Peter Lawford's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Name of the Game Peter Lawford The Jimmy Durante Show Peter Lawford Dear Phoebe Bill Hastings The Art Linkletter Show Peter Lawford The Frank Sinatra Show Peter Lawford The Thin Man Nick Charles Highcliffe Manor Narrator The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show Peter Lawford The Jo Stafford Show (UK) Peter Lawford

Main Movie Roles 1991 - JFK 1979 - Angels' Brigade 1975 - Rosebud 1968 - Skidoo 1964 - Dead Ringer 1962 - Sergeants 3 1962 - Advise & Consent 1962 - The Longest Day 1960 - Ocean's Eleven 1960 - Exodus 1959 - Never So Few 1954 - It Should Happen To You 1951 - Royal Wedding 1949 - Little Women 1949 - The Red Danube 1948 - On an Island with You 1948 - Easter Parade 1947 - Good News 1945 - The Picture of Dorian Gray 1945 - Son of Lassie 1944 - The Canterville Ghost 1943 - Above Suspicion 1943 - Girl Crazy 1943 - The Sky's the Limit 1942 - Random Harvest 1942 - Mrs. Miniver

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:

• Father of actor 'Christopher Lawford' (qv).
• Nephew of 'Ernest Lawford' (qv).
• Cousin of 'Betty Lawford' (qv).
• 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)
• 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.
• Since he spent his early childhood in France, he spoke French before he spoke English. Later, he struggled to learn English.
• His ex-wife 'Patricia Kennedy (IV)' (qv) died on 17th September 2006 from complications from pneumonia at the age of 82.
• 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!