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Peter Lawford
Age: 61 (passed away Dec. 24th, 1984)
Height: 6' 0"
Birth Place: London, England, UK
Born: Sep. 7th, 1923
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Peter Lawford's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Born in London, England and son of a British World War I hero, Lawford had spent most of his childhood in Paris, France and began his acting career at a very young age. His parents were not married when their son was born. As a result of the scandal, The Lawfords fled to America.
As a young child, the young Peter injured his arm by in his own words, "attempt to run through a glass door." Lawford's arm was badly injured. However, doctors could saved it. The injury was so bad, it was slightly deformed and bothered him throughout life. But such was his luck, the injury kept him off the draft for World War II, which became the biggest boon of his acting career.
When Lawford was signed to MGM, his mother approached studio head, Louis B. Mayer, to pay her a salary as her son's personal assistant. However, Mayer declined. She then claimed that her son was "homosexual" and needed to be "supervised". This damaged the relationship between her and her son.
Lawford starred in his first major movie called A Yank at Eton (1942) , co-starring Mickey Rooney (I), Ian Hunter (I) and Freddie Bartholomew. His performance was widely praised. During this time, Lawford started to get more leads when major MGM star Clark Gable was drafted into the war. Later, it was Good News (1947), co-starring June Allyson that became Lawford's greatest to fame.
Probably Lawford's most controversial affair, amongst many, was with African-American actress Dorothy Dandridge. It was rumored that both Lawford and Dandridge were planning to get married but canceled fearing it would jeopardize their careers.
Besides his successful career and being a socialite, Lawford was also part of the Rat Pack, with Dean Martin (I), Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop (I) and Sammy Davis Jr. .
TRIVIA:
- Never obtained a formal education; educated through tutors.
- With 'Patricia Kennedy (V)' (qv), 4 children: 'Christopher Lawford' (qv) (b. 1955), Sydney Maleia Kennedy Lawford (b. 1956), Victoria Francis Lawford (b. 1958), and Robin Elizabeth Lawford (b. 1961). Heather Lyn Lawford(b.1962)
- Was the first member of the Rat Pack to pass away. With the death of 'Joey Bishop (I)' (qv) in October, 2007, no surviving members of the Rat Pack remain.
- 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' (qv), who years later became his father-in-law!
- Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
- Became U.S. Citizen in 1960.
- 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.
- Nephew of 'Ernest Lawford' (qv).
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