Mercedes miller christopher lawford

American author, actor, and activist (1955–2018)

Christopher Kennedy Lawford (March 29, 1955 – September 4, 2018) was an American author, actor, and activist. He was a member of the prominent Kennedy family, and son of English actor Peter Lawford and Patricia "Pat" Kennedy Lawford, who was a sister of President John F. Kennedy. He graduated from Tufts University in 1977 and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Boston College in 1983. He later earned a master's certificate in Clinical Psychology from Harvard University and was a lecturer on drug addiction.

After struggling with addiction for 17 years, he became an actor, performing in several movies and television shows for over 20 years. He wrote several books, based on his own experience, about addiction and recovery. He also traveled around the U.S. speaking about his experiences with addiction for 20 years, and was a public health campaigner, working with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN), and for the U.S. federal government.

Early life and education

Lawford was born on March 29, 1955, in Santa Monica, California. He was named for Saint Christopher and because his mother liked the name. He was the eldest child and only son of actor and "Rat Pack" member Peter Lawford (1923–1984) and Patricia "Pat" Kennedy Lawford (1924–2006), who was President John F. Kennedy's sister. His three younger sisters were Sydney Lawford McKelvy (born 1956), Victoria Pender (born 1958), and Robin Lawford (born 1961). Lawford described himself as a "second-string Kennedy" because he did not get as much attention as his cousins. His parents divorced in 1966; Patricia Lawford moved from California to New York City with her son and daughters.

Before his parents' divorce, Lawford attended St. Martin of Tours Elementary School in Los Angeles, wher

Actor Christopher Lawford, the nephew of John F. Kennedy, has died, his cousin, Kerry Kennedy, announced on Twitter on Wednesday. He was 63.

Lawford was also the son of actor Peter Lawford and Patricia Kennedy. Kennedy didn’t reveal any additional details in her tweet, writing, “We mourn the loss of my cousin Christopher Lawford, Rest in Peace” and including a few photos of Lawford at the 2004 Democratic National Convention with his son, David.

According to TMZ, Lawford was at a yoga studio on Tuesday night when he had a medical emergency and later died. The death is reportedly of “natural causes,” but an autopsy is being performed to determine the exact cause.

Lawford had a career spanning two decades, with roles in “All My Children,” “General Hospital,” and “Frasier.” He was also a correspondent on “Extra.”

He earned a J.D. from Boston College Law School, and a master’s certificate from Harvard University, where he was also a lecturer in psychiatry. Besides acting, Lawford was active in the Democratic National Committee and worked for his uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy. He worked with organizations like Special Olympics, which was founded by his aunt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. He also worked with the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, and was public about his own battles with drug and alcohol addiction.

He authored the New York Time bestseller “Symptoms of Withdrawal,” and released a book of essays by entertainers, athletes, and other public figures who talked about their addictions and recovery.

He is survived by his third wife, Mercedes Miller, and his three children.

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I just finished reading Christopher Kennedy Lawford’s memoir (2005) “Symptoms of Withdrawal.”

Yes, it was published in 2005, so I’m a bit behind on this one. Something reminded me of the Las Vegas trip when I won at roulette with one (1) bet on one number and went upstairs to watch young Lawford be interviewed about a book, which I think was this book. It was a long time ago and that would make it 16 years ago. I remember that the Japanese gamblers gathered around the roulette wheel when I placed exactly one $50 bet on one color and number clapped when I took the money and ran. I had had a spirited discussion with my spouse about the wisdom of betting on roulette at all, but I had just won $50 at the poker bar, so I figured I was playing with the house’s money. I wanted to make it upstairs to hear this interview.

The interview was worth it. The adult son of actor Peter Lawford and one of the fabled Kennedy clan (JFK’s sister Patricia is his mother) would have been 50 years old when this book was published in 2005. He shared that his father was the last person to talk to Marilyn Monroe on the phone the night she died, when Marilyn called him. He talked about his much-discussed 17-year addiction to drugs of all kinds, which ultimately led him to quit all of them and become a speaker and writer on the topic.

Christopher Kennedy Lawford was a handsome guy. He looked like a real charmer, and I’m sure he was. By the time he died of a heart attack (brought on, some say, by a hot yoga class) in 2018 at the age of 63 he had gone through 3 wives and was with a new girlfriend in Canada.

I found his book very interesting and I was a sympathetic reader up until Chapter 39. What happened in Chapter 39, you may ask?

The younger Lawford writes, “I left my marriage in sobriety because I was being dishonest and after seventeen years wasn’t sure I wanted to be married anymore.” Young Christopher went on to say, “To tell lies to others is fo