Peter Lawford(1923-1984)
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
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, the doctors could save 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,
Ian Hunter 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
claim 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,
Frank Sinatra,
Joey Bishop and
Sammy Davis Jr. .
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, the doctors could save 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,
Ian Hunter 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
claim 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,
Frank Sinatra,
Joey Bishop and
Sammy Davis Jr. .