Patricia Kennedy Lawford
Biography
Early Life and Hollywood
Patricia Helen Kennedy was born on May 6, 1924, in Bronxville, New York, the sixth of nine children born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy. She attended Rosemont College, a Catholic women's college in Pennsylvania. She harbored ambitions in the entertainment industry and moved to New York and later Los Angeles, working in television production during its early years. Her natural sophistication and family connections opened doors in both the media world and high society.
In 1954, Patricia married British actor Peter Lawford, a rising Hollywood star. Through Lawford, Patricia became embedded in the orbit of the Rat Pack — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop — a connection that would later create a bridge between the Kennedy political world and Hollywood celebrity culture.
Philanthropy and Very Special Arts
Beyond her social prominence, Patricia Kennedy Lawford made a lasting contribution through her advocacy for people with disabilities. She co-founded Very Special Arts — now known as VSA Arts — a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing arts education and performance opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. The organization, which became affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, grew into an international program operating in dozens of countries.
Patricia and Peter Lawford divorced in 1966. She lived quietly in New York in her later years, outliving several of her siblings and her ex-husband. She died on September 17, 2006, in New York City, at the age of 82.
Family Context
Patricia Kennedy Lawford is the late child of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald. They married Peter Lawford and had 4 children: Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Sydney Lawford, Victoria Francis Lawford, Robin Elizabeth Lawford.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Patricia Kennedy married to?
Patricia Kennedy married British actor Peter Lawford on April 24, 1954. The couple had four children together — Christopher, Sydney, Victoria, and Robin — before divorcing in 1966.
What did Patricia Kennedy Lawford do for charity?
Patricia Kennedy Lawford co-founded Very Special Arts (now VSA Arts), an organization that provides arts education and performance opportunities for people with disabilities. The program became affiliated with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and eventually operated in more than 50 countries.