Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford was an English-American actor.
53 Facts About Peter Lawford
2.
Peter Lawford was a member of the "Rat Pack" and the brother-in-law of US president John F Kennedy and senators Robert F Kennedy and Edward Kennedy.
3.
Peter Lawford spent his early childhood in France and, owing to his family's travels, was never formally educated.
4.
Peter Lawford read only selected books: English fairy stories, English and French classics; no crime stories.
5.
Peter Lawford had an uncredited bit in A Gentleman of Paris.
6.
At the age of 14, Peter Lawford severely injured his right arm in an accident when it went through a glass door.
7.
In 1938, Peter Lawford was travelling through Hollywood when spotted by a talent scout.
8.
Peter Lawford was screen tested and made his Hollywood debut in a minor part in the film Lord Jeff starring Freddie Bartholomew.
9.
The advent of World War II saw an increase in British war stories and Peter Lawford found himself in demand playing military personnel, albeit usually in uncredited parts.
10.
Peter Lawford could be glimpsed in Mrs Miniver and Eagle Squadron, both times as pilots.
11.
Peter Lawford was a cadet in Thunder Birds: Soldiers of the Air and Junior Army, a soldier in Random Harvest, Immortal Sergeant, and London Blackout Murders, and a navigator in Assignment in Brittany.
12.
Peter Lawford had a minor role at Republic's Someone to Remember and The West Side Kid, the latter directed by Sherman.
13.
Peter Lawford played a soldier in Sahara and sailors in Sherlock Holmes Faces Death and Corvette K-225.
14.
Peter Lawford was a Frenchman in Paris After Dark and Flesh and Fantasy, and was a student in MGM's Girl Crazy and The Adventures of Mark Twain.
15.
Peter Lawford's career stepped up a notch when signed to a long-term contract to MGM in June 1943.
16.
Peter Lawford had a small role in The Canterville Ghost and Mrs Parkington, playing a suitor of Greer Garson.
17.
Peter Lawford's first leading role came in Son of Lassie, a big hit.
18.
Peter Lawford won a Modern Screen magazine readers' poll as the most popular actor in Hollywood of 1946.
19.
Peter Lawford made My Brother Talks to Horses with Jackie Butch Jenkins, an early work of Fred Zinnemann which was a big flop.
20.
Peter Lawford was reunited with Grayson in It Happened in Brooklyn, which starred Frank Sinatra.
21.
Peter Lawford received rave reviews for his work in the film, while Sinatra's were lukewarm.
22.
Peter Lawford later admitted that the most terrifying experience of his career was the first musical number he performed in the musical Good News, the film he starred in alongside Allyson.
23.
Peter Lawford was Esther Williams' leading man in On an Island with You and supported Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in Easter Parade, a huge hit, and Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in Julia Misbehaves, popular.
24.
Peter Lawford played Laurie in MGM's version of Little Women alongside Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor.
25.
Peter Lawford was billed beneath Pidgeon and Ethel Barrymore in the anti-Communist The Red Danube and was one of Deborah Kerr's leading men in Please Believe Me.
26.
Peter Lawford was Jane Powell's love interest in Royal Wedding with Fred Astaire and co-starred with Janet Leigh in Just This Once, both popular.
27.
Peter Lawford focused on television, guest starring on shows like General Electric Theater, Schlitz Playhouse, and The Ford Television Theatre.
28.
In 1954, Lawford married Patricia Kennedy, sister of Senator John F Kennedy.
29.
Peter Lawford had a regular role on a TV sitcom, Dear Phoebe but the show only ran 32 episodes.
30.
Peter Lawford had another starring role on a TV series, The Thin Man with Phyllis Kirk, an NBC series from MGM based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett.
31.
In 1959, Sinatra invited Peter Lawford to join the "Rat Pack" and got him a role in Never So Few.
32.
Peter 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.
33.
Peter Lawford eventually bought the rights in 1958, imagining William Holden in the lead.
34.
Peter Lawford played a British soldier in the acclaimed Israeli-set drama Exodus for Otto Preminger and had a cameo in Pepe.
35.
Peter Lawford did a TV remake of The Farmer's Daughter with Lee Remick and was reunited with the Rat Pack in Sergeants 3.
36.
Peter Lawford was Bette Davis's leading man in Dead Ringer and guest starred on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Profiles in Courage, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre and Run for Your Life.
37.
Peter Lawford went on to produce the Patty Duke film Billie and had supporting roles in two Carroll Baker movies, playing her fiance both times: Sylvia and Harlow.
38.
Peter Lawford played a washed-up film star in The Oscar.
39.
Peter Lawford guest-starred on shows like The Wild Wild West, I Spy and was in How I Spent My Summer Vacation.
40.
Peter Lawford went to Europe to star in Dead Run and The Fourth Wall.
41.
Peter Lawford was a popular guest star on TV comedy and game shows.
42.
Salt and Pepper was popular enough for Peter Lawford to raise money for a sequel, One More Time directed by Lewis.
43.
Peter Lawford had the lead role in Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You and guest starred on Bewitched.
44.
Peter Lawford returned to MGM for They Only Kill Their Masters, which reunited him with several former MGM contract players.
45.
Peter Lawford was in The Phantom of Hollywood, the pilot for Born Free, Rosebud for Preminger, Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood, Hawaii Five-O, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Angels' Brigade, Highcliffe Manor, Supertrain, Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women, Gypsy Angels, Body and Soul, and episodes of The Jeffersons.
46.
Peter Lawford had prepared for this in time to vote for his brother-in-law in the upcoming presidential election.
47.
Peter 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 Peter Lawford.
48.
Sinatra was furious, believing that Peter Lawford had failed to intercede with the Kennedys on his behalf, and banished him from the Rat Pack.
49.
Peter Lawford married his second wife, Mary Rowan, daughter of comedian Dan Rowan, in October 1971.
50.
Rowan and Peter Lawford separated two years later and divorced in January 1975.
51.
Peter Lawford died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 1984, aged 61, from cardiac arrest.
52.
Peter Lawford had suffered from kidney and liver failure after years of substance abuse.
53.
Peter Lawford's body was cremated, and his ashes were interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.