The Tragic And Untold Story Of Joan Crawford's Twins: What Happened To Cathy And Cindy Crawford?

The question of "Joan Crawford's twins today" has a definitive, yet poignant, answer as of late 2025. The adopted twin daughters of the legendary Hollywood icon, Catherine "Cathy" Crawford and Cynthia "Cindy" Crawford, both lived quiet lives away from the spotlight, but their legacy remains central to one of Hollywood's most enduring controversies: the truth behind the memoir Mommie Dearest. Their steadfast defense of their mother until their final years stands in stark contrast to the explosive allegations made by their older sister, Christina Crawford.

The most recent update surrounding the twins came in January 2020, with the passing of Cathy Crawford. The twins’ story is not one of Hollywood glamour, but rather a complex tale of adoption, family loyalty, and a lifelong effort to reshape the public narrative of one of the Golden Age's most powerful, and polarizing, stars.

Biography Profile: Catherine "Cathy" and Cynthia "Cindy" Crawford

The lives of Cathy and Cindy Crawford are inextricably linked to the dramatic life of their adoptive mother, Joan Crawford, yet they deliberately chose a path of privacy and normalcy.

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• Full Names: Catherine "Cathy" Crawford and Cynthia "Cindy" Crawford (later Cindy Jordan).
• Date of Birth: January 13, 1947.
• Place of Birth: Dyersburg, Tennessee.
• Adoption Details: Adopted by Joan Crawford in 1947, just days after their birth, from the Tennessee Children's Home Society. At the time of their adoption, Joan was a single mother.
• Siblings: Christina Crawford (adopted 1939) and Christopher Crawford (adopted 1943, d. 2006).
• Marriages/Later Life: Both married and moved away from the Hollywood scene. Cindy settled in Iowa, and Cathy resided in Pennsylvania.
• Death of Cindy Crawford: October 14, 2007 (Age 60).
• Death of Cathy Crawford: January 2020 (Age 72).
• Cause of Death (Cathy): Lung cancer after a long battle.
• Notable Stance: Both twins publicly and consistently denied the abuse allegations made by Christina Crawford in her 1978 book, Mommie Dearest.

The Lasting Controversy: Defending Joan Crawford Against Mommie Dearest

The publication of Mommie Dearest in 1978, a year after Joan Crawford’s death, shattered the star’s public image, portraying her as an abusive, alcoholic tyrant. The book, and the subsequent 1981 film adaptation starring Faye Dunaway, became a pop culture phenomenon, forever linking Joan Crawford’s name to the infamous "no wire hangers" scene.

However, the narrative of abuse was not universally accepted within the family. Both Cathy and Cindy Crawford came forward to vehemently defend their adoptive mother.

A Different Childhood Experience

The twins consistently stated that their experience of growing up with Joan Crawford was positive, loving, and entirely different from the harrowing account detailed by Christina. They maintained that the actress was a devoted mother to them, providing a nurturing and stable home environment. This public defense created a significant rift in the family and a long-standing debate among Hollywood historians and fans.

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In interviews following the book's release, the twins countered the allegations, stating they were raised with discipline, but never subjected to the physical or psychological abuse described by their older siblings. This contrast is a key element of Joan Crawford's complex legacy, suggesting that her parenting style may have evolved or that her relationship with her older children was uniquely strained.

Their loyalty to Joan Crawford remained absolute. The twins were the only two of Crawford’s four adopted children who were included in her will, a clear indication of her closer relationship with them in her final years. This fact further fueled the debate over Christina's claims, as it suggested a clear favoritism on the part of the Hollywood legend.

The Final Years: Cathy and Cindy's Quiet Lives Away from Hollywood

Unlike their mother, who thrived under the glare of the Hollywood Golden Age, Cathy and Cindy chose lives of deliberate anonymity and privacy. After reaching adulthood, they both married and settled in different parts of the country, far from the Los Angeles spotlight.

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Cindy Crawford Jordan: A Life in Iowa

Cynthia "Cindy" Crawford married in 1967 and moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where she lived a life away from the Hollywood gossip columns. She passed away in 2007 at the age of 60. While details surrounding her death were kept private, her life in the Midwest symbolized a complete break from the drama and intensity that defined her mother's world. Her decision to settle in the heartland underscored her desire for a normal, non-celebrity existence.

Cathy Crawford: The Last Defender

Catherine "Cathy" Crawford settled in Pennsylvania, maintaining her privacy while occasionally speaking out to defend her mother's memory. She became the last surviving child of Joan Crawford following the death of her sister Cindy and her brother Christopher.

Cathy’s death in January 2020, at the age of 72, brought the final chapter of Joan Crawford’s immediate family to a close. The cause of her death was confirmed to be a long battle with lung cancer. Her passing marked the end of the generation that directly experienced life with the iconic actress, leaving Christina Crawford as the sole surviving voice—though estranged—of the adopted siblings.

The Enduring Legacy and Topical Authority

The story of Cathy and Cindy Crawford is vital for understanding the full complexity of Joan Crawford's life. Their testimony serves as a counter-narrative to the sensationalized version presented in Mommie Dearest and the 2017 FX miniseries Feud: Bette and Joan, which, while focusing on the rivalry with Bette Davis, also touched upon her family life.

Their existence provides topical authority on the subject of Joan Crawford's parenting, suggesting that the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes. It highlights that the experience of adoption and childhood can vary drastically even within the same household, particularly one managed by a high-powered, temperamental figure of the Hollywood elite.

Today, the twins are remembered not for any career in acting or entertainment, but for their quiet dignity and their unwavering commitment to defending the woman who adopted them. Their lives, though private, ensured that the legacy of Joan Crawford would not be defined solely by a single, damning memoir, but would also include the voices of love and loyalty.