Peter Lawford

Guide Note

British-born actor Peter Lawford was the brother-in-law of President John F. Kennedy, a contract player for MGM studios and a member of Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack," a group of entertainers that included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop. He performed with the group in Las Vegas and films, including Ocean's Eleven and Sergeants Three. Lawford had a disagreement in 1961 with Frank Sinatra over Robert Kennedy's objections to Sinatra's alleged Mafia connections. The two men never spoke again. Lawford had surgery to remove a pancreatic tumor in 1972 and was in general ill health as a result of long-time alcoholism. Lawford died of cardiac arrest on Christmas Eve, 1984 of cardiac arrest complicated by kidney and liver failure, at the age of 61.

Fast Facts

1. Full Name: Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen
2. Born: September 7, 1923
3. Place of Birth: London, England
4. Film debut at age eight in the British film Poor Old Bill (1931)
5. Arm injury kept him out of World War II
6. Reputation as a jet-setting playboy and heavy drinker
7. First actor to kiss Elizabeth Taylor on camera, and the last to speak to Marilyn Monroe before she died
8. Organized the 1962 birthday party for John F. Kennedy in Madison Square Garden where Monroe sang "Happy Birthday" to the President
9. Spouse(s)
   1. Patricia Kennedy, (1954-1966)
   2. Mary Rowan, daughter of Dan Rowan (1971)
   3. Deborah Gould (1975)
   4. Patricia Seaton (1984)
10. Children: Chris, Sydney, Victoria, and Robin with first wife, Patricia Kennedy