter was conceived. Young Peter lived all over the world with his parents. Because of his family's travels, Peter was never formally educated. His lack of education was allegedly a sore subject for the actor, which contributed to his feelings of inadequacy later on as a member of the Kennedy family, and throughout his adult life. In America, Sir Sydney and Lady Lawford were treated as royalty among the well-to-do in their new neighborhood of Palm Beach, Florida, and were always invited to events and social occasions. Palm Beach is an upscale Incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. However, they lost whatever source of money they had when war was declared in England in 1939.

As a child Lawford severely injured his arm, in his words, "attempting to run through a glass door. ". Doctors were able to save the arm, but the injury continued to bother him throughout his life, and the arm was slightly deformed. The injury was considered damaging enough to keep him from entering World War II, but this turn of fate was probably the greatest boon to his career. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including At that time, Hollywood was infatuated with heroic Englishmen, and as war movies were being churned out by the dozens and American actors volunteered or were drafted for the war, Lawford put his talents to work "stateside".

Career

from The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
from The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)

Prior to the war Lawford had gained a contract position with the MGM studios. The Picture of Dorian Gray is an American horror - drama Film based on the 1891 Novel The Once he signed with MGM, his mother, Lady May, insisted that studio head Louis B. Mayer pay her a salary as Peter's personal assistant. Louis Burt Mayer (born Lazar Meir July 4, 1884 &ndash October 29, 1957) was an early Film producer, most Mayer declined. Lady Lawford responded by claiming her son to be "a bummer" and that he needed to be "supervised". When Peter learned of his mother's actions their relationship was never the same.

Lawford's first movie role was at age seven in the film Poor Old Bill. Eight years later, he made his Hollywood debut in a minor part in Lord Jeff. His first major movie role was A Yank At Eton (1942). He played a snobbish bully opposite Mickey Rooney. A snob, guilty of snobbery, is someone who adopts the Worldview that some people are inherently inferior to him/her for any one of a variety of reasons including Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr; September 23, 1920) is an American Film Actor and Entertainer whose The picture was a smash hit, and Lawford's performance was widely praised. Also that year, Lawford appeared in Mrs. Miniver. Mrs Miniver is a 1942 Drama film directed by William Wyler and starring Greer Garson in the title role He made an uncredited appearance as a sailor in "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death" (1943). He won even greater acclaim for his performance in The White Cliffs Of Dover (1944), in which he played a young soldier in World War II. The White Cliffs of Dover is a 1944 film made by Loew's and MGM. MGM gave him another important role in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945). The Picture of Dorian Gray is an American horror - drama Film based on the 1891 Novel The Lawford also made Son Of Lassie (1945) and won a Modern Screen Magazine readers' poll as the most popular actor in Hollywood. Modern Screen was an American magazine for over 50 years featuring articles pictorials and interviews with movie stars (and later television and music personalities His fan mail jumped to thousands of letters a week. Lawford had become a major star.

Lawford's busiest year as an actor was 1946, when two of his films opened within days of each other: Cluny Brown (1946) and Two Sisters From Boston (1946). With heartthrobs such as Clark Gable and stalwarts like James Stewart off to war, Lawford was recognized as the romantic lead on the MGM lot. Clark Gable (February 1 &ndashNovember 16) was an iconic American Actor nicknamed "The King of Hollywood" in his heyday James Maitland Stewart (20 May 1908 – 2 July 1997 popularly known as Jimmy Stewart, was an American Film and stage Actor He appeared with Frank Sinatra for the first time in the musical It Happened in Brooklyn (1947). Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor It Happened in Brooklyn is a 1947 MGM musical Romantic comedy Film directed by Richard Whorf and starring Lawford received rave reviews for his work in the film while Sinatra's were lukewarm. Lawford later admitted that the most terrifying experience of his career was the first musical number he performed (the Jitterbug). He also made his first comedy that same year: My Brother Talks To Horses (1947). It was in the musical Good News (1947) that he won his greatest acclaim as a performer, holding his own against other cast members with far more training in song and dance. Good News is the title of two American MGM Musical films based on the 1927 stage production of the same name.

Lawford was given other important roles in MGM films over the next few years, including On an Island with You (1948), Easter Parade (1948), Little Women (1949), It Should Happen to You (1954), Ocean’s Eleven (1960), The Longest Day (1962), and Advise and Consent (1962). Easter Parade is a 1948 Musical film starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. Little Women ( 1949) directed by Mervyn LeRoy is based on Louisa May Alcott 's novel of the same name. In the late 1950s he co-starred with Phyllis Kirk in a short-lived television series based on the Thin Man films of the 1930s. Phyllis Kirk, born Phyllis Kirkegaard ( September 18 1927 - October 19 2006) was an American actress. The Thin Man (1934 is a Hardboiled detective novel by Dashiell Hammett.

His first marriage, in 1954, was to Patricia Kennedy, sister of then-U. Patricia "Pat" Kennedy Lawford (May 6 1924 – September 17 2006 was an American Socialite, the sixth child of Joseph P S. Senator John F. Kennedy. John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of They had four children; actor Christopher Kennedy Lawford (b. Christopher Kennedy Lawford (born March 29, 1955) is an American Actor. March 29, 1955), and daughters Sydney Maleia Kennedy Lawford (b. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) August 25, 1956 in Santa Monica, California), Victoria Francis Lawford (b. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. November 4, 1958 in Santa Monica, California), and Robin Elizabeth Lawford (b. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. July 2, 1961). Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lawford became an American citizen in 1960, in time to vote for his brother-in-law in the presidential elections. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States presidential election of 1960 marked the end of Dwight D Lawford, along with other members of the "Rat Pack," helped campaign for Kennedy and the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Sinatra famously dubbed him "Brother-in-Lawford" at this time.

Personal life

Lawford had a reputation as a ladies' man, and was reported to have had many affairs with famous ladies of film, song, and politics. Lawford introduced Marilyn Monroe as she stepped out to sing her infamous Happy Birthday, Mr. President at Madison Square Garden in May of 1962. Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1 1926 &ndash August 5 1962 baptized Norma Jfk happy birthday 1jpg|thumb|220px|right| John F Kennedy thanking Marilyn Monroe]] "Happy Birthday Mr Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. He and brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy are rumoured to have visited Monroe on the day she died (August 4 or 5, 1962), and Lawford is said to have been the last person to see the troubled actress alive, although neither fact has ever been confirmed. Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy (November 20 1925 – June 6 1968 also called RFK, was the United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and a However, it is assumed that Lawford is the last person to have spoken to her over the telephone. According to him, she declined to spend the Saturday evening of August 4, 1962 with him. The Kennedy family distanced itself from Lawford, as his antics proved increasingly embarrassing. Patricia Kennedy Lawford divorced him in 1966 because of his alcoholism and infidelity.

Lawford was very close to Frank Sinatra for a number of years, appearing in several Rat Pack movies and stage acts. Sinatra, however, threatened him with bodily harm when he learned that Lawford had had lunch with Ava Gardner, Sinatra's primary love interest at the time. Ava Lavinia Gardner ( December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an Academy Award -nominated American actress Lawford's friends managed to convince Sinatra that nothing was going on between Gardner and Lawford, but Sinatra refused to speak with Lawford for a number of years. The two were later reconciled, but Sinatra ultimately broke off the friendship after Lawford refused to act as a go-between for Sinatra and President Kennedy after their association had become controversial (Sinatra's alleged mob ties, even if based more on rumor than fact, made White House image guardians unhappy). The end of the Lawford-Sinatra relationship came when the President made plans to stay at crooner Bing Crosby's house instead of Sinatra's during a visit to Los Angeles. Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby ( May 3, 1903 &ndash October 14, 1977) was an Academy Award winning American Popular Sinatra was especially incensed because Crosby was a Republican. Sinatra's feelings were such that once, when he learned Lawford was in the audience he was about to perform for, he refused to come out until Lawford and his wife were removed from the premises. Lawford and Sinatra never spoke again, though Lawford maintained a good friendship with Rat-Pack-pal Sammy Davis, Jr.. Samuel George “Sammy” Davis Jr (8 December 1925 &ndash 16 May 1990 was an American Entertainer. The two starred together in the 1968 film Salt and Pepper and its 1970 sequel One More Time. One More Time is a comedy film directed by Jerry Lewis and starring Sammy Davis Jr

Lawford's alcohol abuse and later drug abuse, as well as strained relationships and financial difficulties, caused a great deal of stress on his increasingly fragile health. Lawford was reduced to television guest shots on such shows as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Profiles in Courage (TV series), The Wild Wild West, I Spy, The Name Of The Game, The Virginian, Bewitched, The Patty Duke Show, The Doris Day Show, Hawaii Five-O, The Jeffersons, Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an Anthology Television series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. Profiles in Courage was a historical anthology series that appeared on NBC from November 8, 1964 to May 9, 1965 The Wild Wild West is an American television series that ran on CBS for four seasons (104 episodes from September 17, 1965 to I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series The Name of the Game was an American television series that ran from 1968 to 1971 on NBC, totaling 76 episodes of 90 minutes &mdash an The Virginian is a western -themed Television series which aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes Bewitched is an American Situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. The Patty Duke Show is an American Sitcom which ran on ABC from September 18, 1963 until May 4, 1966 The Doris Day Show is a 128-episode American Television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September Hawaii Five-O is an American Television series that starred Jack Lord and James MacArthur as detectives for a fictional Hawaii This article is about the television series For the Amusement park, see Martin's Fantasy Island or Fantasy Island UK The Love Boat (simply Love Boat in its final season is an American Television series set on a Cruise ship, which Besides sitcoms, he also guest-starred on variety shows such as The Judy Garland Show and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and game shows What's My Line?, Password, and Pyramid. The Judy Garland Show was an American musical variety television series Here Comes The Judge redirects here for the 1968 song see Shorty Long. What's My Line? is a weekly panel Game show which was produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS Password is a word association game developed by the Milton Bradley Company in 1962 Pyramid is the collective name of a series of American television Game shows where contestants tried to guess a series of words or phrases based on descriptions

Lawford married his second wife, Mary Rowan, the daughter of comedian Dan Rowan, in 1971 when she was in her twenties; the marriage lasted eight months. Daniel Hale “Dan” Rowan ( 22 July 1922  &ndash 22 September 1987) was an American comedian In 1975, he married Deborah Gould, but the marriage lasted only two months. His fourth and final marriage, in July 1984, after a nine-year courtship, was to Patricia Seaton. Lawford died in a hospital in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 1984 of cardiac arrest complicated by kidney and liver failure, at the age of 61. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Christmas Eve, December 24, is the day before Christmas Day, the celebrated birthday of Jesus.

His body was cremated and the ashes were interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. The Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles, California. His original interment location was near that of Marilyn Monroe. According to his son, the actor Christopher Lawford, talking on Larry King's CNN talk-show on September 27, 2005, none of the Rat Pack members attended the funeral, though a number of the Lawford/Kennedy cousins came. Christopher Kennedy Lawford (born March 29, 1955) is an American Actor. Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an American television/radio host Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Because of a dispute between his widow and the cemetery, his ashes were removed and scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California by his widow, Patricia Seaton Lawford, who invited the "National Enquirer" tabloid to photograph the event. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Westwood Village Memorial Park still has, as of 2006, a plaque bearing Lawford's name. It is not known if any ashes remain at the site.

Filmography

References

Further reading

External links


Persondata
NAME Lawford, Peter
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lawford, Peter Sydney
SHORT DESCRIPTION actor
DATE OF BIRTH September 7, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH London, England, UK
DATE OF DEATH December 24, 1984
PLACE OF DEATH Los Angeles
Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West
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