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[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.
-- Peter Lawford
Peter Lawford was a 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).
Peter Lawford
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Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen
7 September 1923, London, England
24 December 1984, Los Angeles, California
Peter Sydney Vaughn Aylen (September 7, 1923 – December 24, 1984), better known as Peter Lawford, was an English-American actor. He was a member of the "Rat Pack," and brother-in-law to President John F. Kennedy, perhaps more noted in later years for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting. In his earlier professional years (late 1930s through the 1950s) he had a strong presence in popular culture and starred in a number of highly-acclaimed films.
Born in London, he was the son of English World War I veteran Sir Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford and May Somerville Bunny. At the time of his birth, May Somerville Bunny was married to Captain Ernest Vaughn Aylen. After his birth, Bunny confessed to Aylen that the child was not his and he promptly divorced her. Sir Sydney Lawford and Bunny were married in September 1924. Lawford spent his early childhood in France and owing to his family's travels, was never formally educated. In America, Sir Sydney and Lady Lawford were treated as royalty among the well-to-do in their new neighbourhood of Palm Beach, Florida, and were always invited to events and social occasions. However, they lost whatever source of money they had when war was declared by the UK in 1939.
At the age of 14, Lawford severely injured his right arm when it went through a glass door. The injury greatly compromised the use of his lower arm and hand with irreversible nerve damage, which he later learned to hide. The injury was considered damaging enough to keep him from entering World War II, but this turn of fate was probably the greatest boon to his career. At that time, Hollywood was infatuated with heroic Englishmen, and as war films were being churned out by the dozens and American actors volunteered or were drafted for the war, Lawford put his talents to work "stateside".
Prior to World War II, Lawford had gained a contract position with the MGM studios. Once he signed with MGM, his mother, Lady Lawford, insisted that studio head Louis B. Mayer pay her a salary as her son's personal assistant. Mayer declined. Lady Lawford responded by claiming her son to be "a bummer" and that he needed to be "supervised." When Lawford learned of his mother's actions their relationship was never the same.
Lawford's first movie role was at age seven in the film Poor Old Bill. Eight years later, he made his Hollywood debut in a minor part in Lord Jeff. His first major movie role was A Yank At Eton (1942), where he played a snobbish bully opposite Mickey Rooney. The picture was a smash hit, and Lawford's performance was widely praised. Lawford also made uncredited appearances as an RAF pilot in Mrs. Miniver (1942) and as a sailor in Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943). He won even greater acclaim for his performance in The White Cliffs Of Dover (1944), in which he played a young soldier in World War II. MGM gave him another important role in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945). Lawford also made Son of Lassie (1945) and won a Modern Screen magazine readers' poll as the most popular actor in Hollywood. His fan mail jumped to thousands of letters a week. Lawford had become a major star.
With heartthrobs such as Clark Gable and stalwarts like James Stewart off to war, Lawford was recognized as the romantic lead on the MGM lot. Lawford's busiest year as an actor was 1946, when two of his films opened within days of each other: Cluny Brown (1946) and Two Sisters From Boston (1946). He appeared with Frank Sinatra for the first time in the musical It Happened in Brooklyn (1947). 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 (the Jitterbug). He also made his first comedy that same year: My Brother Talks To Horses (1947). It was in the musical Good News (1947) that he won his greatest acclaim as a performer, holding his own against other cast members with far more training in song and dance.
Lawford was given other important roles in MGM films over the next few years, including On an Island with You (1948), Easter Parade (1948), Little Women (1949), and It Should Happen to You (1954). The casino caper Ocean’s Eleven (1960) was a project Lawford first brought to Sinatra's attention. It became the first film to feature all five main "Rat Pack" members Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Lawford.
Later films included The Longest Day (1962), and a role as a United States senator in Advise & Consent (1962). In 1963, Lawford produced his first film, Johnny Cool, starring Henry Silva and Elizabeth Montgomery. He would go on to produce the 1965 Patty Duke film Billie, and his two films with fellow Rat Pack member Sammy Davis, Jr.: Salt and Pepper and One More Time.
Lawford made his television debut in a guest starring role on the anthology series General Electric Theater in 1953. The following year, he starred as a newspaper advice-to-the-lovelorn colunnist named Bill Hastings in the short-lived NBC series Dear Phoebe with Marcia Henderson and Charles Lane. From 1957 to 1959, Lawford co-starred with Phyllis Kirk in The Thin Man, an NBC series based on the novel by Dashiel Hammett.
Lawford also guest starred on various television series including Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Wild Wild West, The Virginian, Bewitched, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island. Besides guest spots, he also guest-starred on variety shows such as The Judy Garland Show and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and game shows What's My Line?, Password, and Pyramid.
His first marriage, in 1954, was to Patricia Kennedy, sister of then-US Senator John F. Kennedy. They had four children; actor Christopher Kennedy Lawford, and daughters Sydney Maleia Kennedy Lawford, Victoria Francis Lawford, and Robin Elizabeth Lawford.
Lawford became an American citizen on April 23, 1960; he had prepared for this 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 married his second wife, Mary Rowan, the daughter of comedian Dan Rowan, in October 1971 when she was one day shy of twenty-two years old; Lawford was forty-seven. Rowan and Lawford separated two years later and divorced in January 1975. In June 1976, he married aspiring actress Deborah Gould, twenty-five, whom he had known for only three weeks. Lawford and Gould separated two months after marrying and divorced in 1977. During his separation from Gould, Lawford met Patricia Seaton who would become his fourth and final wife in July 1984.
Lawford died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, 1984 of cardiac arrest complicated by kidney and liver failure. 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 and scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California by his widow, Patricia Seaton Lawford, who invited the National Enquirer tabloid to photograph the event. A plaque bearing Lawford's name was erected at Westwood Village Memorial Park.
For his contribution to the television industry, Peter Lawford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6920 Hollywood Blvd.
Lawford was portrayed by Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen in The Rat Pack, a 1998 made-for-television movie about the group of entertainers.
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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.
Brother-in-law of John F. Kennedy.
Became U.S. Citizen in 1960.
Dated actress Dorothy Dandridge.
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" (1968).
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.
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