Almost impossibly handsome young lead in war dramas, comedies and musicals of the late 1940s and early 1950s, Lawford lived an equally glamorous off-screen life as one of Hollywood's most desirable playboys, and, in the 1960s, as the link between Frank Sinatra's Hollywood "Rat Pack" and the political glamour of brother-in-law of John F. Kennedy's "Camelot" presidency.
After an unconventional, nomadic childhood spent in the company of his aristocratic British parents, Lawford arrived in Hollywood in 1940 and quickly filled the void that WWII had left in the ranks of romantic young male leads. With his clipped accent, aristocratic good manners and charm, and boyish athleticism, Lawford was quickly signed by MGM to play young British soldiers in a series of patriotic features, and by the War's end rose to the romantic lead or second lead in numerous first-rate studio productions including "Good News" (1947), "Easter Parade" (1948), "Little Women" (1949), and "Royal Wedding" (1951).
One of Hollywood's most sought after bachelors, Lawford was romantically linked to almost every Hollywood sex goddess of the 1940s (including Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, and Rita Hayworth) before marrying Patricia Kennedy, daughter of Joseph Kennedy and sister of John F. Kennedy, in 1954.
Lawford's career fizzled with the demise of the studio system; MGM did not renew his contract in 1952 and his films as a free agent were few and far between. In the 1950s Lawford starred in two TV comedy series, as an advice-to-the-lovelorn columnist in 1954 "Dear Phoebe" (which he also co-produced), and as Dashiell Hammett's sophisticated sleuth Nick Charles in "The Thin Man" (1957-59), of which Lawford was a co-owner. By the 1960s he cemented his image as a sophisticated playboy as part of Frank Sinatra's swinging Hollywood "Rat Pack" and co-starred in the fraternity's seemingly off-the-cuff, "hip" films ("Never So Few" 1959, "Ocean's Eleven" 1960 , and "Sergeants Three" 1962).
With the deaths of John and Robert Kennedy, his divorce from Patricia Kennedy and his falling out with the "Rat Pack", Lawford was regarded by the end of the 1960s as a charming lightweight personality, famous for being famous. He was relegated to fairly small roles in big pictures and in the 1970s his alcohol and drug abuse further limited his work to guest appearances on TV game shows and to infrequent small roles in minor films. His death at age 61 was brought on by kidney failure and cirrhosis of the liver.
- Also Credited As:
Peter Sidney Ernest Aylen
- Born:
September 7, 1923 in London, England
- Died:
December 24, 1984.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Producer
Significant Others
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Companion: Ava Gardner. dated in 1946
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Companion: Geri Crane. together 1968-70; 23 years Lawford's junior
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Companion: Jean MacDonald. society reporter for "Honolulu Star Bulletin"; met while Lawford on route to film "Kangaroo" in Australia (1951); engaged 1952
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Companion: Judy Holliday. met while filming "It Should Happen to You" (1953)
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Companion: June Allyson. met while filming "Two Sisters From Boston (1946)
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Companion: Lana Turner. had eight month relationship in 1944
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Companion: Sharman Douglas. dated 1949; engaged 1950; he broke off engagement after four days; daughter of American ambassador to the court of St. James in London
Milestones
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1924 Moved with parents to Deauville at age one to avoid scandal of their divorces
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1930 Family returned to London because of worldwide Depression
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1931 Film debut in "Poor Old Bill" (as a result of mother's political association with Sir Thomas Paulson who owned major interest in Elstree Studios)
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1932 Returned to France where he appeared in several films
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1937 Moved to Hollywood
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1938 US film debut (bit part), "Lord Jeff" at age 14
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1939 Worked as gas station attendant, then parked cars and became manager of the parking lot in West Palm Beach, FL
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1942 First major role in "A Yank at Eton"
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1942 Played a pilot in "Mrs. Miniver"
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1942 Returned to Hollywood; disqualified from military service because of teenage injury to right arm; worked as usher in a Westwood, CA movie theater
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1943 Signed to MGM contract (for one year with second year option at $100 per week with 40 weeks guaranteed)
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1951 First learned of scandal concerning his parents' divorce scandal and his own paternity
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1952 MGM contract not renewed
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1954 Reportedly introduced John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe to each other
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1954 Starred in and produced first TV series, "Dear Phoebe"
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1956 Bought Louis B. Mayer's former Santa Monica beach front estate for $95,000
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1957 Starred in TV series, "The Thin Man"
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1960 Became an American citizen in order to vote in 1960 election for brother-in-law John F. Kennedy
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1960 Formed Chrislaw production company with Milton Ebbins which produced "The Patty Duke Show" and the film, "Johnny Cool" (both 1963) (date approximate)
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1960 Joined Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack"
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Appeared briefly in 22 films from 1942-43
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Appeared in a continuing role on "The Doris Day Show"
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Had travelled three times around the world by age 15