Short answers, pulled from the story.
Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur on the 23rd of March 1904 in San Antonio, Texas. She grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma, and later moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she attended St. Agnes Academy as a work student.
Joan Crawford was spotted dancing in Detroit by producer Jacob J. Shubert in 1924 and placed in the chorus line of his show Innocent Eyes on Broadway. She signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1925 after a screen test arranged by publicist Nils Granlund.
Joan Crawford was labeled Box Office Poison in 1938 because her films were losing money and her high salaries did not reflect in ticket sales. Harry Brandt, president of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of America, submitted the list that included other stars like Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.
Joan Crawford won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Mildred Pierce. This victory came after she signed a three-movie deal with Warner Bros. for $500,000 following her release from MGM in 1943.
Joan Crawford died of a heart attack on the 10th of May 1977 in her apartment in Lenox Hill, New York City. Her estate was worth $2 million and was distributed among her youngest children and various charities.