Joan Crawford Excludes Two Children from Her Will for Unknown Reasons

Joan Crawford, a renowned actress in classical Hollywood, disinherited two of her children before her death, revealing strained relationships beyond her famous feud with Bette Davis.

Throughout her life, Joan Crawford had multiple children, one of whom wrote a book that portrayed a darker side of the beloved actress.

Christina Crawford, the eldest adopted child, published “Mommie Dearest” in 1978, a memoir that depicted an actor who struggled with alcohol abuse and frequent fits of rage.

The release of the memoir, which came a year after Joan Crawford's death, also inspired a film adaptation in 1981.

Although some found the portrayal exaggerated, it shed light on the troubled mother-daughter relationship.

Public knowledge already indicated tension between Christina Crawford and Joan Crawford.

However, Christina Crawford went further, accusing her mother of abusive behavior.

She claimed that Joan Crawford once woke her up and beat her with a wire hanger.

Other allegations included acts of starvation and the intentional destruction of Christina Crawford's favorite dress.

While there were debates regarding the credibility of these claims, Christopher Crawford, Joan Crawford's other child, supported his sister's account.

On the other hand, other family members denied any mistreatment, stating that Joan Crawford's twin daughters, Cindy Crawford and Cathy Crawford, had a loving relationship with their mother and experienced no abuse.

Upon Joan Crawford's death in 1977, she possessed significant assets to distribute among her family.

Most of her $2 million fortune went to Cathy and Cindy, with the remainder allocated to select friends and charities.

Surprisingly, neither Christina Crawford nor Christopher Crawford received anything from their mother's will.

The reasons for this disinheritance remain unclear, although Joan Crawford explicitly stated that it was “for reasons they knew.”

The decline in Joan Crawford's relationship with Christina Crawford became apparent in the late 1960s when she replaced her daughter in the soap opera “The Secret Storm.”

Furthermore, it is said that Joan Crawford was aware of Christina Crawford's intention to write “Mommie Dearest” before her death, leading some to speculate if the memoir was the catalyst for their estrangement.

However, author William Schoell offers an alternate explanation.

Prior to her death, Joan Crawford financially supported Christina Crawford by paying her rent during a period of struggling acting career.

It is possible that Joan Crawford believed she had already provided enough for her daughter, resulting in her removal from the will.

Christopher Crawford also had a tumultuous relationship with his mother, but the cause for his exclusion remains unknown.

Following the reading of Joan Crawford's will, Christina Crawford and Christopher Crawford contested its contents and emerged victorious.

The court awarded each of them $27,500, and Christina Crawford continued to stand by her claims.

Meanwhile, Cathy Crawford and Cindy Crawford vehemently denied the allegations of abuse.

Christina Crawford acknowledged that her sisters had a different perspective on their mother's parenting, accepting their experiences as valid.

Nevertheless, a feud persisted among Christina Crawford and her two siblings throughout their adult lives.

At one point, Cathy Crawford filed a defamation lawsuit against her older sister, centered around Christina Crawford's accusations of Joan Crawford lying about Cathy Crawford and Cindy Crawford being twins.

Although Cathy Crawford ultimately won the case, the details of the settlement remain undisclosed.