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Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford (né Aylen; 7 September 1923 – 24 December 1984) was an English-American actor.Obituary Variety, 26 December 1984.
He was a member of the "Rat Pack" and the brother-in-law of US president John F. Kennedy and senators Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. From the 1940s to the 1960s, he was a well-known celebrity and starred in a number of highly acclaimed films. In later years, he was noted more for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting; it was said that he was "famous for being famous".
Lawford's family was connected to the British nobility through his uncle Ernest Lawford's wife (a daughter of the Scottish 14th Earl of Eglinton) as well as his aunt Ethel Turner Lawford (who married a son of the 1st Baron Avebury). His aunt, Jessie Bruce Lawford, another of his father's sisters, was the second wife of the Hon Hartley Williams, senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court of the colony of Victoria, Australia. A relative, through his mother, was Australian artist Rupert Bunny.
"In the beginning," his mother observed, "he had no homework. When he was older he had Spanish, German and music added to his studies. He read only selected books: English fairy stories, English and French classics; no crime stories. Having studied Peter for so long, I decided he was quite unfitted for any career except art, so I cut Latin, Algebra, high mathematics and substituted dramatics instead."
Because of the widely varying national and religious backgrounds of his tutors, Lawford "attended various services in churches, cathedrals, synagogues and for some time was an usher in a Christian Science Sunday School...."
Around 1930, aged seven, he made his acting debut in the English film Poor Old Bill. He also had an uncredited bit in A Gentleman of Paris (1931).PETER LAWFORD: ENGLAND'S YOUNGEST FILM STAR. The Bystander; London Vol. 109, Iss. 1417, (11 Feb 1931): 262.
Lawford and his family were living in Florida at the start of World War II, resulting in their assets, which were in Britain at the time, being frozen. He took a job parking cars and saved enough money to return to Hollywood, where he worked as a theatre usher until he began to get film work.Van Atta, Burr. Peter Lawford Is Dead; Actor on Film and TV Philadelphia Inquirer; date=25 December 1984: A1. Subscription required.
His first decent role in a major film production was in A Yank at Eton (1942), starring Mickey Rooney, in which Lawford played a snobbish bully. It was very popular at the box office.
Lawford was a cadet in (1942) and Junior Army (1942) (starring Bartholomew), a soldier in , , and London Blackout Murders (1943) (directed by George Sherman), and a navigator in Assignment in Brittany (1943). He had a billed part in The Purple V (1943).The LIFE STORY of Peter LAWFORD. Picture Show; London Vol. 51, Iss. 1309, (22 Feb 1947): 12.
At MGM he was a student in , a soldier in Pilot #5 (1943), a naval commander in (with Fred Astaire), and an Australian in The Man from Down Under (1943). He had a minor role at Republic's Someone to Remember (1943) and The West Side Kid (1943), the latter directed by Sherman.
Lawford played a soldier in Sahara (1943) and sailors in Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) and Corvette K-225 (1943). He was a Frenchman in Paris After Dark (1943) and Flesh and Fantasy (1943), and was a student in MGM's and .The Life Story of PETER LAWFORD. Picture Show; London Vol. 62, Iss. 1617, (27 Mar 1954): 12.
Lawford had a small role in and Mrs. Parkington (1944), playing a suitor of Greer Garson.
MGM gave him another important role in .
Lawford was put in a Kathryn Grayson-June Allyson musical, Two Sisters from Boston (1946) which was very popular. Ernst Lubitsch used him at Fox in Cluny Brown (1946) where he was billed after Charles Boyer and Jennifer Jones.
He won a Modern Screen magazine readers' poll as the most popular actor in Hollywood of 1946. His fan mail jumped to thousands of letters a week. With actors such as Clark Gable and James Stewart away at war, Lawford was recognised as a new romantic lead on the MGM lot.
Lawford made My Brother Talks to Horses (1947) with Jackie Butch Jenkins, an early work of Fred Zinnemann which was a big flop. He was reunited with Grayson in It Happened in Brooklyn (1947), which also starred Frank Sinatra. Lawford received rave reviews for his work in the film, while Sinatra's were lukewarm.
Lawford later admitted that the most terrifying experience of his career was the first musical number he performed in the musical , the film he starred in alongside Allyson. He was lauded for the role in which he used an American accent.
He was Esther Williams' leading man in On an Island with You (1948) and supported Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in , a huge hit, and Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in Julia Misbehaves (1948), also popular.
He played Laurie in MGM's version of alongside Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor. He was billed beneath Pidgeon and Ethel Barrymore in the anti-Communist The Red Danube (1949) and was one of Deborah Kerr's leading men in Please Believe Me (1950).
He was Jane Powell's love interest in with Fred Astaire and co-starred with Janet Leigh in , both popular.
20th Century Fox borrowed him for , a melodrama shot in Australia with Maureen O'Hara. Reviewing this film Filmink argued "Lawford is a wet fish actor who could never really hold the screen in a heroic part (he was generally better as a leading man for a female star, or a second lead to a more charismatic male star). But in Lawford’s defence, his character is totally emasculated in Kangaroo" from what it was in the original script.
Back at MGM he was top billed in some lower budgeted films: You for Me (1953), a comedy, The Hour of 13 (1953), a thriller, and , a war film. The studio then let him go. "Rogue's March", Turner Classic Monthly accessed 28 April 2015
Lawford's first film after Metro released him and several other players from their contracts was the comedy It Should Happen to You (1954), wherein he starred alongside Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon.
In 1954, Lawford married Patricia Kennedy, sister of Senator John F. Kennedy. Lawford would become an enthusiastic fundraiser for the Senator.
Lawford had a regular role on 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 The Fireside Theatre, Screen Directors Playhouse, Schlitz Playhouse again, Playhouse 90, Producers' Showcase (a version of Ruggles of Red Gap), several episodes of Studio 57, Climax! and Goodyear Theatre.
Lawford had another starring role on a TV series, The Thin Man (1957–59) with Phyllis Kirk, an NBC series from MGM based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. It was more successful, running for 72 episodes.Peter Lawford Buys 'Thin Man'
The Washington Post and Times-Herald 03 November 1958: B6.
Peter Lawford and Sinatra appeared in Oceans 11 (1960). Lawford had been first told of the basic story of the film by director Gilbert Kay, who heard the idea from a gas station attendant. Lawford eventually bought the rights in 1958, imagining William Holden in the lead.pp.117–121 Levy, Shawn Rat Pack Confidential 1998 Fourth Estate Ltd Sinatra became interested in the idea, and a variety of writers worked on the project.
Lawford played a British soldier in the acclaimed Israeli-set drama for Otto Preminger and had a cameo in . In 1960, he became a U.S. citizen and assisted on his brother-in-law's successful presidential election.
He did a TV remake of The Farmer's Daughter (1962) with Lee Remick and was reunited with the Rat Pack in Sergeants 3 (1962).
Lawford played a Senator in Advise & Consent (1962) for Preminger and was Lord Lovat in , a war film with a star-studded cast.
Lawford was Bette Davis's leading man in and guest starred on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Profiles in Courage (as General Alexander William Doniphan), Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre and Run for Your Life.
He went on to produce the Patty Duke film and had supporting roles in two Carroll Baker movies, playing her fiancé both times: and Harlow (1965).
By this time, Lawford had fallen out with Sinatra — who replaced him in Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) with Bing Crosby — but Sammy Davis Jr. remained loyal and got Lawford a supporting role in . He played a washed-up film star in . He and Patricia Kennedy divorced in 1966.
He guest-starred on shows like The Wild Wild West and I Spy and was in .
Lawford went to Europe to star in and The Fourth Wall (1968). He was a popular guest star on TV comedy and game shows.
He produced a film starring himself and Davis, , and had support roles in for Preminger, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968), with Jerry Lewis, and The April Fools (1969).
Salt and Pepper was popular enough for Lawford to raise money for a sequel, directed by Lewis. He supported George Hamilton in and guest-starred several times on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. In 1971, he married Rowan's daughter Mary.
He returned to MGM for They Only Kill Their Masters (1972), which reunited him with former MGM contract players June Allyson and Ann Rutherford.
Lawford was in The Phantom of Hollywood (1974), the pilot for Born Free, Rosebud (1975) for Preminger, (1976), Hawaii Five-O, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Angels' Brigade (1979), Highcliffe Manor, Supertrain, Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women (1979), Gypsy Angels (1980), Body and Soul (1981), and episodes of The Jeffersons.
His last role was as Montague Chippendale in Where Is Parsifal? (1983).
Lawford became a U.S. citizen on 23 April 1960, in time to vote for his brother-in-law in the upcoming presidential election. Lawford, along with other members of the "Rat Pack", helped campaign for Kennedy and the Democratic Party. Sinatra famously dubbed him "Brother-in-Lawford" at this time. Lawford and Patricia Kennedy divorced in February 1966.
Lawford was originally cast as Alan-a-Dale in the film Robin and the 7 Hoods but was replaced by Bing Crosby following a break in Frank Sinatra's relationship with Lawford. The break stemmed from a scheduled visit to Sinatra's home by Lawford's brother-in-law, President Kennedy, during a 1962 West Coast trip. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who had long been concerned about Sinatra's rumoured ties with underworld figures, encouraged the president to change his plans and stay at Crosby's home, which (it was maintained) could provide better security for the president. The change came at the last minute, after Sinatra had made extensive arrangements for the promised and eagerly awaited presidential visit, including the construction of a helipad, which he later destroyed in a fit of rage. Sinatra was furious, believing that Lawford had failed to intercede with the Kennedys on his behalf, and banished him from the Rat Pack.
Sinatra and Lawford's friendship was over. They only spoke when Sinatra called after his son Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped on 8 December 1963 and needed the help of Lawford's brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy, then attorney general. With the exception of Pat Brown in his unsuccessful re-election as governor of California in 1966 and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey's run for the presidency in the 1968 United States presidential election, Sinatra never endorsed another Democratic candidate. Crosby, a staunch Republican, was cast in Lawford's role.
Lawford married his second wife, Mary Rowan, daughter of comedian Dan Rowan, in October 1971. Rowan and Lawford separated two years later and divorced in January 1975.
Between marriages, Lawford dated Jill St. John and Priscilla Presley.Romanoff, Ed (September 2, 1975). "Soundtrack". Observer–Reporter.Wilson, Earl (May 9, 1966). "Break-Up Rumors Untrue". Beaver County Times.
In June 1976 he married aspiring actress Deborah Gould, whom he had known for three weeks. Lawford and Gould separated two months after marrying and divorced in 1977. Following the divorce, Lawford moved into the Sierra Towers where he lived for the next few years on the 30th floor. During his separation from Gould, Lawford met Patricia Seaton who became his fourth and final wife in July 1984, just months before his death.
For his contribution to the television industry, Peter Lawford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6920 Hollywood Boulevard.
A plaque bearing Lawford's name was erected at Westwood Village Memorial Park.
Accident
At the age of 14, Lawford severely injured his right arm in an accident when it went through a glass door. Irreversible nerve damage severely compromised the use of his forearm and hand, which he later learned to conceal. The injury resulted in his being unable to follow a military career as his parents had hoped. Instead, Lawford pursued a career as an actor, a decision that resulted in one of his aunts refusing to leave him her considerable fortune, as she had originally planned.
Career
Early career
In 1938, Lawford was travelling through Hollywood when he was spotted by a talent scout. He was screen tested and made his Hollywood debut in a minor part in the film Lord Jeff starring Freddie Bartholomew.
Extra work and bit parts
The advent of World War II saw an increase in British war stories and Lawford found himself in demand playing military personnel, albeit usually in uncredited parts. He is briefly seen in Mrs. Miniver (1942) and , both times as pilots.
MGM
Lawford's career stepped up a notch when he was signed to a long-term contract to MGM in June 1943. The studio signed him with a specific role in mind: , in which he played a young soldier during the Second World War.
Leading man
Lawford's first leading role came in Son of Lassie (1945), a big hit.
Television
He focused on television, guest starring on shows like General Electric Theater, Schlitz Playhouse, and The Ford Television Theatre.
Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack
In 1959, Sinatra invited Lawford to join the "Rat Pack" and also got him a role in Never So Few (1959).
Producer
In 1961, Lawford and his manager Milton Ebbins formed Chrislaw Productions, which was named after Peter's son Christopher. It signed a three-year deal with United Artists to make three features and two TV series for $10 million. William Asher was to be executive producer. Their first project was to be a remake of the old silent film The Great Train Robbery. Half a million dollars instead went toward the 1963 action film Johnny Cool starring Henry Silva and Elizabeth Montgomery.Peter Lawford's 'Johnny Cool'
The Christian Science Monitor 7 October 1963: 10.
Later career
Lawford's later films included A Step Out of Line (1971), Clay Pigeon (1971), and The Deadly Hunt (1971). He had the lead role in and guest starred on Bewitched. In 1971 he appeared as Ben Hunter on The Men From Shiloh (rebranded name for The Virginian) in the episode titled "The Town Killer." He had a semi recurring role in The Doris Day Show (1971–72) and even directed an episode.
Personal life
His first marriage, in 1954, was to socialite Patricia Kennedy, a younger sister of John F. Kennedy, then a Democratic U.S. senator 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).
Death
Lawford died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 1984, aged 61, from cardiac arrest. He suffered from kidney failure and liver failure after years of substance abuse. His body was cremated, and his ashes were interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. Owing to a dispute between his widow and the cemetery, Lawford's ashes were removed from the cemetery in 1988 and scattered into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California by his widow Patricia Seaton Lawford, who invited the National Enquirer tabloid to photograph the event.
Filmography
+ Film 1930 Poor Old Bill Horace 1931 A Gentleman of Paris Child uncredited 1938 Lord Jeff Benny Potter 1942 Mrs. Miniver Pilot uncredited 1942 Eagle Squadron Pilot 1942 A Yank at Eton Ronnie Kenvil 1942 Thunder Birds English Cadet uncredited
alternative title: Soldiers of the Air1942 Junior Army Cadet Wilbur 1942 Random Harvest Soldier uncredited 1943 Immortal Sergeant Soldier uncredited 1943 London Blackout Murders Percy, Soldier on Train uncredited 1943 Assignment in Brittany Navigator uncredited 1943 The Purple V Roger 1943 Flesh and Fantasy Pierrot (Episode 1) uncredited 1943 Above Suspicion Student uncredited 1943 Pilot No. 5 British Soldier uncredited 1943 The Sky's the Limit Naval Commander uncredited 1943 The Man from Down Under Mr. Jones uncredited 1943 Someone to Remember Joe Downes alternative title: Gallant Thoroughbred 1943 The West Side Kid Jerry Winston 1943 Sahara British soldier uncredited 1943 Sherlock Holmes Faces Death Young Sailor at Bar uncredited 1943 Corvette K-225 Naval Officer uncredited 1943 Paris After Dark Frenchman uncredited 1943 Girl Crazy Student uncredited 1944 The Adventures of Mark Twain Young Oxford Celebrant uncredited 1944 The White Cliffs of Dover John Ashwood II as a Young Man 1944 The Canterville Ghost Anthony de Canterville 1944 Mrs. Parkington Lord Thornley 1945 The Picture of Dorian Gray David Stone 1945 Son of Lassie Joe Carraclough 1945 Ziegfeld Follies Porky in "Number Please" voice, uncredited 1945 Perfect Strangers Introduction – USA Version uncredited
alternative title: Vacation from Marriage1946 Two Sisters from Boston Lawrence Tyburn Patterson Jr. 1946 Cluny Brown Andrew Carmel 1947 My Brother Talks to Horses John S. Penrose 1947 It Happened in Brooklyn Jamie Shellgrove 1947 Good News Tommy Marlowe 1948 On an Island with You Lieutenant Lawrence Y. Kingslee 1948 Easter Parade Jonathan Harrow III 1948 Julia Misbehaves Ritchie Lorgan 1949 Little Women Theodore "Laurie" Laurence 1949 The Red Danube Major John "Twingo" McPhimister 1950 Please Believe Me Jeremy Taylor 1951 Royal Wedding Lord John Brindale alternative title: Wedding Bells 1952 Just This Once Mark MacLene IV 1952 Kangaroo Richard Connor alternative title: The Australian Story 1952 You for Me Tony Brown 1952 The Hour of 13 Nicholas Revel 1953 Rogue's March Captain Dion Lenbridge / Private Harry Simms 1954 It Should Happen to You Evan Adams III 1956 Sincerely, Willis Wayde Willis Wayde 1959 Never So Few Captain Grey Travis alternative title: Campaign Burma 1960 Ocean's 11 Jimmy Foster 1960 Exodus Major Caldwell 1960 Pepe Himself 1962 Sergeants 3 Sergeant Larry Barrett 1962 Advise & Consent Senator Lafe Smith 1962 The Longest Day Brigadier Lord Lovat 1963 Johnny Cool executive producer 1964 Dead Ringer Tony Collins alternative title: Dead Image 1965 Sylvia Frederic Summers 1965 Harlow Paul Bern 1965 Billie executive producer 1966 The Oscar Steve Marks 1966 A Man Called Adam Manny 1967 Dead Run Stephen Daine alternative titles: Deux Billets pour Mexico, Geheimnisse in goldenen Nylons, Segreti che scottano 1968 Walls Of Sin Papá Baroni alternative titles: Quarta parete, La Limite du péché 1968 Salt and Pepper Christopher Pepper executive producer 1968 Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell Justin Young 1968 Skidoo Senator Humble 1969 Hook, Line & Sinker Dr. Scott Carter 1969 The April Fools Ted Gunther 1970 One More Time Christopher Pepper / Lord Sydney Pepper executive producer 1970 Togetherness Prince Solomon Justiani 1971 Clay Pigeon Government Agent Alternative title: Trip to Kill 1972 They Only Kill Their Masters Lee Campbell 1974 That's Entertainment! Himself, Co-Host 1975 Rosebud Lord Carter 1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Slapstick Star 1979 Angels Revenge Burke alternative title: Angels' Brigade
Seven from Heaven1980 Gypsy Angels 1981 Body and Soul Big Man 1983 Where Is Parsifal? Montague Chippendale final film role + Television 1953 General Electric Theater John episode: "Woman's World" 1953–1954 The Ford Television Theatre Various roles 3 episodes 1954–1955 Dear Phoebe Bill Hastings 32 episodes 1954–1957 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Various roles 3 episodes 1955 Fireside Theatre Stephen episode: "Stephen and Publius Cyrus" 1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Charles 'Charlie' Ffolliot Raymond Season 1 Episode 9: "The Long Shot" 1955 Screen Directors Playhouse Tom Macy episode: "Tom and Jerry" 1956 Playhouse 90 Willis Wayde episode: "Sincerely, Willis Wade" 1956–1957 Studio 57 Various roles 2 episodes 1957 Producers' Showcase Lord Brinstead episode: "Ruggles of Red Gap" 1957 Climax! Tom Welles episode: "Bait for the Tiger" 1957–1959 The Thin Man Nick Charles 72 episodes 1958 The Bob Cummings Show Himself episode: "Bob Judges a Beauty Pageant" 1959 Goodyear Theatre Major John Marshall episode: "Point of Impact" 1961 The Jack Benny Program Lord Milbeck episode: "English Sketch" 1962 Theatre '62 Glen Morley episode: "The Farmer's Daughter" 1965 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Ernest 'Ernie' Mullett Season 3 Episode 12: "Crimson Witness" 1965 Profiles in Courage General Alexander William Doniphan episode: "General Alexander William Doniphan" 1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Lieutenant Philip Cannon episode: "March From Camp Tyler" 1966 Run for Your Life Larry Carter episode: "Carnival Ends at Midnight" 1966 The Wild Wild West Carl Jackson episode: "The Night of The Returning Dead" 1967 How I Spent My Summer Vacation Ned Pine television movie 1967 I Spy Hackaby episode: "Get Thee to a Nunnery" 1968 The Carol Burnett Show Self Episode: "Peter Lawford and Minnie Pearl" 1971 A Step Out of Line Art Stoyer television movie 1971 The Virginian Ben Hunter episode: "The Town Killer" 1971 Ellery Queen television movie 1971–1973 The Doris Day Show Dr. Peter Lawrence 8 episodes 1972 Bewitched Harrison Woolcott episode: "Serena's Richcraft" 1974 The Phantom of Hollywood Roger Cross television movie 1974 Born Free John Forbes episode: Pilot 1977–1982 Fantasy Island Various roles 4 episodes 1978 Hawaii Five-O Kenneth Kirk episode: "Frozen Assets" 1979 The Love Boat Teddy Smith episode: "Murder on the High Seas/Sounds of Silence/Cyrano de Bricker" 1979 Highcliffe Manor The Narrator 6 episodes 1979 Supertrain Quentin Fuller episode: "A Very Formal Heist" 1979 Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women Gordon Duvall television movie 1981 The Jeffersons Museum Guide (Voice) episode: "The House That George Built"
Radio appearances
Green Dolphin Street The Moonstone
See also
Footnotes
Sources
(2025). 9780786424764, McFarland. ISBN 9780786424764
(1986). 9780828319959, Branden Publishing Co.. ISBN 9780828319959
(1988). 9780515102642, Carroll and Graf. ISBN 9780515102642
External links
Categories: 1923 Births, 1984 Deaths, 20th-century English Male Actors, American Male Film Actors, American Male Television Actors, British Film Producers, California Democrats, English Expatriate Male Actors In The United States, English Emigrants To The United States, English Male Film Actors, English Male Television Actors, Deaths From Kidney Failure In California, Deaths From Liver Failure In The United States, Metro-goldwyn-mayer Contract Players, Naturalized Citizens Of The United States, Rat Pack, Male Actors From London
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