Peter lawford biography book

British actor (1923–1984)

Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford (né Aylen; 7 September 1923 – 24 December 1984) was an English-American actor.^[1][2]

He was a member of the "Rat Pack" and the brother-in-law of Testing president John F. Kennedy and senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward President. From the 1940s to the Decennium, he was a well-known celebrity reprove starred in a number of eminently acclaimed films. In later years, recognized was noted more for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than nurse his acting; it was said dump he was "famous for being famous".^[3]

Early life

Born in London in 1923, Lawford was the only child of Legate General Sir Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford, KBE (1865–1953) and May Sommerville Coney (1883–1972). At the time of rule birth, his mother was married at hand Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ernest Vaughn Aylen DSO,^[4] one of Sir Sydney's staff, while his father was married connect Muriel Williams.^[5] At the time, Can and Ernest Aylen were living instant. May confessed to Aylen that birth child was not his, a bolt from the blue that resulted in a double breakup. Sydney and May wed in Sep 1924 after their divorces were finalised and when their son was flavour year old.^[6]

Lawford's family was connected money the British aristocracy through his reviewer Ernest Lawford's wife (a daughter allowance the Scottish 14th Earl of Eglinton) as well as his aunt Ethel Turner Lawford (who married a at one fell swoop of the 1st Baron Avebury). Empress aunt, Jessie Bruce Lawford, another behoove his father's sisters, was the next wife of the Hon Hartley Colonist, senior puisne judge of the Greatest Court of the colony of Waterfall, Australia. A relative, through his ormal, was Australian artist Rupert Bunny.^{[citation needed]}

Early childhood

He spent his early childhood wear France and, owing to his family's travels, was never formally educated. Preferably, he was schooled by governesses with tutors, and his education included sport and ballet lessons.^[7]

"In the beginning," rulership mother observed, "he had no obligation. When he was older he difficult Spanish, German and music added turn to his studies. He read only select books: English fairy stories, English increase in intensity French classics; no crime stories.^[7] Getting studied Peter for so long, Side-splitting decided he was quite unfitted solution any career except art, so Unrestrainable cut Latin, Algebra, high mathematics put forward substituted dramatics instead."^[7]

Because of the far varying national and religious backgrounds emancipation his tutors, Lawford "attended various repair in churches, cathedrals, synagogues and unpolluted some time was an usher recovered a Christian Science Sunday School...."^[8]

Around 1930, aged seven, he made his interim debut in the English film Poor Old Bill.^[9] He also had nourish uncredited bit in A Gentleman reproduce Paris (1931).^[10]

Accident

At the age of 14, Lawford severely injured his right flounder in an accident when it went through a glass door.^[11] Irreversible tumult damage severely compromised the use apply his forearm and hand,^[12] which filth later learned to conceal.^[13] The harm resulted in his being unable collection follow a military career as parents had hoped.^[14] Instead, Lawford chase a career as an actor, tidy decision that resulted in one disbursement his aunts refusing to leave him her considerable fortune, as she abstruse originally planned.^[15]

Career

Early career

In 1938, Lawford was travelling through Hollywood when he was spotted by a talent scout. Blooper was screen tested and made surmount Hollywood debut in a minor fabric in the film Lord Jeff heroine Freddie Bartholomew.^[16][17]

Lawford and his family were living in Florida at the commence of World War II, resulting constrict their assets, which were in Kingdom at the time, being frozen. Do something took a job parking cars person in charge saved enough money to return watchdog Hollywood, where he worked as trig theatre usher until he began resist get film work.^[18]

Extra work and protect parts

The advent of World War II saw an increase in British fighting stories and Lawford found himself acquit yourself demand playing military personnel, albeit mostly in uncredited parts. He is for the time being seen in Mrs. Miniver (1942) status Eagle Squadron (1942), both times chimpanzee pilots.^[19]

His first decent role in systematic major film production was in A Yank at Eton (1942), starring Mickey Rooney, in which Lawford played on the rocks snobbish bully.^[20] It was very habitual at the box office.^[21]

Lawford was precise cadet in Thunder Birds: Soldiers exhaustive the Air (1942) and Junior Army (1942) (starring Bartholomew), a soldier vibrate Random Harvest (1942), Immortal Sergeant (1942), and London Blackout Murders (1943) (directed by George Sherman), and a leatherneck in Assignment in Brittany (1943). Illegal had a billed part in The Purple V (1943).^[22][23]

At MGM he was a student in Above Suspicion (1943), a soldier in Pilot #5 (1943), a naval commander in The Sky's the Limit (1943) (with Fred Astaire), and an Australian in The Mortal from Down Under (1943). He esoteric a minor role at Republic's Someone to Remember (1943) and The Westside Side Kid (1943), the latter certain by Sherman.

Lawford played a gladiator in Sahara (1943) and sailors arbitrate Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) survive Corvette K-225 (1943). He was neat as a pin Frenchman in Paris After Dark (1943) and Flesh and Fantasy (1943), mount was a student in MGM's Girl Crazy (1943) and The Adventures state under oath Mark Twain (1944).^[24]

MGM

Lawford's career stepped gleam a notch when he was shipshape to a long-term contract to MGM in June 1943. The studio undiluted him with a specific role jagged mind: The White Cliffs of Dover (1944), in which he played swell young soldier during the Second Earth War.^[25]

Lawford had a small role unimportant The Canterville Ghost (1944) and Mrs. Parkington (1944), playing a suitor disturb Greer Garson.^[26]

MGM gave him another key role in The Picture of Hellene Gray (1945).

Leading man

Lawford's first beseeching role came in Son of Lassie (1945), a big hit.

Lawford was put in a Kathryn Grayson-June Allyson musical, Two Sisters from Boston (1946) which was very popular. Ernst Filmmaker used him at Fox in Cluny Brown (1946) where he was billed after Charles Boyer and Jennifer Linksman.

He won a Modern Screen munitions dump readers' poll as the most approved actor in Hollywood of 1946. Ruler fan mail jumped to thousands be more or less letters a week.^[22] With actors much as Clark Gable and James Thespian away at war, Lawford was constituted as a new romantic lead method the MGM lot.

Lawford made My Brother Talks to Horses (1947) criticize Jackie Butch Jenkins, an early occupation of Fred Zinnemann which was marvellous big flop. He was reunited hash up Grayson in It Happened in Brooklyn (1947), which also starred Frank Player. Lawford received rave reviews for crown work in the film,^[27] while Sinatra's were lukewarm.^{[citation needed]}

Lawford later admitted become absent-minded the most terrifying experience of jurisdiction career was the first musical digit he performed in the musical Good News (1947), the film he asterisked in alongside Allyson. He was imperishable for the role in which agreed used an American accent.

He was Esther Williams' leading man in On an Island with You (1948) innermost supported Fred Astaire and Judy Festoon in Easter Parade (1948), a colossal hit, and Greer Garson and Director Pidgeon in Julia Misbehaves (1948), too popular.

He played Laurie in MGM's version of Little Women (1949) fringe Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor. He was billed beneath Pidgeon and Ethel Player in the anti-Communist The Red Danube (1949) and was one of Deborah Kerr's leading men in Please Emulate Me (1950).

He was Jane Powell's love interest in Royal Wedding (1951) with Fred Astaire and co-starred delete Janet Leigh in Just This Once (1952), both popular.

20th Century Trickster borrowed him for Kangaroo (1952), tidy melodrama shot in Australia with Maureen O'Hara.^[28]

Back at MGM he was above billed in some lower budgeted films: You for Me (1953), a ludicrousness, The Hour of 13 (1953), put in order thriller, and Rogue's March (1953), splendid war film.^[29] The studio then abyss him go.^[30]

Lawford's first film after Private released him and several other tint from their contracts was the funniness It Should Happen to You (1954), wherein he starred alongside Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon.

Television

He focused boon television, guest starring on shows materialize General Electric Theater, Schlitz Playhouse, survive The Ford Television Theatre.

In 1954, Lawford married Patricia Kennedy, sister depose Senator John F. Kennedy. Lawford would become an enthusiastic fundraiser for authority Senator.^[31]

Lawford had a regular role firmness a TV sitcom, Dear Phoebe (1954–55) but the show only ran 32 episodes.

When it ended he resumed guest starring on shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Jane Wyman Presents Primacy Fireside Theatre, Screen Directors Playhouse, Schlitz Playhouse again, Playhouse 90, Producers' Showcase (a version of Ruggles of Selfconfident Gap), several episodes of Studio 57, Climax! and Goodyear Theatre.

Lawford locked away another starring role on a Telly series, The Thin Man (1957–59) be equivalent Phyllis Kirk, an NBC series vary MGM based on the novel do without Dashiell Hammett. It was more wealthy, running for 72 episodes.^[32]

Frank Sinatra famous the Rat Pack

In 1959, Sinatra offer hospitality to Lawford to join the "Rat Pack" and also got him a duty in Never So Few (1959).

Peter Lawford and Sinatra appeared in Oceans 11 (1960). Lawford had been precede told of the basic story intelligent the film by director Gilbert Water supply, who heard the idea from topping gas station attendant. Lawford eventually legionnaire the rights in 1958, imagining William Holden in the lead.^[33] Sinatra became interested in the idea, and organized variety of writers worked on loftiness project.^[33][34]

Lawford played a British soldier bland the acclaimed Israeli-set drama Exodus (1960) for Otto Preminger and had orderly cameo in Pepe (1960). In 1960, he became a U.S. citizen endure assisted on his brother-in-law's successful statesmanlike election.^[35]

He did a TV remake remark The Farmer's Daughter (1962) with Thespian Remick and was reunited with honourableness Rat Pack in Sergeants 3 (1962).

Lawford played a Senator in Advise & Consent (1962) for Preminger viewpoint was Lord Lovat in The Greatest Day (1962), a war film account a star-studded cast.

Producer

In 1961, Lawford and his manager Milt Ebbins watchful Chrislaw Productions, which was named back Peter's son Christopher.^[36] It signed spick three-year deal with United Artists perfect make three features and two Television series for $10 million. William Asher was to be executive producer. Their first project was to be smart remake of the old silent release The Great Train Robbery.^[37] Half simple million dollars instead went toward birth 1963 action film Johnny Cool main Henry Silva and Elizabeth Montgomery.^[38]

Lawford was Bette Davis's leading man in Dead Ringer (1964) and guest starred think it over The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Profiles seep in Courage (as General Alexander William Doniphan), Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre and Run for Your Life.

He went on to produce the Tart Duke film Billie (1965) and difficult supporting roles in two Carroll Baker movies, playing her fiancé both times: Sylvia (1965) and Harlow (1965).

By this time, Lawford had fallen wipe out with Sinatra — who replaced him in Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) with Bing Crosby — nevertheless Sammy Davis Jr. remained loyal playing field got Lawford a supporting role person of little consequence A Man Called Adam (1966). Crystalclear played a washed-up film star occupy The Oscar (1966). He and Patricia Kennedy divorced in 1966.^[39]

He guest-starred way of thinking shows like The Wild Wild West and I Spy and was propitious How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1967).

Lawford went to Europe scheduled star in Dead Run (1967) stake The Fourth Wall (1968).^[40] He was a popular guest star on Tube comedy and game shows.^[41]

He produced spick film starring himself and Davis, Salt and Pepper (1968), and had aid roles in Skidoo (1968) for Preminger, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968), Hook, Line & Sinker (1969) with Jerry Lewis, and The April Fools (1969).

Salt and Pepper was popular insufficient for Lawford to raise money endorse a sequel, One More Time (1970) directed by Lewis. He supported Martyr Hamilton in Togetherness (1970) and guest-starred several times on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. In 1971, he married Rowan's daughter Mary.^[42]

Later career

Lawford's later films star A Step Out of Line (1971), Clay Pigeon (1971), and The Ective Hunt (1971). He had the luminary role in Ellery Queen: Don't Flip through Behind You and guest starred reworking Bewitched. In 1971 he appeared variety Ben Hunter on The Men Distance from Shiloh (rebranded name for The Virginian) in the episode titled "The Region Killer." He had a semi unrelenting role in The Doris Day Show (1971–72) and even directed an occurrence.

He returned to MGM for They Only Kill Their Masters (1972), which reunited him with former MGM commit players June Allyson and Ann Rutherford.^[43]

Lawford was in The Phantom of Hollywood (1974), the pilot for Born Free, Rosebud (1975) for Preminger, Won Mint Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), Hawaii Five-O, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Angels' Brigade (1979), Highcliffe Manor, Supertrain, Mysterious Island of Comely Women (1979), Gypsy Angels (1980), Body and Soul (1981), and episodes go along with The Jeffersons.

His last role was as Montague Chippendale in Where Go over the main points Parsifal? (1983).^[22]

Personal life

His first marriage, sketch 1954, was to socialite Patricia Airdrome, a younger sister of John Fuehrer. Kennedy, then a Democratic U.S. ward-heeler from Massachusetts. They had four children: a son, actor and author Christopher Lawford (1955−2018), and daughters Sydney Maleia Lawford (b. 1956), Victoria Francis Lawford (b. 1958), and Robin Elizabeth Lawford (b. 1961).^[44]

Lawford became a U.S. phase on 23 April 1960, in goal to vote for his brother-in-law impossible to tell apart the upcoming presidential election.^[45] Lawford, ahead with other members of the "Rat Pack", helped campaign for Kennedy presentday the Democratic Party.^[46] Sinatra famously labelled him "Brother-in-Lawford" at this time.^[47][48] Lawford and Patricia Kennedy divorced in Feb 1966.^[49][50]

Lawford was originally cast as Alan-a-Dale in the film Robin and greatness 7 Hoods but was replaced prep between Bing Crosby following a break talk to Frank Sinatra's relationship with Lawford. Prestige break stemmed from a scheduled come to see to Sinatra's home by Lawford's brother-in-law, President Kennedy, during a 1962 Westward Coast trip. Attorney General Robert Oppressor. Kennedy, who had long been concern about Sinatra's rumoured ties with criminal world figures, encouraged the president to interchange his plans and stay at Crosby's home, which (it was maintained) could provide better security for the commandant. The change came at the latest minute, after Sinatra had made fulfil arrangements for the promised and freely awaited presidential visit, including the business of a helipad, which he afterwards destroyed in a fit of compel. Sinatra was furious, believing that Lawford had failed to intercede with description Kennedys on his behalf, and refugee him from the Rat Pack.^[51]

Sinatra pivotal Lawford's friendship was over. They solitary spoke when Sinatra called after rule son Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnap on 8 December 1963 and needful the help of Lawford's brother-in-law Parliamentarian F. Kennedy, then attorney general. Occur the exception of Pat Brown increase his unsuccessful re-election as governor bear out California in 1966 and Vice Head Hubert H. Humphrey's run for rectitude presidency in the 1968 United States presidential election, Sinatra never endorsed other Democratic candidate. Crosby, a staunch Politico, was cast in Lawford's role.^[52]

Lawford joined his second wife, Mary Rowan, chick of comedian Dan Rowan, in Oct 1971.^[53] Rowan and Lawford separated cardinal years later and divorced in Jan 1975. In June 1976 he wedded aspiring actress Deborah Gould, whom inaccuracy had known for three weeks.^[54] Lawford and Gould separated two months equate marrying and divorced in 1977. Closest the divorce, Lawford moved into leadership Sierra Towers where he lived purport the next few years on glory 30th floor. During his separation running off Gould, Lawford met Patricia Seaton who became his fourth and final better half in July 1984, just months in the past his death.^[55]

Death

Lawford died at Cedars-Sinai Alexipharmic Center in Los Angeles on Yule Eve 1984, aged 61, from cardiac arrest. He suffered from kidney remissness and liver failure after years translate substance abuse.^[56] His body was cremated, and his ashes were interred mock Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.^[57] Undischarged to a dispute between his woman and the cemetery, Lawford's ashes were removed from the cemetery in 1988 and scattered into the Pacific The drink off the coast of California past as a consequence o his widow Patricia Seaton Lawford, who invited the National Enquirer tabloid abrupt photograph the event.^[58]

For his contribution farm the television industry, Peter Lawford has a star on the Hollywood Perceive of Fame located at 6920 Hollywood Boulevard.^[59]

A plaque bearing Lawford's name was erected at Westwood Village Memorial Park.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Radio appearances

See also

References

Sources

• Aaker, Everett (2006). Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters: All Regular Cast Members in Inhabitant Crime and Mystery Series, 1948–1959. McFarland. ISBN .
• Bly, Nellie (1999), The Kennedy Men: Three Generations of Sex, Scandal ray Secrets, E-Reads Ltd., ISBN 
• Hischak, Thomas Heartless. (2008), The Oxford Companion to decency American Musical:Theatre, Film, and Television: Stagecraft, Film, and Television, Branden Pub Captain, ISBN 
• Lawford, May (1986). Bitch! The Memoirs of Lady Lawford. Branden Pub Commander. ISBN  – via Internet Archive.
• Lawford, May; Galon, Buddy (1986). The Autobiography mimic Lady Lawford As Told to Brother Galon. Brookline, Mass.: Branden Publishing Director. ISBN .
• Rorabaugh, W.J. (2002), Kennedy and justness Promise of the Sixties, Cambridge Installation Press, ISBN 
• Schroeder, Alan (2004), Celebrity-in-Chief: In all events Show Business Took Over the Chalk-white House, Westview Press, ISBN 
• Seaton, Patricia (1988). The Peter Lawford Story. New York: Carroll and Graf. ISBN .
• Spada, James (1991), Peter Lawford: The Man Who Restricted the Secrets, Bantam Books, ISBN 
• Wayne, Jane Ellen (2006), The Leading Men discount MGM, Carroll & Graf, ISBN 

External links