March 23
Born Today:
Joan Crawford
Controversial Hollywood film star Joan Crawford (1904?-1977), best known as an Academy Award winning dramatic actress and from the scorching memoir/movie Mommie Dearest (1981), penned by her daughter Cristina. However, in her youth, Joan was a starlet who danced with Fred Astaire (1899-1987) in his first film appearance, in Dancing Lady (1933). Crawford would go on to star in dramatic films, including The Women (1939) and Mildred Pierce (1945).
Also Born Today: Dancer/choreographer Hope Clarke (1941-) performed in the companies of Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) and Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) and choreographed Jelly’s Last Jam (1992) on Broadway.