Biography for
Peter Lawford More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

7 September 1923, London, England, UK

Date of Death

24 December 1984, Los Angeles, California, USA (liver and kidney disease)

Birth Name

Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen

Nickname

Brother-in-Lawford (dubbed by Frank Sinatra.)

Height

6' (1.83 m)

Mini Biography

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, doctors could saved 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 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. .

IMDb Mini Biography By: rocknrollunderdawg

Spouse

Patricia Seaton	(July 1984 - 24 December 1984) (his death)
Deborah Gould	(25 June 1976 - 1977) (divorced)
Mary Rowan	(30 October 1971 - 2 January 1975) (divorced)
Patricia Kennedy	(24 April 1954 - 1 February 1966) (divorced) 4 children

Trivia

Ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Father of actor Christopher Lawford.

Uncle of Maria Shriver.

A frequent and accomplished guest on the game show "Password All-Stars" (1961), Lawford was the all-time champion at the "lightning round", prompting 5 out of 5 correct guesses in only 12 seconds.

Ex-brother-in-law of John F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Sargent Shriver, Robert F. Kennedy.

Member of the "Rat Pack", with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop. Appeared together in Ocean's Eleven (1960) and Sergeants 3 (1962).

Became U.S. Citizen in 1960.

Son of actor Sidney Lawford.

With Patricia Kennedy, 4 children: Christopher Lawford (b. 1955), Sydney Maleia Kennedy Lawford (b. 1956), Victoria Francis Lawford (b. 1958), and Robin Elizabeth Lawford (b. 1961).

Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

He was a year old before his parents were married. His parents were married to other people when he was conceived (he was given his mother's husband's surname Aylen on his birth certificate). He did not learn of his illegitimacy until he was 27 years old.

His mother's childhood nickname for him was Pierrot.

His production company, Chrislaw, was named after his son Christopher Lawford.

Met his third wife, Mary Rowan (daughter of Dan Rowan), in December 1970 while he was appearing on her father's TV show, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (1967).

Never obtained a formal education; educated through tutors.

Romantically linked with actresses Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Dorothy Dandridge, June Allyson, Lee Remick, Kim Novak, Judy Holliday, Evelyn Keyes, and socialites Sharman Douglas and Melissa Weston.

Since he spent his early childhood in France, he spoke French before he spoke English. Later, he struggled to learn English.

When he was child he fell through a French door and cut his right arm very badly; consequently, he never regained full use of his right arm and hand. Thus, he was turned down as unfit for military duty and did not serve during World War II.

The producers of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) originally wanted him to play Edwin Flagg. The role would eventually go to Victor Buono.

Is portrayed by Angus Macfadyen in The Rat Pack (1998) (TV) and by Ian Buchanan in Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair (1993) (TV).

He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggio.

Was the first member of the Rat Pack to pass away. With the death of Joey Bishop in October, 2007, no surviving members of the Rat Pack remain.

In his 20s, he worked at a country club. A prestigious member of the club once complained to the management that Lawford was eating lunch and fraternizing with the black employees, and that he should be fired. This member was Joseph P. Kennedy, who years later became his father-in-law!

Nephew of Ernest Lawford.

Cousin of Betty Lawford.

His ex-wife Patricia Kennedy died on 17th September 2006 from complications from pneumonia at the age of 82.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 488-489. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.

Largely due to political reasons, he and former friend Frank Sinatra were estranged after the mid-1960s. In fact, when Lawford came to attend a Sinatra performance at Caeser's Palace in Las Vegas some years later, Sinatra reportedly found out about it and refused to go on until after Lawford had left.

Former son-in-law of Dan Rowan.

Personal Quotes

[Explaining his disillusionment with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he made his first films} Metro was really a star-builder, no doubt about that. You were wrapped in cotton wool. ... I was encouraged to emulate Robert Taylor, who came to the studio every day of his life in a pinstripe suit and pressed shirt with a pin through the collar. They were very high on pins through the collar.

[on turning down a role opposite Bette Davis] It's a spot I wouldn't have given to my dry cleaner.