Joan Crawford died on May 10, 1927.
Joan Crawford ( born Lucille Fay LeSueur ; March 23 , c. 1904 -- May 10 , 1977 ) was an American film and television actress who began her career as a dancer and stage showgirl . In the 1930s , Crawford 's fame rivaled , and later outlasted , MGM colleagues Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo . In 1955 , Crawford became involved with the Pepsi-Cola Company through her marriage to company Chairman Alfred Steele .