Remembering Casey LaLonde: Preserving Joan Crawford's Legacy
Casey LaLonde, the grandson of Hollywood legend Joan Crawford, passed away at the age of 54 at his home in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He played a significant role in preserving his grandmother's legacy by organizing public screenings of her films and home movies. LaLonde recently participated in the TCM Classic Film Festival, where he introduced a 4K restoration screening of the Crawford-starring film Letty Lynton (1932), which had not been publicly shown for 90 years due to legal issues.
He was set to attend another screening of Letty Lynton in July at the American Legion’s Hollywood Post 43 theater. LaLonde made appearances at various events to support his grandmother's legacy, including the TCM Classic Cruise, the UCLA Film & Television Archive, the Hollywood Heritage Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Fox Theatre in Toronto. His advocacy for Joan Crawford's career and positive portrayal of her legacy earned him admiration within the community.
Born on March 16, 1972, in Alexandria Bay, New York, LaLonde pursued his education at Northern Lehigh High School, Penn State University, and Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his master's degree in 1999. He had a successful career in local government and worked as a consultant and management strategist at a civil engineering firm. LaLonde is survived by his wife, Heather, his sister, Carla, and several nieces and nephews. His mother passed away in 2020, and his grandmother, Joan Crawford, died in 1977.
In memory of Casey LaLonde, donations can be made to the Downingtown Library and Tri State Bird Rescue and Research. Casey's dedication to preserving Joan Crawford's legacy and his contributions to the film community will be remembered and cherished by many.