Joan Crawford: Movies, Awards & Box Office

Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, 190?– May 10, 1977) was an American actress known for her rags-to-riches stories and her iconic Hollywood career. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed Crawford to a motion picture contract in 1925. She successfully transitioned from the silent film era to talkies and became one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars of the 1930s. Later, after a period of box office failures and struggles, she made a successful comeback with the 1945 film 'Mildred Pierce,' securing the Academy Award for Best Actress. In 1955, Crawford became involved with the Pepsi-Cola Company through her marriage to company president Alfred Steele. She served on the board of directors and represented the company after Steele's death in 1959. Crawford continued to act in film and television until the early 1970s. Crawford was married four times and adopted five children.