Peter Lawford

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, the doctors could save 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.

Both his parents, Sidney Lawford and Mary Somerville (aka Lady Lawford), appeared as minor players in a few films. Sir Sydney shot his very first movie in a party sequence in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), which co-starred Peter. Unfortunately, that scene was cut from the final print but he went on to appear in a few others. His mother appeared in the film Hong Kong (1952) and in an episode of Peter's television series The Thin Man (1957).

Suffered second degree burns on his right hand and arm during a 1950 Jimmy Durante television show skit. Titanium tetrachloride was being used in the making of a smoking concoction and it accidentally spilled on him. Durante and Lawford were close friends and later performed frequently on stage in a song-and-dance nightclub act.

Had four children with Patricia Kennedy: Christopher Lawford (1955 - 2018), Sydney Maleia Kennedy Lawford (born 1956), Victoria Francis Lawford (born 1958), and Robin Elizabeth Lawford (born 1961).

Member of the "Clan" or "Rat Pack", with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. The five would appear together in the films Ocean's 11 (1960) and Sergeants 3 (1962). They also performed on stage and were quite successful with their informal Las Vegas stage act during the filming of the first movie.

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

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

(November 25, 1963) In the poignant photograph of John Kennedy Jr.. saluting the casket of his assassinated father outside St. Matthews Cathedral (Washington) following funeral mass, Lawford is standing between Ted Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.

In the 1966 tell-all Tinsel Town "drama" The Oscar (1966), Lawford had a bit part as a washed up actor now forced to work as the maitre'd at a Hollywood restaurant. Given the real-life Lawford's career downturn in the wake of his being "banished from the Rat Pack" by Frank Sinatra, his taking such a minor role was seen by many people in the industry as a prime example of "type casting".

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

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

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

In her 2004 autobiography "'Tis Herself", Maureen O'Hara wrote that Lawford and Richard Boone were arrested in a gay brothel "full of beautiful boys", while filming Kangaroo (1952) in Australia, but the studio managed to avoid this being reported by the press.

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

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.