Cary Grant was one of the defining leading men of classic Hollywood, known for his elegance, comic timing, understated acting style, and long partnership with some of cinema’s greatest directors. Born Archibald Alexander Leach in Bristol, England, he transformed himself from a vaudeville performer into an international movie star. His career stretched from the early 1930s until his retirement in 1966, with more than 70 films to his name.
Cary Grant – Quick Bio Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Archibald Alexander Leach |
| Stage Name | Cary Grant |
| Born | January 18, 1904 |
| Birthplace | Bristol, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | November 29, 1986 |
| Age at Death | 82 years |
| Nationality | British-American |
| Profession | Actor |
| Active Years | 1932–1966 |
| Estimated Height | About 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | Not reliably documented |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Marital Status | Married five times |
| Children | One daughter, Jennifer Grant |
| Daughter | Jennifer Grant, born 1966 |
| Net Worth | $60 Million |
| Major Genres | Comedy, romance, drama, thriller |
| Best Known For | North by Northwest, To Catch a Thief, Notorious, Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story |
| Oscar Record | 2 Best Actor nominations; 1 Honorary Academy Award |
| Retirement | 1966 |
Cary Grant Carrier Time Line
| Year | Major Event |
|---|---|
| 1904 | Born January 18, 1904, as Archibald Alec Leach in Bristol, England. |
| 1913 | His mother disappeared from his everyday life; Grant later discovered that she had been institutionalized. |
| 1918 | Left school and joined the Bob Pender comedy and acrobatics troupe, beginning his professional performing life. |
| 1920s | Worked in British and American vaudeville and developed his skills as a stage performer. |
| 1931 | Signed with Paramount and adopted the name Cary Grant. |
| 1932 | Made his Hollywood film debut and appeared in several films during his first year. |
| 1933 | She Done Him Wrong and I’m No Angel, both with Mae West, helped make him nationally known. |
| 1934 | Married actress Virginia Cherrill. |
| 1935 | Divorced Cherrill; his father also died that year. Grant discovered that his mother was still alive and arranged for her release from institutional care. |
| 1937 | The Awful Truth became one of his major breakthrough comedies. |
| 1938 | Starred in Bringing Up Baby and Holiday. |
| 1940 | Appeared in His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story. |
| 1941 | Received his first Academy Award nomination for Penny Serenade and worked with Alfred Hitchcock on Suspicion. |
| 1942 | Became a U.S. citizen and married Barbara Hutton. |
| 1944 | Received his second Academy Award nomination, for None but the Lonely Heart. |
| 1946 | Starred in Hitchcock’s Notorious. |
| 1949 | Married actress Betsy Drake. |
| 1955 | Starred in To Catch a Thief opposite Grace Kelly. |
| 1957 | Appeared in An Affair to Remember. |
| 1959 | Starred in Hitchcock’s ** North by Northwest**, one of his most celebrated films. |
| 1963 | Appeared in Charade with Audrey Hepburn. |
| 1965–1966 | Made his final film, Walk, Don’t Run, and retired from acting. |
| 1966 | His only child, Jennifer Grant, was born. |
| 1970 | Received an Honorary Academy Award for his contribution to motion pictures. |
| 1981 | Married Barbara Harris, his fifth and final wife. |
| 1986 | Died November 29, 1986, aged 82, in Davenport, Iowa. |
Cary Grant Family
| Family Member / Relationship | Information |
|---|---|
| Father | Elias James Leach, a tailor’s presser in Bristol. |
| Mother | Elsie Maria Leach, who lived until 1973. |
| Brother | John William Elias Leach, his older brother, died in infancy. |
| 1st Wife | Virginia Cherrill — married 1934; divorced 1935. |
| 2nd Wife | Barbara Hutton — married 1942; divorced 1945. |
| 3rd Wife | Betsy Drake — married 1949; divorced 1962. |
| 4th Wife | Dyan Cannon — married 1965; divorced 1968. |
| 5th Wife | Barbara Harris — married 1981 and remained his wife until his death in 1986. |
| Only Child | Jennifer Grant, born February 26, 1966. |
| Jennifer’s Mother | Actress Dyan Cannon. |
| Family Legacy | Jennifer later wrote Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant, offering a personal account of her father. |
Cary Grant Awards & Nominations
| Year | Award / Organization | Recognition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Academy Awards | Best Actor — Penny Serenade | Nominated |
| 1945 | Academy Awards | Best Actor — None but the Lonely Heart | Nominated |
| 1947 | British Government | King’s Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom for wartime contributions | Received |
| 1970 | Academy Awards | Honorary Academy Award for extraordinary talent | Received |
| 1981 | Kennedy Center Honors | Lifetime contribution to American culture through the performing arts | Honored |
| Overall | Academy Awards | 2 competitive acting nominations + 1 Honorary Oscar | No competitive acting win |
Cary Grant Dress & Clothing Collection
| Clothing / Style | Details |
|---|---|
| Grey Suit | His most famous look is the grey Glen-check suit from North by Northwest. |
| Tailor | Kilgour, French & Stanbury / Kilgour is strongly associated with the famous suit. |
| White Shirts | A regular part of his understated, polished wardrobe. |
| Ties | Usually conservative and carefully coordinated with his suits. |
| Pocket Squares | Frequently used as a subtle finishing detail. |
| Three-Piece Suits | A recognizable part of his earlier classic-Hollywood appearance. |
| Overcoats | Often paired with formal suits during public appearances and in films. |
| Casual Clothing | Knitwear, open-neck shirts and lighter sportswear appeared in his later films and photographs. |
| Shoes | Traditional leather dress shoes suited his tailored wardrobe. |
| Jewellery | His style was notably restrained; the Cary Grant archive describes an absence of excessive jewellery. |
| Wardrobe Philosophy | Clean tailoring, muted colours and excellent fit rather than obvious decoration. |
Cary Grant Car Collection
| Car | Information |
|---|---|
| 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible | Reported as a car originally owned by Cary Grant and purchased new in Beverly Hills in 1960. |
| 1940 Derham Town Landaulet | Photographs connect this car with Grant, but historical records indicate it actually belonged to Barbara Hutton, his second wife. |
| North by Northwest Cadillac | The 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood seen in North by Northwest was a film vehicle, not evidence of Grant’s personal ownership. |
| Documented Collection | There is not enough reliable evidence to present a large personal car collection as fact. |
