Cary Grant
Biography
Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904 – November 29, 1986) was a British-American actor, celebrated for his debonair charm, impeccable comic timing, and sophisticated screen presence. He became one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men, starring in classics such as Bringing Up Baby (1938), His Girl Friday (1940), Notorious (1946), and North by Northwest (1959). Grant had a difficult childhood, marked by his mother’s institutionalization and his father’s alcoholism. At 16, he joined the Pender Troupe, a group of acrobats, which led him to New York City, where he built a career in vaudeville before transitioning to Hollywood in the early 1930s. His breakthrough came with screwball comedies, where his witty delivery and effortless charisma made him a favorite among audiences. He worked with legendary directors such as Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, and George Cukor, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and enduring star. Grant was married five times, but his longtime companionship with fellow actor Randolph Scott fueled speculation about his sexuality. The two lived together for over a decade, sharing a home in Los Angeles, which led to rumors that they were romantically involved. While Grant never publicly addressed these claims, some biographers suggest that his relationship with Scott was more than just friendship. Despite the speculation, Grant maintained a carefully curated public image, often portraying the ideal romantic lead opposite Hollywood’s most glamorous actresses, including Katharine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, and Grace Kelly. Grant retired from acting in 1966, choosing to focus on business ventures and his family. He received an Academy Honorary Award in 1970 and was honored with the Kennedy Center Award in 1981. He passed away on November 29, 1986, at the age of 82. His legacy remains unmatched, with the American Film Institute ranking him as the second greatest male star of Hollywood’s Golden Age. His timeless appeal, effortless sophistication, and enigmatic personal life continue to fascinate audiences and film historians alike.
Known For
Roger Thornhill
North by Northwest
Mortimer Brewster
Arsenic and Old Lace
T.R. Devlin
Notorious
John Robie
To Catch a Thief
David Huxley
Bringing Up Baby
C.K. Dexter Haven
The Philadelphia Story
Tom Winters
Houseboat
Walter Burns
His Girl Friday
Self (archive footage)
On Assignment: 'His Girl Friday'
Self (archive footage)
Il était une fois... « Les enchaînés »
Self (archive footage)
Ingrid Bergman Remembered
Peter Joshua
Charade
(archive footage)
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
Walter Christopher Eckland
Father Goose
Philip Adams
Indiscreet
Captain Cassidy
Destination Tokyo
George Kerby
Topper
Anthony
The Pride and the Passion
Barnaby Fulton
Monkey Business
Leopold Dilg
The Talk of the Town
Dr. Noah Praetorius
People Will Talk
John D. 'Johnnie' Aysgarth
Suspicion
Capt. Henri Rochard
I Was a Male War Bride
Nickie Ferrante
An Affair to Remember
Jimmy Monkley
Sylvia Scarlett
Archibald Cutter
Gunga Din
Jim Blandings
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Alec Walker
In Name Only
(in "Suspicion") (archive footage)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Mock Turtle
Alice in Wonderland
Victor Rhyall
The Grass Is Greener
Philip Shayne
That Touch of Mink
Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman
Operation Petticoat
Jack Clayton
I'm No Angel
Nick Townsend
Blonde Venus
Self (archive footage)
Sophia Loren, une destinée particulière
Richard Nugent
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Ernest Bliss
The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss
Nick Arden
My Favorite Wife
Jerry Warriner
The Awful Truth
Dr. Madison W. Brown
Every Girl Should Be Married
Cole Porter
Night and Day
Patrick O'Toole
Once Upon a Honeymoon
Roger Adams
Penny Serenade
Captain Cummings
She Done Him Wrong
Geoff Carter
Only Angels Have Wings
Johnny Case
Holiday
Sir William Rutland
Walk Don't Run
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. B-5
The Victim / The Head Juror (uncredited)
The Killer of Fossil Gulch
Guest on Isle
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
Cary Grant (archive footage) (uncredited)
George White's Scandals
Cary Grant (uncredited)
The Road to Victory
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Notre Dame de la Croisette
Joe Adams
Mr. Lucky
Jerry Flynn
Once Upon a Time
George "Poppy" Rose
Room for One More
Dudley
The Bishop's Wife
Jeffrey Baxter
The Woman Accused
Romer Sheffield
Hot Saturday
Andre
Suzy
Matt Howard
The Howards of Virginia
Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton
Madame Butterfly
Nick Boyd
The Toast of New York
Ernie Mott
None But the Lonely Heart
Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson
Crisis
Clemson Reade
Dream Wife
Cmdr. Andrew " Andy" Crewson
Kiss Them for Me
Jimmy Hudson
When You're in Love
(archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War
Ridgeway
Sinners in the Sun
Lt. Jaeckel
Devil and the Deep
Stephen Mathewson
This Is the Night
Charlie Baxter
Merrily We Go to Hell
Henry Crocker
The Eagle and the Hawk
First Sailor
Singapore Sue
Ace Corbin
Gambling Ship
Malcolm Trevor
Born to Be Bad
Gerald Fitzgerald
Enter Madame
Charlie Mason
Wedding Present
Julian De Lussac
Ladies Should Listen
Porter Madison III
Thirty Day Princess
Ken Gordon
Wings in the Dark
Detective Sergeant Danny Barr
Big Brown Eyes
Michael Andrews
The Last Outpost
Dr. Maurice Lamar
Kiss and Make-Up
Self
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage)
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Frank Capra's American Dream
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks
Self
The Shining Future
George Kerby (archive footage)
Topper Takes a Trip
Self (archive footage)
Cary Grant: A Class Apart
Self (archive footage)
Before the Fact: Suspicious Hitchcock
Self (archive footage)
Destination Hitchcock: The Making of 'North by Northwest'
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn: Something's Got to Give
Self (archive footage)
Hippies
Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
(archive footage)
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Self (archive footage)
Behind The Gates: Cary Grant And Grace Kelly
Self (archive footage)
Writing And Casting To Catch A Thief
Archibald Cutter (archive footage)
On Location with Gunga Din
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
Self (Archive Footage)
Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love
Self (archive footage)
Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man
Self
All-Star Party for Frank Sinatra
Self (archive footage)
Grace Kelly: The American Princess
Self (archive footage)
Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her
(archive footage)
The Trouble With Forgetting
Self
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Andre Charville (archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy
Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Self
Blow-Ups of 1947
Self (archive footage)
Grace Kelly – Hollywoods tragische Prinzessin
Self (archive footage)
Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Becoming Cary Grant
Cary Grant (uncredited)
Without Reservations
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
Metropolis refundada
Self (archive footage)
Complicated Women
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
Self
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
Self
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
Self
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
Self (archive footage)
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self
A Tribute to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital
Self (archive footage)
It's Showtime
Self
Screen Snapshots Series 19, No. 1
Self (archive footage)
Dans l'ombre d'Hitchcock, Alma et Hitch
Self
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Self
Breakdowns of 1942
(Archive Footage)
True Blue
Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Canciones para después de una guerra
Self (archive footage)
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
Intimate Portrait: Grace Kelly
Self
All Star Tribute to Ingrid Bergman
Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Self (archive footage)
Discovering Audrey Hepburn
Archive
Clémence et Alexis
Self (archive footage)
That's Dancing!
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Trumbo
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
149
Gender
Male
Birthday
1904-01-18
Place of Birth
Horfield, Bristol, England, UK
Also Known As
Archibald Alec Leach