Date of Birth

18 January 1904, Horfield, Bristol, England, UK

Date of Death

29 November 1986, Davenport, Iowa, USA

Birth Name

Archibald Alexander Leach

Once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant," Grant is said to have replied, "So would I." His early years in Bristol, England, would have been an ordinary lower-middle-class childhood except for one extraordinary event. At age nine, he came home from school one day and was told his mother had gone off to a seaside resort. The real truth, however, was that she had been placed in a mental institution, where she would remain for years, and he was never told about it (he never saw his mother again until he was in his late 20s). He left school at 14, lying about his age and forging his father's signature on a letter to join Bob Pender's troupe of knockabout comedians. He learned pantomime as well as acrobatics as he toured with the Pender troupe in the English provinces, picked up a Cockney accent in the music halls in London, and then in July 1920, was one of the eight Pender boys selected to go to the US. Their show on Broadway, "Good Times," ran for 456 performances, giving Grant time to acclimatize. He would stay in America. Mae West wanted Grant for She Done Him Wrong (1933) because she saw his combination of virility, sexuality and the aura and bearing of a gentleman. Grant was young enough to begin the new career of fatherhood when he stopped making movies at age 62. One biographer said Grant was alienated by the new realism in the film industry. In the 1950s and early 1960s, he had invented a man-of-the-world persona and a style--"high comedy with polished words." In To Catch a Thief (1955), he and Grace Kelly were allowed to improvise some of the dialogue. They knew what the director, Alfred Hitchcock, wanted to do with a scene, they rehearsed it, put in some clever double entendres that got past the censors, and then the scene was filmed. His biggest box-office success was another Hitchcock 1950s film, North by Northwest (1959) made with Eva Marie Saint since Kelly was by that time Princess of Monaco.

Ranked #7 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

His only child is Jennifer Grant whose mother is Dyan Cannon.

Ian Fleming modeled the James Bond character partially with Grant in mind.

Suffered a major stroke prior to performing in his one man show "An Evening With Cary Grant" at the Adler Theater in Davenport, Iowa, on November 29, 1986. Died later that night at St. Luke's Hospital at 11:22 p.m.

From 1933 onwards, he occasionally shared a house with Randolph Scott. There were many rumors about their relationship. Scott often referred to himself, jokingly, as Grant's wife. Many studio heads threatened not to employ them unless they lived separately.

Ashes scattered in California, USA.

He gave his entire fee for The Philadelphia Story (1940) to the British war effort.

He once phoned hotel mogul Conrad Hilton in Istanbul, Turkey, to find out why his breakfast order at the Plaza Hotel, which called for muffins, came with only one and a half English muffins instead of two. When Grant insisted that the explanation (a hotel efficiency report had found that most people ate only three of the four halves brought to them) still resulted in being cheated out of a half, the Plaza Hotel changed its policy and began serving two complete muffins with breakfast. From then on, Grant often spoke of forming an English Muffin-Lovers Society, members of which would be required to report any hotel or restaurant that listed muffins on the menu and then served fewer than two.

Turned down the role of James Bond in Dr. No (1962), believing himself to be too old at 58 to play the character.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#22). [1995]

Donated his entire salary for Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) ($100,000) to the U.S. War Relief Fund.

Refused the part of Humbert in Lolita (1962).

He never said "Judy, Judy, Judy" in the movies, which he credits to Larry Storch, but he did say "Susan, Susan, Susan" in Bringing Up Baby (1938).

Was a great fan of Elvis Presley, and attended his Las Vegas shows. He is seen discussing Elvis' performance with him backstage during the closing credits of "That's The Way It Is" (1970).

On American Film Institute's list of top 100 U.S. love stories, compiled in June 2002, Grant led all actors with six of his films on the list. His An Affair to Remember (1957) was ranked #5; followed by: #44 The Philadelphia Story (1940) #46 To Catch a Thief (1955) #51 Bringing Up Baby (1938) #77 The Awful Truth (1937) #86 Notorious (1946)

Pictured on a 37¢ USA commemorative postage stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, issued 15 October 2002.

Grant, who was 59 at the time he filmed the romantic thriller Charade (1963), felt he was too old to play the love interest for Audrey Hepburn, who at 34 was 25 years younger than him. He demanded that the script make clear that it was Audrey pursuing him, not vice versa. He also added a number of wry jokes denoting the difference in age.

Turned down roles opposite Audrey Hepburn in both Roman Holiday (1953) and Sabrina Fair (1954); later he starred with her in Charade (1963). In Roman Holiday (1953), the offered role ended up going to Gregory Peck, and the role in Sabrina Fair (1954) went to Humphrey Bogart.

Although he became a Paramount contract player early in his film career, when the contract was up, he made an unusual decision for the time: he decided to freelance. Because his films were so successful at the box office, he was able to work at any studio he chose for the majority of his career.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 191-193. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

Thanks mainly to the strength and physical dexterity he gained as an acrobat when he was young, he did a majority of his own stunts during his film career (far more than people would think).

Douglas Fairbanks was his boyhood idol, with Fairbanks' "healthy" tan being the inspiration for Grant's constantly dark skin.

He remained close to Barbara Hutton's son Lance Reventlow after their divorce. The boy regularly stayed with Grant on some weekends. Grant referred to him as his son, was devastated when he died in a plane crash and helped Barbara with the funeral arrangements.

People were surprised by his retirement in 1966 and, despite the attempts of directors as important as Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder, and even Stanley Kubrick to get him out of retirement and into their films, he never worked again.

Paramount Studios named him Cary Grant while he began his film career, because the similarity of the name to Gary Cooper, their biggest male star, (C.G. being an inversion of G.C.) and possibly because Clark Gable had the same initials. Gable and Cooper were born with their last names, however, with Grant having been born Archibald Leach.

Was named #2 on The Greatest Screen Legends actor list by the American Film Institute.

According to his will (dated 26th November 1984), his body was to be cremated and no funeral service held. His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

He was voted the 6th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

The late Christopher Reeve said that he based his portrayal of Clark Kent in the Superman films on Grant in the early part of his career.

In His Girl Friday (1940), his character remarks, "Archie Leach said that", a reference to his real name.

Was hyperopic or "far-sighted." That is why in many publicity stills, he is seen holding a pair of glasses.

John Cleese's character in A Fish Called Wanda (1988) was named "Archie Leach" after Grant's real name.

Was largely self-educated as he had dropped out of school at age 14. He was, however, a voracious reader throughout life.

Comedy director Leo McCarey accused him of ripping off his persona during the time that they shot The Awful Truth (1937) and using it as his own to become world-famous. What McCarey failed to notice was that many aspects of Cary's image were already developed in Sylvia Scarlett (1935) an otherwise poor Katharine Hepburn-George Cukor picture made 2 years before The Awful Truth (1937), and that his comic timing and versatility as an actor were all his own. Although ill at ease about it, they collaborated again several times.

Often spoke of his relationship with Sophia Loren as one of the most passionate romances in his life.

Was still in love with Loren when it came time for them to film "Houseboat" (1958). She went to director Melville Shavelson, in tears, complaining that Grant was chasing her again - she had told Grant she was in love with Ponti, but he didn't believe her.

Fell madly in love with Sophia Loren while filming The Pride and the Passion (1957) when he was 53 and she was 22, despite the fact that he was married to actress Betsy Drake. However, Loren was seriously involved with producer Carlo Ponti, and her passion fizzled when the film wrapped.

When Sophia Loren visited Los Angeles during the filming of "An Affair to Remember (1957)_, Grant inundated her with dozens of phone calls and hundreds of flowers - even though she had called the affair off.

Participated in an experimental psychotherapy program in which he was prescribed LSD. Betsy Drake encouraged him to take the drug (as part of a medical experiment), as he wanted to examine his failed marriages. He underwent about 100 sessions, and said that he benefited greatly from them.

Premiere Magazine ranked him as the #1 Movie Star of All Time in their "Stars in Our Constellation" feature (2005).

Maintained a year-round suntan to avoid wearing make up.

Became the director of Fabergé cosmetics firm in 1966.

Alfred Hitchcock once toyed with the idea of casting him as Hamlet (in what would have been a modern-dress film version of Shakespeare's play), but he never got around to it.

In 1957, he accepted the Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" on behalf of Ingrid Bergman, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony

Is portrayed by John Gavin in Sophia Loren: Her Own Story (1980) (TV) and by Michael-John Wolfe in The Aviator (2004)

Replaced James Stewart as the hapless ad man Roger Thornhill in North by Northwest (1959). Stewart very much wanted the part, but director Alfred Hitchcock decided not to cast him because of the box office failure of Vertigo (1958), which Hitchcock unfairly blamed on Stewart for looking "too old" and chose Grant instead. In reality, Grant was four years older than Stewart.

Was the original choice to play Rupert Cadell in Rope (1948), but he was unavailable, so the part went to James Stewart instead (whom Grant would later replace as the lead in _North By Northwest (1959)_). Rope (1948) features references to Grant and the earlier Hitchcock film he appeared in Notorious (1946) with Ingrid Bergman.

Introduced First Lady Betty Ford at the Republican National Convention in 1976.

On April 18, 1947, King George VI awarded Grant the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom, citing his "outstanding service to the British War Relief Society."

His performance as T.R. Devlin in "Notorious" (1946) is ranked #16 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

His performance as Dr. David Huxley in Bringing Up Baby (1938) is ranked #68 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

His favorite after-shave was Acqua Di Parma.

When his daughter Jennifer was born, he gave wife Dyan Cannon a diamond and sapphire bracelet as a keepsake.

He had one of his daughter Jennifer's first baby teeth encased in Lucite.

Writer Sidney Sheldon used Grant as the prototype for Rhys Williams, a character in the novel "Bloodline."

One of his favorite poems was a bit of doggerel: "They bought me a box of tin soldiers,/I threw all the Generals away,/I smashed up the Sergents and Majors,/Now I play with my Privates all day."

He was a big baseball fan, originally supporting the New York Giants and then the L.A. Dodgers.

At one time, he owned a Sealyham terrier called Archie Leach.

He became an American Citizen on June 26, 1942, under naturalization certificate #5502057.

As a child, he had a fear of knives and a fear of heights.

He always wore a gold chain around his neck with three charms attached. The three charms represented the religions of each of his former wives: a St. Christopher for Virginia Cherrill (Roman Catholic), a small cross for Barbara Hutton and Betsy Drake (Protestants), and a Star of David for Dyan Cannon (Jewish. (Donaldson)

Was considered one of the best-dressed men in the United States of America. George Francis Frazier, Jr., in "The Art of Wearing Clothes" (published in 'Esquire' magazine, September 1960), wrote "Although Grant, who is fifty-six, favors such abominations as large tie knots and claims to have originated the square-style breast-pocket handkerchief, he is so extraordinarily attractive that he looks good in practically anything. He insists upon tight armholes in his suit jackets, finds the most comfortable (and functional) of all underwear to be women's nylon panties." Other best-dressed American men cited in the article were Miles Davis, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clark Gable and Walter Pidgeon.

If you look closely at his teeth, you'll find that he only has one incisor (front tooth). Apparently when he was a boy he knocked out a tooth while ice skating. Rather than get into trouble with his father, he opted to go to a nearby dental college and have them gradually push his other teeth together to fill in the gap. Only one person (an eagle-eyed cinematographer) ever noticed and mentioned it to him. It's described in depth in the book "Evenings with Cary Grant".

Hated his performance in Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), saying it was way too over the top and that it was his least favorite film.

Was the only actor Alfred Hitchcock was said to "love." Hitch said that James Stewart was the "everyman", but never cast Stewart after Vertigo (1958) flopped, which he blamed on Stewart now looking too old to draw in the crowds. Ironically, Grant was actually four years older than Stewart.

Initally accepted his role in Houseboat (1958) because he was dating Sophia Loren, whom he was madly in love with. After she went and married someone else, Cary, heartbroken, wanted to back out. He couldn't, but the director made sure the production was a smooth one.

Initially refused Stanley Donen's offer to appear in Charade (1963), but-realizing that it was a great part-accepted it after a while. He made one stipulation: Audrey Hepburn had to chase him, not visa-versa.

Was very hurt when he lost his two Academy Award nominations, particularly None But the Lonely Heart (1944), which he thought was his best performance. This is why he was so excited when he accepted his Honarary Academy Award in 1970.

Said Indiscreet (1958), to be his personal favorite film.

He gave serious consideration to retiring in 1953, because he believed the success of Marlon Brando and Method acting meant his own kind of acting was a thing of the past. Eighteen months later he was lured back to make To Catch a Thief (1955), and therefore delayed his retirement until 1966.

Maintained good physical health until becoming ill with high blood pressure in the late 1970s. In October 1984 he suffered a minor stroke, which limited his appearances thereafter.

Received Kennedy Center honors in November 1981. President Ronald Reagan wrote how pleased he was to be able to honor his friend, while Grant stated that he was glad James Stewart was at the ceremony.

Held a press conference announcing his retirement from acting early in 1953, saying he was very angry over Hollywood's treatment of director Charles Chaplin, who had recently been blacklisted for his liberal political beliefs.

Attended the state funeral of his friend Earl Louis Mountbatten of Burma at Westminster Abbey in August 1979, and openly wept during the service.

Alfred Hitchcock originally planned to cast Grant in the role of the publisher and Montgomery Clift as Brandon Rope (1948). However the established homosexual relationship between Leopold and Loeb, and the tacit recognition of a similar tie between Hamilton's killers, persuaded Grant and Clift to steer clear of the project to avoid long term commercial repercussions.

His final appearance at the Academy Awards was in 1985 to present James Stewart with an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.

Although fifty when To Catch a Thief (1955) was filmed, Grant was still playing a character of thirty-five.

He never played a villain.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 346-348. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

After being widely criticized for playing the romantic lead in To Catch a Thief (1955) opposite the 26-years-younger younger Grace Kelly, Grant resolved never to play such a part again. He turned down Gregory Peck's role in Arabesque (1966) opposite Sophia Loren.

Although he had been considered a liberal during his career, after his retirement from acting he emerged as a major supporter of Richard Nixon in the late 1960s.

Smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day until 1952, when his third wife Betsy made him give up in order to protect his voice. However, she recalled occasionally catching him smoking outside the house, so he probably never stopped completely.

Considered for the leading role of "Ladri di biciclette" (1948).

Grant eagerly sought William Holden's role in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), but the producers decided he wasn't right for the part, and in any case they felt he was too old at 53.

He was director Howard Hawks's first choice to play the lead in Man's Favorite Sport? (1964), but he turned it down because he was 59 and leading lady Paula Prentiss was 25 years old.

Turned down the role of gunfighter Cherry Valance, which was to have been much larger, in Howard Hawks' epic western Red River (1948) opposite John Wayne and Montgomery Clift. The part went to John Ireland instead.

Was very close friends with Ingrid Bergman, his co-star in both Indiscreet (1958) and Notorious (1946). Grant was one of the few who supported her throughout her notorious affair with Rossellini, and while Bergman was in exile in Italy he accepted her Best Actress Oscar in 1958.

Always cited his To Catch a Thief (1955) co-star Grace Kelly as his favorite leading lady. He attended her state funeral in 1982 and wept throughout the televised service.

At the time of his death, his estate was valued at $60 million.

His mother died in January 1973 at the age of 94.

Underwent a hernia operation in the spring of 1977.

Had a benign tumor removed from his forehead in 1957.

Became seriously ill with infectious hepatitis and jaundice in 1948, and doctors gave him a less than ten per cent chance of survival. The problem was the damage that years of heavy drinking had done to his liver. Grant took more than six months to recover.

Eagerly sought the role of Midshipman Roger Byam in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), but the part went to Franchot Tone instead.

Turned down James Mason's role in A Star Is Born (1954).

Turned down James Mason's role in Lolita (1962) because he considered the film "depraved".

He turned down the role of Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964) because he felt he would either not be as good as Rex Harrison, who had originated the part on the London stage and on Broadway, or he would be accused of imitating Harrison. He told producer Jack L. Warner that unless Harrison was cast, he would not even go t

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