View source for Peter Lawford

{{Short description|British actor (1923–1984)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Peter Lawford
| image              = Peter_Lawford_1955.jpg
| caption            = Lawford in 1955
| birth_name         = Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=y|1923|09|07}}
| birth_place        = London, England
| death_date         = {{death date and age|df=y|1984|12|24|1923|09|07}}
| death_place        = Los Angeles, California, US
| citizenship        = {{hlist|United Kingdom|United States}}
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1930–1984
| spouse             = {{Ubl
  | {{marriage|[[Patricia Kennedy Lawford|Patricia Kennedy]]|1954|1966|end=divorced}}
  | {{marriage|Mary Rowan|1971|1975|end=divorced}}
  | {{marriage|Deborah Gould|1976|1977|end=divorced}}
  | {{marriage|Patricia Seaton|1984}}
  }}
| children           = 4, including [[Christopher Lawford]]
| father             = [[Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford]]
}}
'''Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford''' (né '''Aylen'''; 7 September 1923 – 24 December 1984) was an English-American actor.<ref>{{harv|Hischak|2008|p=420}}</ref><ref name="WVobit">Obituary ''[[Variety Obituaries|Variety]]'', 26 December 1984.</ref>

He was a member of the "[[Rat Pack]]" and the brother-in-law of US president [[John F. Kennedy]] and senators [[Robert F. Kennedy]] and [[Ted Kennedy|Edward Kennedy]]. From the 1940s to the 1960s, he was a well-known celebrity and starred in a number of highly acclaimed films. In later years, he was noted more for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting; it was said that he was "[[famous for being famous]]".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/109743%7C124097/peter-lawford#biography| title=Biography for Peter Lawford| website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born in London in 1923, Lawford was the only child of [[Lieutenant General]] Sir [[Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford]], [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] (1865–1953) and May Sommerville Bunny (1883–1972). At the time of his birth, his mother was married to [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Dr. Ernest Vaughn Aylen [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]],<ref>{{cite journal |title=ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS |journal=London Gazette |date=3 July 1923 |issue=32841 |page=4617 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32841/page/4617 |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref> one of Sir Sydney's officers, while his father was married to Muriel Williams.<ref name=lawford34>{{harv|Lawford|1986|p=34}}</ref> At the time, May and Ernest Aylen were living apart. May confessed to Aylen that the child was not his, a revelation that resulted in a double divorce. Sydney and May wed in September 1924 after their divorces were finalised and when their son was one year old.<ref>{{harv|Wayne|2006|p=280}}</ref>

Lawford's family was connected to the [[British nobility|British aristocracy]] through his uncle Ernest Lawford's wife (a daughter of the Scottish 14th [[Earl of Eglinton]]) as well as his aunt Ethel Turner Lawford (who married a son of the 1st [[Baron Avebury]]). His aunt, Jessie Bruce Lawford, another of his father's sisters, was the second wife of the Hon [[Hartley Williams]], senior [[puisne judge]] of the Supreme Court of the colony of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia. A relative, through his mother, was Australian artist [[Rupert Bunny]].{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

===Early childhood===
He spent his early childhood in France and, owing to his family's travels, was never formally educated. Instead, he was schooled by governesses and tutors, and his education included tennis and ballet lessons.<ref name=lawford44>{{harv|Lawford|1986|p=44}}</ref>

"In the beginning," his mother observed, "he had no homework. When he was older he had Spanish, German and music added to his studies. He read only selected books: English fairy stories, English and French classics; no crime stories.<ref name=lawford44/> Having studied Peter for so long, I decided he was quite unfitted for any career except art, so I cut [[Latin]], [[Algebra]], high mathematics and substituted dramatics instead."<ref name=lawford44/>

Because of the widely varying national and religious backgrounds of his tutors, Lawford "attended various services in churches, cathedrals, synagogues and for some time was an usher in a [[Christian Science]] Sunday School...."<ref>{{harv|Lawford|1986|p=48}}</ref>

Around 1930, aged seven, he made his acting debut in the English film ''[[Poor Old Bill]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-lawford-mn0000845153|title=Peter Lawford - Biography & History - AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}</ref> He also had an uncredited bit in ''[[A Gentleman of Paris (1931 film)|A Gentleman of Paris]]'' (1931).<ref>PETER LAWFORD: ENGLAND'S YOUNGEST FILM STAR. ''The Bystander''; London Vol. 109, Iss. 1417, (11 Feb 1931): 262.</ref>

===Accident===
At the age of 14, Lawford severely injured his right arm in an accident when it went through a glass door.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|pp=47–48}}</ref> Irreversible nerve damage severely compromised the use of his forearm and hand,<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=50}}</ref> which he later learned to conceal.<ref>{{harv|Wayne|2006|p=281}}</ref> The injury resulted in his being unable to follow a military career as his parents had hoped.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=65}}</ref> Instead, Lawford pursued a career as an actor, a decision that resulted in one of his aunts refusing to leave him her considerable fortune, as she had originally planned.<ref>{{harv|Lawford|1986|p=52}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early career===
[[File:Peter Lawford in The Picture of Dorian Gray trailer cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Lawford in {{film show year|The Picture of Dorian Gray|1945}}]]
In 1938, Lawford was travelling through Hollywood when he was spotted by a talent scout. He was screen tested and made his Hollywood debut in a minor part in the film ''[[Lord Jeff]]'' starring [[Freddie Bartholomew]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Fanny Brice to Team in Comedy: Nan Grey Assigned Novel Short Planned Diamond Story Set Film World Pageant| url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/image/380833808/?terms=Fanny%2BBrice%2Bto%2BTeam%2Bin%2BComedy%3A%2BNan%2BGrey%2BAssigned%2BNovel%2BShort%2BPlanned%2BDiamond%2BStory%2BSet%2BFilm%2BWorld%2BPageant| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=24 March 1938| page=10|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Peter Lawford| url=https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/370523979/?terms=peter%2Blawford| last=Zylstra| first=Freida| newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune|Chicago Daily Tribune]]| date=2 May 1948| page=F20|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Lawford and his family were living in Florida at the start of [[World War II]], resulting in their assets, which were in Britain at the time, being frozen. He took a job parking cars and saved enough money to return to Hollywood, where he worked as a theatre usher until he began to get film work.<ref>Van Atta, Burr. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_multi=PI|&p_product=PHNP&p_theme=phnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_trackval=PHNP&s_dispstring=actor%20peter%20lawford%20dead%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(actor%20peter%20lawford%20dead)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes#nBasdiv625 Peter Lawford Is Dead; Actor on Film and TV] ''[[Philadelphia Inquirer]]''; date=25 December 1984: A1. Subscription required.</ref>

===Extra work and bit parts===
The advent of World War II saw an increase in British war stories and Lawford found himself in demand playing military personnel, albeit usually in uncredited parts. He is briefly seen in ''[[Mrs. Miniver]]'' (1942) and {{film show year|Eagle Squadron|1942}}, both times as pilots.<ref>{{cite news| title=Peter Lawford| url=https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/370955564/?terms=peter%2Blawford| newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune| date=3 March 1946| page=F9|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Lawford's first featured role in a major film production was in ''[[A Yank at Eton]]'' (1942), starring [[Mickey Rooney]], in which Lawford played a snobbish bully.<ref>{{cite news| title=Alice Faye to Return in 'Frisco' Feature 'Hattie' Work Resumed Glider Yarn Announced Three Holt Films Set Texas 'Find' Gets Role Rowe to Screen-Debut| url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/image/380794725/?terms=Alice%2BFaye%2Bto%2BReturn%2Bin%2B%27Frisco%27%2BFeature%2B%27Hattie%27%2BWork%2BResumed%2BGlider%2BYarn%2BAnnounced%2BThree%2BHolt%2BFilms%2BSet%2BTexas%2B%27Find%27%2BGets%2BRole%2BRowe| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| date=7 April 1942| page=A8|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It was very popular at the box office.<ref name="Mannix">{{Citation| title=The Eddie Mannix Ledger| publisher=Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study| place=Los Angeles}}</ref>

Lawford was a cadet in ''[[Thunder Birds: Soldiers of the Air]]'' (1942) and ''[[Junior Army]]'' (1942) (starring Bartholomew), a soldier in {{film show year|Random Harvest|1942}}, {{film show year|Immortal Sergeant|1942}}, and ''[[London Blackout Murders]]'' (1943) (directed by George Sherman), and a navigator in ''[[Assignment in Brittany]]'' (1943). He had a billed part in ''[[The Purple V]]'' (1943).<ref name=IMDBLaw>{{cite web| title=Peter Lawford| website=[[IMDb]]| access-date=26 April 2017| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0492444}}</ref><ref>The LIFE STORY of Peter LAWFORD. ''Picture Show''; London Vol. 51, Iss. 1309, (22 Feb 1947): 12.</ref>

At [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], Lawford appeared as a student in {{film show year|Above Suspicion|1943}}, a soldier in ''[[Pilot No. 5|Pilot #5]]'' (1943), a naval commander in {{film show year|The Sky's the Limit|1943}} (with Fred Astaire), and an Australian in ''[[The Man from Down Under]]'' (1943). He had a minor role at Republic's ''[[Someone to Remember]]'' (1943) and ''[[The West Side Kid]]'' (1943), the latter directed by Sherman.

Lawford played a soldier in ''[[Sahara (1943 American film)|Sahara]]'' (1943) and sailors in ''[[Sherlock Holmes Faces Death]]'' (1943) and ''[[Corvette K-225]]'' (1943). He was a Frenchman in ''[[Paris After Dark]]'' (1943) and ''[[Flesh and Fantasy]]'' (1943), and was a student in MGM's {{film show year|Girl Crazy|1943}} and {{film show year|The Adventures of Mark Twain|1944}}.<ref>The Life Story of PETER LAWFORD. ''Picture Show''; London Vol. 62, Iss. 1617, (27 Mar 1954): 12.</ref>

===Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer===
Though he had been appearing in small roles at MGM, Lawford's career stepped up a notch when he was signed to a long-term contract with the studio in June 1943. MGM signed him with a specific role in mind: {{film show year|The White Cliffs of Dover|1944}}, in which he played a young soldier during the Second World War.<ref>{{cite news| title=Universal to Make 'Chamber of Horrors' – Bogart Ban Lifted – 4 New Films This Week| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1943/06/07/archives/universal-to-make-chamber-of-horrors-bogart-ban-lifted-4-new-films.html| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=7 June 1943| page=9}}</ref>

Lawford had a small role in {{film show year|The Canterville Ghost|1944}} and ''[[Mrs. Parkington]]'' (1944), playing a suitor of [[Greer Garson]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Bing Crosby to Star in Musical 'California' for Paramount -- Tugent to Produce FRONTIER BADMEN' IS DUE Western Opens at Rialto Friday -- 'This Is Army' Plays to Large Crowds in 2d Week| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9407EFD91738E33BBC4852DFBE668388659EDE| newspaper=The New York Times| date=9 August 1943| page=22|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

MGM gave him another important role in {{film show year|The Picture of Dorian Gray|1945}}.

===Leading man===
[[File:Peter Lawford in Royal Wedding.jpg|thumb|upright|Lawford In ''[[Royal Wedding]]'' (1951)]]
Lawford's first leading role came in ''[[Son of Lassie]]'' (1945), a big hit.

Lawford appeared in a [[Kathryn Grayson]]-[[June Allyson]] musical, ''[[Two Sisters from Boston]]'' (1946). At [[20th Century-Fox]], [[Ernst Lubitsch]] cast him in ''[[Cluny Brown]]'' (1946) where he was billed after [[Charles Boyer]] and [[Jennifer Jones]].

He won a ''[[Modern Screen]]'' magazine readers' poll as the most popular actor in Hollywood of 1946. His fan mail jumped to thousands of letters a week.<ref name=IMDBLaw/> With actors such as [[Clark Gable]] and [[James Stewart]] away at war, Lawford was recognised as a new romantic lead on the MGM lot.

Lawford starred in ''[[My Brother Talks to Horses]]'' (1947) along with [[Jackie Butch Jenkins]]. The film was an early work of [[Fred Zinnemann]] and was a box office disappointment. Lawford was reunited with Grayson in ''[[It Happened in Brooklyn]]'' (1947), which also starred [[Frank Sinatra]]. Lawford received rave reviews for his work in the film,<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=111}}</ref> while Sinatra's were lukewarm.

Lawford later admitted that the most terrifying experience of his career was the first musical number he performed in {{film show year|Good News|1947}}, the film musical he starred in alongside Allyson. He was lauded for the role in which he used an American accent.

[[File:Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Lawford in 'Little Women', 1949,.jpg|250px|thumb|Peter Lawford and [[Elizabeth Taylor]] on the promote shoot of {{film show year|Little Women|1949}}]]

He was [[Esther Williams]]' leading man in ''[[On an Island with You]]'' (1948) and supported [[Fred Astaire]] and [[Judy Garland]] in {{film show year|Easter Parade|1948}}, a major hit, and [[Greer Garson]] and [[Walter Pidgeon]] in ''[[Julia Misbehaves]]'' (1948).

In 1949, Lawford portrayed Laurie in MGM's version of {{film show year|Little Women|1949}} alongside Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor. He was billed beneath Pidgeon and [[Ethel Barrymore]] in the anti-Communist ''[[The Red Danube]]'' (1949) and was one of [[Deborah Kerr]]'s leading men in ''[[Please Believe Me]]'' (1950).

Lawford was [[Jane Powell]]'s love interest in {{film show year|Royal Wedding|1951}} with [[Fred Astaire]] and co-starred with [[Janet Leigh]] in {{film show year|Just This Once|1952}}.

Fox borrowed him for {{film show year|Kangaroo|1952}}, a melodrama shot in Australia with [[Maureen O'Hara]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Actor Peter Lawford, TV's 'Thin Man'| url=https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/388432530/?terms=Actor%2BPeter%2BLawford%2C%2BTV%27s%2B%27Thin%2BMan%27| newspaper=Chicago Tribune| date=25 December 1984| page=C10|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Reviewing this film, ''Filmink'' argued that "Lawford is a wet fish actor who could never really hold the screen in a heroic part (he was generally better as a leading man for a female star, or a second lead to a more charismatic male star)." But in Lawford’s defense, his character is totally emasculated in ''Kangaroo''" from what it was in the original script.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|access-date=20 February 2025|date=20 February 2025|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/wrecking-australian-stories-kangaroo/|title=Wrecking Australian Stories: Kangaroo}}</ref>

Back at MGM, Lawford was top billed in some [[B films]]: ''[[You for Me]]'' (1953), a comedy, ''[[The Hour of 13]]'' (1953), a thriller, and {{film show year|Rogue's March|1953}}, a war film.<ref>{{cite news| title=Peter Lawford Pursues Comedy Destiny; Flashy Dietrich Tour Planned| url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/image/380978800/?terms=Peter%2BLawford%2BPursues%2BComedy%2BDestiny%3B%2BFlashy%2BDietrich%2BTour%2BPlanned| last=Schallert| first=Edwin| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=14 March 1952| page=B7|url-access=subscription }}</ref> At this point, in an effort to economize, MGM released Lawford and several other major stars and featured players from their contracts.<ref>[http://www.tcm.turner.com/this-month/article.html?isPreview=&id=410466|410165&name=Rogue-s-March "Rogue's March", ''Turner Classic Monthly''] accessed 28 April 2015</ref>

Lawford's first film after leaving MGM was the [[Columbia Pictures]] romantic comedy, ''[[It Should Happen to You]]'' (1954), directed by [[George Cukor]]. Lawford starred alongside [[Judy Holliday]] and [[Jack Lemmon]], in his first major film role.

===Television===
He focused on television, guest starring on shows like ''[[General Electric Theater]]'', ''[[Schlitz Playhouse]]'', and ''[[The Ford Television Theatre]]''.

In 1954, Lawford married [[Patricia Kennedy Lawford|Patricia Kennedy]], sister of Senator [[John F. Kennedy]]. Lawford would become an enthusiastic fundraiser for the Senator.<ref>{{cite news| title=Actor Peter Lawford to Wed Miss Kennedy|url=https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/image/371738067/?terms=Actor%2BPeter%2BLawford%2Bto%2BWed%2BMiss%2BKennedy| last=Page| first=Eleanor| newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune| date=13 February 1954| page=13|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Lawford had a regular role on a TV sitcom, ''[[Dear Phoebe]]'' (1954–55) but the show only ran 32 episodes.

When it ended he resumed guest starring on shows like ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'', ''[[Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre]]'', ''[[Screen Directors Playhouse]]'', ''Schlitz Playhouse'' again, ''[[Playhouse 90]]'', ''[[Producers' Showcase]]'' (a version of ''[[Ruggles of Red Gap]]''), several episodes of ''[[Studio 57]]'', ''[[Climax!]]'' and ''[[Goodyear Theatre]]''.

Lawford had another starring role on a TV series, ''[[The Thin Man (TV series)|The Thin Man]]'' (1957–59) with [[Phyllis Kirk]], an NBC series from MGM based on [[The Thin Man|the novel]] by [[Dashiell Hammett]]. It was more successful, running for 72 episodes.<ref>Peter Lawford Buys 'Thin Man'
''The Washington Post and Times-Herald'' 03 November 1958: B6.</ref>

===Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack===
In 1959, Sinatra invited Lawford to join the "[[Rat Pack]]" and also got him a role in ''[[Never So Few]]'' (1959).

Peter Lawford and Sinatra appeared in ''[[Oceans 11]]'' (1960). 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. Lawford eventually bought the rights in 1958, imagining [[William Holden]] in the lead.<ref name="ratpack">pp.117–121 Levy, Shawn ''Rat Pack Confidential'' 1998 Fourth Estate Ltd</ref> Sinatra became interested in the idea, and a variety of writers worked on the project.<ref name="ratpack"/><ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=213}}</ref>

Lawford played a British soldier in the acclaimed Israeli-set drama {{film show year|Exodus|1960}} for [[Otto Preminger]] and had a cameo in {{film show year|Pepe|1960}}. In 1960, he became a U.S. citizen and assisted on his brother-in-law's successful presidential election.<ref>{{cite news| title=Peter Lawford Takes Oath of Citizenship| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/381131972/| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=23 April 1960| page=38|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

He did a TV remake of ''[[The Farmer's Daughter (1947 film)|The Farmer's Daughter]]'' (1962) with [[Lee Remick]] and was reunited with the Rat Pack in ''[[Sergeants 3]]'' (1962).

Lawford played a Senator in ''[[Advise & Consent]]'' (1962) for Preminger and was [[Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat|Lord Lovat]] in {{film show year|The Longest Day|1962}}, a war film with a star-studded cast.

===Producer===
In 1961, Lawford and his manager [[Milton Ebbins|Milt Ebbins]] formed ''Chrislaw Productions'', which was named after Peter's son Christopher.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=339}}</ref> It signed a three-year deal with United Artists to make three features and two TV series for $10 million. [[William Asher]] was to be executive producer. Their first project was to be a remake of the old silent film ''[[The Great Train Robbery (1903 film)|The Great Train Robbery]]''.<ref>{{cite news| title=LAWFORD'S FIRM IN DEAL WITH U.A.: To Produce Theatrical and TV Films Over 3 Years| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A01EFDF1239EE32A25756C0A9609C946091D6CF| newspaper=The New York Times| date=5 June 1961| page=38|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Half a million dollars instead went toward the 1963 action film ''[[Johnny Cool]]'' starring [[Henry Silva]] and [[Elizabeth Montgomery]].<ref>Peter Lawford's 'Johnny Cool'
''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' 7 October 1963: 10.</ref>

Lawford was [[Bette Davis]]'s leading man in {{film show year|Dead Ringer|1964}} and guest starred on ''[[The Alfred Hitchcock Hour]]'', ''[[Profiles in Courage (TV series)|Profiles in Courage]]'' (as [[General Alexander William Doniphan]]), ''[[Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre]]'' and ''[[Run for Your Life (TV series)|Run for Your Life]]''.

He went on to produce the [[Patty Duke]] film {{film show year|Billie|1965}} and had supporting roles in two [[Carroll Baker]] movies, playing her fiancé both times: {{film show year|Sylvia|1965}} and ''[[Harlow (Paramount film)|Harlow]]'' (1965).

By this time, Lawford had fallen out with Sinatra — who replaced him in ''[[Robin and the 7 Hoods]]'' (1964) with Bing Crosby — but [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] remained loyal and got Lawford a supporting role in {{film show year|A Man Called Adam|1966}}. He played a washed-up film star in {{film show year|The Oscar|1966}}. He and Patricia Kennedy divorced in 1966.<ref>{{cite news| title=Peter Lawford Surprised at Swiftness of Court Action| url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=MT19660202.2.107&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1| agency=[[United Press International]]| date=2 February 1966| page=14| newspaper=[[Madera Tribune]]}}</ref>

He guest-starred on shows like ''[[The Wild Wild West]]'' and ''[[I Spy (1965 TV series)|I Spy]]'' and was in {{film show year|How I Spent My Summer Vacation|1967}}.

Lawford went to Europe to star in {{film show year|Dead Run|1967}} and ''The Fourth Wall'' (1968).<ref>{{cite news| title=Peter Lawford in 'Dead Run'| url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/image/382297269/?terms=peter%2Blawford%2Bin%2Bdead%2Brun| last=Martin| first=Betty| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=21 April 1967| page=D11|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He was a popular guest star on TV comedy and game shows.<ref>{{cite news| title=Peter Lawford Back in Town| url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/image/382526995/?terms=Peter%2BLawford%2BBack%2Bin%2BTown| last=Humphrey| first=Hal| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=15 February 1968| page=D16|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

He produced a film starring himself and Davis, {{film show year|Salt and Pepper|1968}}, and had support roles in {{film show year|Skidoo|1968}} for Preminger, ''[[Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell]]'' (1968), {{film show year|Hook, Line & Sinker|1969}} with [[Jerry Lewis]], and ''[[The April Fools]]'' (1969).

''Salt and Pepper'' was popular enough for Lawford to raise money for a sequel, {{film show year|One More Time|1970}} directed by Lewis. He supported George Hamilton in {{film show year|Togetherness|1970}} and guest-starred several times on ''[[Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In]]''. In 1971, he married Rowan's daughter Mary.<ref name=people>{{cite news| title=The Passing of Peter Lawford Rekindles Memories of the Joys and Sadness of a Camelot Lost| url=https://people.com/archive/the-passing-of-peter-lawford-rekindles-memories-of-the-joys-and-sadness-of-a-camelot-lost-vol-23-no-2/| last=Boyes| first=Malcolm| date=14 January 1985| magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]| access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref>

===Later career===
Lawford's later films included ''A Step Out of Line'' (1971), ''[[Clay Pigeon (film)|Clay Pigeon]]'' (1971), and ''[[The Deadly Hunt]]'' (1971). He had the lead role in ''[[Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You]]'' and guest starred on ''[[Bewitched]].'' In 1971 he appeared as Ben Hunter on ''The Men From Shiloh'' (rebranded name for ''[[The Virginian (TV series)|The Virginian]]'') in the episode titled "The Town Killer." He had a semi recurring role in ''[[The Doris Day Show]]'' (1971–72) and even directed an episode.

He returned to MGM for ''[[They Only Kill Their Masters]]'' (1972), which reunited him with former MGM contract players [[June Allyson]] and [[Ann Rutherford]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/danville-register-and-bee-mgms-lot-2-g/149265239/ |title=MGM's Lot 2, Going, Going, Soon to be Gone Along With Memories |newspaper=[[Danville Register & Bee]] |place=Hollywood |agency=AP |page=8 |date=1972-07-26 |access-date=2024-06-13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Lawford was in ''[[The Phantom of Hollywood]]'' (1974), the pilot for ''[[Born Free (TV series)|Born Free]]'', ''[[Rosebud (1975 film)|Rosebud]]'' (1975) for Preminger, ''[[Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood]]'' (1976), ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[Fantasy Island]]'', ''[[The Love Boat]]'', ''[[Angels' Brigade]]'' (1979), ''[[Highcliffe Manor]]'', ''[[Supertrain]]'', ''[[Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women]]'' (1979), ''Gypsy Angels'' (1980), ''[[Body and Soul (1981 film)|Body and Soul]]'' (1981), and episodes of ''[[The Jeffersons]]''.

His last role was as Montague Chippendale in ''[[Where Is Parsifal?]]'' (1983).<ref name=IMDBLaw/>

==Personal life==
[[File:JFKWHP-KN-C23203-President John F Kennedy and Peter Lawford Aboard the Yacht Manitou.jpg|thumb|Lawford sailing with his brother-in-law President [[John F. Kennedy]] aboard the yacht "[[S/Y Manitou|Manitou]]", a former [[United States Coast Guard|USCG]] training vessel that was used as a "floating White House", off the coast of Johns Island, Maine, 12 August 1962]]
His first marriage, in 1954, was to socialite [[Patricia Kennedy Lawford|Patricia Kennedy]], a younger sister of [[John F. Kennedy]], then a Democratic U.S. senator from Massachusetts. They had four children: a son, actor and author [[Christopher Lawford]] (1955−2018), and daughters Sydney Maleia Lawford (b. 1956), Victoria Francis Lawford (b. 1958), and Robin Elizabeth Lawford (b. 1961).<ref>{{cite news |title=Kennedy clan a US dynasty |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24853722/lawfords_children/ |access-date=26 October 2018 |newspaper=[[Courier-News|The Courier-News]] |location=Bridgewater, New Jersey |date=26 April 1984}}</ref>

Lawford became a U.S. citizen on 23 April 1960, in time to vote for his brother-in-law in the upcoming [[US presidential election, 1960|presidential election]].<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=233}}</ref> Lawford, along with other members of the "[[Rat Pack]]", helped campaign for Kennedy and the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=228}}</ref> Sinatra famously dubbed him "Brother-in-Lawford" at this time.<ref>{{harv|Schroeder|2004|pp=81–82}}</ref><ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=207}}</ref> Lawford and Patricia Kennedy divorced in February 1966.<ref>{{harv|Rorabaugh|2002|p=146}}</ref><ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=366}}</ref>

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 Lawford. The break stemmed from a scheduled visit to Sinatra's home by Lawford's brother-in-law, President Kennedy, during a 1962 West Coast trip. Attorney General [[Robert F. Kennedy]], who had long been concerned about Sinatra's rumoured ties with underworld figures, encouraged the president to change his plans and stay at Crosby's home, which (it was maintained) could provide better security for the president. The change came at the last minute, after Sinatra had made extensive arrangements for the promised and eagerly awaited presidential visit, including the construction of a [[helipad]], which he later destroyed in a fit of rage. Sinatra was furious, believing that Lawford had failed to intercede with the Kennedys on his behalf, and banished him from the [[Rat Pack]].<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|pp=292–93}}</ref>

Sinatra and Lawford's friendship was over. They only spoke when Sinatra called after his son [[Frank Sinatra Jr.]] was kidnapped on 8 December 1963 and needed the help of Lawford's brother-in-law [[Robert F. Kennedy]], then attorney general. With the exception of [[Pat Brown]] in his unsuccessful re-election as [[1966 California gubernatorial election|governor of California in 1966]] and Vice President [[Hubert H. Humphrey]]'s run for the presidency in the [[1968 United States presidential election]], Sinatra never endorsed another [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate. Crosby, a staunch Republican, was cast in Lawford's role.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=294}}</ref>

Lawford married his second wife, Mary Rowan, daughter of comedian [[Dan Rowan]], in October 1971.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|pp=410, 408}}</ref> Rowan and Lawford separated two years later and divorced in January 1975.

Between marriages, Lawford dated [[Jill St. John]] and [[Priscilla Presley]].<ref>Romanoff, Ed (September 2, 1975). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=suxdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3486%2C52180 "Soundtrack"]. ''Observer–Reporter''.</ref><ref>Wilson, Earl (May 9, 1966). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8WwlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1459%2C1579109 "Break-Up Rumors Untrue"]. ''Beaver County Times''.</ref>

In June 1976 he married aspiring actress Deborah Gould, whom he had known for three weeks.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=433}}</ref> Lawford and Gould separated two months after marrying and divorced in 1977. Following the divorce, Lawford moved into the [[Sierra Towers]] where he lived for the next few years on the 30th floor. During his separation from Gould, Lawford met Patricia Seaton who became his fourth and final wife in July 1984, just months before his death.<ref>{{harv|Bly|1999|pp=187–88}}</ref>

==Death==
Lawford died at [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]] in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 1984, aged 61, from cardiac arrest. He suffered from kidney failure and liver failure after years of substance abuse.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=468}}</ref> His body was cremated, and his ashes were interred at [[Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery]].<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|p=469}}</ref> Owing to a dispute between his widow and the cemetery, Lawford's ashes were removed from the cemetery in 1988 and scattered into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California by his widow Patricia Seaton Lawford, who invited the ''[[National Enquirer]]'' tabloid to photograph the event.<ref>{{harv|Spada|1991|pp=470–71}}</ref>

For his contribution to the television industry, Peter Lawford has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] located at 6920&nbsp;Hollywood Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkoffame.com/peter-lawford|title=Peter Lawford &#124; Hollywood Walk of Fame|publisher=Walkoffame.com|date=8 February 1960|access-date=26 April 2017}}</ref>

A plaque bearing Lawford's name was erected at Westwood Village Memorial Park.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}<!-- WP:RS needed; removed link to WP:SPS (Twitter, FB, WP)-->

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1930
| ''[[Poor Old Bill]]''
| Horace
|
|-
| 1931
| ''[[A Gentleman of Paris (1931 film)|A Gentleman of Paris]]''
| Child
| uncredited
|-
| 1938
| ''[[Lord Jeff]]''
| Benny Potter
|
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Mrs. Miniver]]''
| Pilot
| uncredited
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Eagle Squadron (film)|Eagle Squadron]]''
| Pilot
|
|-
| 1942
| ''[[A Yank at Eton]]''
| Ronnie Kenvil
|
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Thunder Birds (1942 film)|Thunder Birds]]''
| English Cadet
| uncredited<br>alternative title: ''Soldiers of the Air''
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Junior Army]]''
| Cadet Wilbur
|
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Random Harvest (film)|Random Harvest]]''
| Soldier
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Immortal Sergeant]]''
| Soldier
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[London Blackout Murders]]''
| Percy, Soldier on Train
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Assignment in Brittany]]''
| Navigator
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[The Purple V]]''
| Roger
|
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Flesh and Fantasy]]''
| Pierrot (Episode 1)
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Above Suspicion (1943 film)|Above Suspicion]]''
| Student
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Pilot No. 5]]''
| British Soldier
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[The Sky's the Limit (1943 film)|The Sky's the Limit]]''
| Naval Commander
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[The Man from Down Under]]''
| Mr. Jones
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Someone to Remember]]''
| Joe Downes
| alternative title: ''Gallant Thoroughbred''
|-
| 1943
| ''[[The West Side Kid]]''
| Jerry Winston
|
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Sahara (1943 American film)|Sahara]]''
| British soldier
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Sherlock Holmes Faces Death]]''
| Young Sailor at Bar
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Corvette K-225]]''
| Naval Officer
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Paris After Dark]]''
| Frenchman
| uncredited
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Girl Crazy (1943 film)|Girl Crazy]]''
| Student
| uncredited
|-
| 1944
| ''[[The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944 film)|The Adventures of Mark Twain]]''
| Young Oxford Celebrant
| uncredited
|-
| 1944
| ''[[The White Cliffs of Dover (film)|The White Cliffs of Dover]]''
| John Ashwood II as a Young Man
|
|-
| 1944
| ''[[The Canterville Ghost (1944 film)|The Canterville Ghost]]''
| Anthony de Canterville
|
|-
| 1944
| ''[[Mrs. Parkington]]''
| Lord Thornley
|
|-
| 1945
| ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945 film)|The Picture of Dorian Gray]]''
| David Stone
|
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Son of Lassie]]''
| Joe Carraclough
|
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Ziegfeld Follies (film)|Ziegfeld Follies]]''
| Porky in "Number Please" 
| voice, uncredited
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Perfect Strangers (1945 film)|Perfect Strangers]]''
| Introduction – USA Version
| uncredited<br>alternative title: ''Vacation from Marriage''
|-
| 1946
| ''[[Two Sisters from Boston]]''
| Lawrence Tyburn Patterson Jr.
|
|-
| 1946
| ''[[Cluny Brown]]''
| Andrew Carmel
|
|-
| 1947
| ''[[My Brother Talks to Horses]]''
| John S. Penrose
|
|-
| 1947
| ''[[It Happened in Brooklyn]]''
| Jamie Shellgrove
|
|-
| 1947
| ''[[Good News (1947 film)|Good News]]''
| Tommy Marlowe
|
|-
| 1948
| ''[[On an Island with You]]''
| Lieutenant Lawrence Y. Kingslee
|
|-
| 1948
| ''[[Easter Parade (film)|Easter Parade]]''
| Jonathan Harrow III
|
|-
| 1948
| ''[[Julia Misbehaves]]''
| Ritchie Lorgan
|
|-
| 1949
| ''[[Little Women (1949 film)|Little Women]]''
| Theodore "Laurie" Laurence
|
|-
| 1949
| ''[[The Red Danube]]''
| Major John "Twingo" McPhimister
|
|-
| 1950
| ''[[Please Believe Me]]''
| Jeremy Taylor
|
|-
| 1951
| ''[[Royal Wedding]]''
| Lord John Brindale
| alternative title: ''Wedding Bells''
|-
| 1952
| ''[[Just This Once (film)|Just This Once]]''
| Mark MacLene IV
|
|-
| 1952
| ''[[Kangaroo (1952 film)|Kangaroo]]''
| Richard Connor
| alternative title: ''The Australian Story''
|-
| 1952
| ''[[You for Me]]''
| Tony Brown
|
|-
| 1952
| ''[[The Hour of 13]]''
| Nicholas Revel
|
|-
| 1953
| ''[[Rogue's March (film)|Rogue's March]]''
| Captain Dion Lenbridge / Private Harry Simms
|
|-
| 1954
| ''[[It Should Happen to You]]''
| Evan Adams III
|
|-
|1956
| ''[[Sincerely, Willis Wayde (Playhouse 90)|Sincerely, Willis Wayde]]''
| Willis Wayde
|
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Never So Few]]''
| Captain Grey Travis
| alternative title: ''Campaign Burma''
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Ocean's 11]]''
| Jimmy Foster
|
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Exodus (1960 film)|Exodus]]''
| Major Caldwell
|
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Pepe (1960 film)|Pepe]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Sergeants 3]]''
| Sergeant Larry Barrett
|
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Advise & Consent]]''
| Senator Lafe Smith
|
|-
| 1962
| ''[[The Longest Day (film)|The Longest Day]]''
| [[Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat|Brigadier Lord Lovat]]
|
|-
| 1963
| ''[[Johnny Cool]]''
| {{center|–}}
| executive producer
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Dead Ringer (1964 film)|Dead Ringer]]''
| Tony Collins
| alternative title: ''Dead Image''
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Sylvia (1965 film)|Sylvia]]''
| Frederic Summers
|
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Harlow (Paramount film)|Harlow]]''
| [[Paul Bern]]
|
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Billie (1965 film)|Billie]]''
| {{center|–}}
| executive producer
|-
| 1966
| ''[[The Oscar (film)|The Oscar]]''
| Steve Marks
|
|-
| 1966
| ''[[A Man Called Adam (film)|A Man Called Adam]]''
| Manny
|
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Dead Run (1967 film)|Dead Run]]''
| Stephen Daine
| alternative titles: ''Deux Billets pour Mexico'', ''Geheimnisse in goldenen Nylons'', ''Segreti che scottano''
|-
| 1968
| ''Walls Of Sin''
| Papá Baroni
| alternative titles: ''Quarta parete'', ''La Limite du péché''
|-
| 1968
| ''[[Salt and Pepper (film)|Salt and Pepper]]''
| Christopher Pepper
| executive producer
|-
| 1968
| ''[[Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell]]''
| Justin Young
|
|-
| 1968
| ''[[Skidoo (film)|Skidoo]]''
| Senator Humble
|
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)|Hook, Line & Sinker]]''
| Dr. Scott Carter
|
|-
| 1969
| ''[[The April Fools]]''
| Ted Gunther
|
|-
| 1970
| ''[[One More Time (1970 film)|One More Time]]''
| Christopher Pepper / Lord Sydney Pepper
| executive producer
|-
| 1970
| ''[[Togetherness (film)|Togetherness]]''
| Prince Solomon Justiani
|
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Clay Pigeon (film)|Clay Pigeon]]''
| Government Agent
| Alternative title: ''Trip to Kill''
|-
| 1972
| ''[[They Only Kill Their Masters]]''
| Lee Campbell
|
|-
| 1974
| ''[[That's Entertainment!]]''
| Himself, Co-Host
|
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Rosebud (1975 film)|Rosebud]]''
| Lord Carter
|
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood]]''
| Slapstick Star
|
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Angels Revenge]]''
| Burke
| alternative title: ''Angels' Brigade''<br>''Seven from Heaven''
|-
| 1980
| ''Gypsy Angels''
|
|
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Body and Soul (1981 film)|Body and Soul]]''
| Big Man
|
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Where Is Parsifal?]]''
| Montague Chippendale
| final film role
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1953
| ''[[General Electric Theater]]''
| John
| episode: "Woman's World"
|-
| 1953–1954
| ''[[Ford Theatre#Television|The Ford Television Theatre]]''
| Various roles
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1954–1955
| ''[[Dear Phoebe]]''
| Bill Hastings
| 32 episodes
|-
| 1954–1957
| ''[[Schlitz Playhouse of Stars]]''
| Various roles
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Fireside Theatre|The Jane Wyman Show]]''
| Stephen
| episode: "Stephen and Publius Cyrus"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]''
| Charles 'Charlie' Ffolliot Raymond
| Season 1 Episode 9: "The Long Shot"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Screen Directors Playhouse#Television|Screen Directors Playhouse]]''
| Tom Macy
| episode: "Tom and Jerry"
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Playhouse 90]]''
| Willis Wayde
| episode: "Sincerely, Willis Wade"
|-
| 1956–1957
| ''[[Studio 57]]''
| Various roles
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Producers' Showcase]]''
| Lord Brinstead
| episode: "Ruggles of Red Gap"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Climax!]]''
| Tom Welles
| episode: "Bait for the Tiger"
|-
| 1957–1959
| ''[[The Thin Man (TV series)|The Thin Man]]''
| Nick Charles
| 72 episodes
|-
| 1958
| ''[[The Bob Cummings Show]]''
| Himself
| episode: "Bob Judges a Beauty Pageant"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Goodyear Theatre]]''
| Major John Marshall
| episode: "Point of Impact"
|-
| 1961
| ''[[The Jack Benny Program#Television|The Jack Benny Program]]''
| Lord Milbeck
| episode: "English Sketch"
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Theatre '62]]''
| Glen Morley
| episode: "[[The Farmer's Daughter (1962 film)|The Farmer's Daughter]]"
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents|The Alfred Hitchcock Hour]]''
| Ernest 'Ernie' Mullett
| Season 3 Episode 12: "Crimson Witness"
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Profiles in Courage (TV series)|Profiles in Courage]]''
| [[Alexander William Doniphan|General Alexander William Doniphan]]
| episode: "General Alexander William Doniphan"
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre]]''
| Lieutenant Philip Cannon
| episode: "March From Camp Tyler"
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Run for Your Life (TV series)|Run for Your Life]]''
| Larry Carter
| episode: "Carnival Ends at Midnight"
|-
| 1966
| ''[[The Wild Wild West]]'' 
| Carl Jackson
| episode: "The Night of The Returning Dead"
|-
| 1967
| ''[[How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1967 film)|How I Spent My Summer Vacation]]''
| Ned Pine
| television movie
|-
| 1967
| ''[[I Spy (1965 TV series)|I Spy]]''
| Hackaby
| episode: "Get Thee to a Nunnery"
|-
|1968
|''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]''
|Self
|Episode: "Peter Lawford and Minnie Pearl"
|-
| 1971
| ''A Step Out of Line''
| Art Stoyer
| television movie
|-
| 1971
| ''[[The Virginian (TV series)|The Virginian]]''
| Ben Hunter
| episode: "The Town Killer"
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You]]''
| [[Ellery Queen]]
| television movie
|-
| 1971–1973
| ''[[The Doris Day Show]]''
| Dr. Peter Lawrence
| 8 episodes
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Bewitched]]''
| Harrison Woolcott
| episode: "Serena's Richcraft"
|-
| 1974
| ''[[The Phantom of Hollywood]]''
| Roger Cross
| television movie
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Born Free (TV series)|Born Free]]''
| John Forbes
| episode: Pilot
|-
| 1977–1982
| ''[[Fantasy Island]]''
| Various roles
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]''
| Kenneth Kirk
| episode: "Frozen Assets"
|-
| 1979
| ''[[The Love Boat]]''
| Teddy Smith
| episode: "Murder on the High Seas/Sounds of Silence/Cyrano de Bricker"
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Highcliffe Manor]]''
| The Narrator
| 6 episodes
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Supertrain]]''
| Quentin Fuller
| episode: "A Very Formal Heist"
|-
| 1979
| ''Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women''
| Gordon Duvall
| television movie
|-
| 1981
| ''[[The Jeffersons]]''
| Museum Guide (Voice)
| episode: "The House That George Built"
|}

==Radio appearances==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Program !! Episode/source
|-
| 1949|| ''[[Lux Radio Theatre]]'' || ''[[Green Dolphin Street (film)|Green Dolphin Street]]''<ref>{{cite journal|title=Radio's Golden Age|journal=Nostalgia Digest|date=Spring 2013|volume=39|issue=2|pages=40–41}}</ref> 
|-
| 1953|| ''[[Suspense (radio drama)|Suspense]]'' || ''[[The Moonstone]]''<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirby|first1=Walter|title=Better Radio Programs for the Week|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2770104/the_decatur_daily_review/|newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review|date=22 November 1953|page=46|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = 8 July 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[Rat Pack]]
* [[Kennedy family]]

{{Portal|Biography|Film|Television|England|United States}}

==References==
===Footnotes===

{{Reflist|refs =
}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book|last1=Aaker|first1=Everett|title= Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters: All Regular Cast Members in American Crime and Mystery Series, 1948–1959|publisher=McFarland|year=2006|isbn=0-7864-2476-1}}
* {{citation|last1=Bly|first1=Nellie|title= The Kennedy Men: Three Generations of Sex, Scandal and Secrets|publisher=E-Reads Ltd.|year=1999|isbn=0-7592-1233-3}}
* {{citation|last1=Hischak|first1=Thomas S.|title=The Oxford Companion to the American Musical:Theatre, Film, and Television: Theatre, Film, and Television |publisher=Branden Pub Co|year=2008|isbn=978-0-195-33533-0}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bitchautobiograp0000lawf |last1=Lawford|first1=May|title=Bitch! The Autobiography of Lady Lawford |publisher=Branden Pub Co|year=1986|isbn=0-828-31995-2 |via=Internet Archive |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book|last1=Lawford|first1=May|last2=Galon|first2=Buddy|title=The Autobiography of Lady Lawford As Told to Buddy Galon|publisher=Branden Publishing Co.|location=Brookline, Mass.|year=1986|isbn=0-8283-1995-2}}
* {{citation|last1=Rorabaugh|first1=W.J.|title=Kennedy and the Promise of the Sixties|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2002|isbn=0-521-81617-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/kennedypromiseof00rora}}
* {{citation|last1=Schroeder|first1=Alan|title=Celebrity-in-Chief: How Show Business Took Over the White House|publisher=Westview Press|year=2004|isbn=0-8133-4137-X|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/celebrityinchief00schr}}
* {{cite book|last1=Seaton|first1=Patricia|title=The Peter Lawford Story|publisher=Carroll and Graf|location=New York|year=1988|isbn=0-515-10264-4}}
* {{citation|last1=Spada|first1=James|title= Peter Lawford: The Man Who Kept the Secrets|publisher=Bantam Books|year=1991|isbn=0-553-07185-8}}
* {{citation|last1=Wayne|first1=Jane Ellen|title=The Leading Men of MGM|publisher=Carroll & Graf|year=2006|isbn=0-7867-1768-8}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{IMDb name|492444}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}
* {{find a Grave|2959}}

{{Rat Pack}}
{{Kennedy family}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawford, Peter}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:British film producers]]
[[Category:California Democrats]]
[[Category:English expatriate male actors in the United States]]
[[Category:English emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:Deaths from kidney failure in California]]
[[Category:Deaths from liver failure in the United States]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:Rat Pack]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]