Biographie
Christina Crawford was born on June 11, 1939, to teenage parents and was later adopted by screen icon Joan Crawford, originally named Joan Crawford Jr. At 11 months old, she was taken to Nevada, where Joan formally adopted her and renamed her Christina. Her early years were marked by a happy life with her "Mommie Dearest."
When Christina was three, her mother married Phillip Terry, and they adopted a baby initially named Phillip Terry, Jr., who was later renamed Christopher Crawford after their divorce. According to Christina, their home life began to change soon after. Joan assigned her household chores like washing dishes, but sometimes gave her tasks that were physically impossible. Mornings required everyone to tiptoe and whisper to avoid waking Joan. Around this period, Christina describes "night raids," including the notorious "No Wire Hangers Ever" incident portrayed in the 1981 film Mommie Dearest, which could last several hours. When Christina was about nine, Joan adopted twins, Cathy and Cindy.
Shortly after, Joan sent Christina to the prestigious Chadwick School, a boarding school in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, about forty minutes from home. Christina claims that during her time at Chadwick, she wore her coat to class because Joan provided only two dresses, one pair of shoes, and the coat for an entire semester. After an incident where Christina was found alone with a boyfriend without permission, Joan removed her from the school. Christina was then sent to a Catholic boarding school until she attended college in Pittsburgh. She completed one year of college before pursuing acting roles. She moved to New York, worked in a restaurant, and took various odd jobs. Christina spent some time in England, where her stepfather, Alfred N. Steele, CEO of Pepsi-Cola, passed away. While performing in a summer stock production of Splendor in the Grass, she met a man she later married; however, the marriage was short-lived. In 1968, Christina was cast in the TV soap opera The Secret Storm (1954). While recovering from surgery, Joan, then over 60, temporarily replaced her, portraying a 28-year-old woman. Afterward, Christina returned to California, resumed her studies, and met David Koontz, who became her second husband.
Joan Crawford's death in 1977 made headlines when it was revealed she had excluded Christina and Christopher from her will. Shortly after, Christina authored Mommie Dearest, detailing her experiences with her abusive mother. The bestselling book was adapted into a hit film in 1981. Soon after, Christina suffered a major stroke but recovered. A few years later, she and David divorced. Since then, she has lived in Northern Idaho, operated a bed-and-breakfast, and continued her writing career.
