Person attributes
Who was Cary Grant?
Cary Grant was a renowned English-born American film and stage actor who delivered stellar performances throughout his career. He is the recipient of many awards, including the prestigious ‘Academy Award’ and the ‘Kennedy Center Honors.’ His memorable roles in films like ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘The Philadelphia Story’ continue to inspire actors even today. Grant was known for his debonair looks and ravishing screen-presence. Thanks to his acting skills and transatlantic accent, he became one of Hollywood’s most popular actors. He started off as a juggler as part of a comedy troupe, and soon began to hone his acting skills. He worked under many famous banners, such as ‘Paramount Pictures’ and ‘Columbia Pictures.’ He also went on to establish his own production company and produced many films. He was always known as someone who exuded charisma, style, and confidence both on and off screen. Though he had a successful career and earned great fame as an actor, his personal life was rife with controversies. After quitting acting in films, he remained active in the entertainment industry. He later joined the boards of the ‘Academy of Magical Arts,’ ‘Hollywood Park,’ and ‘Western Airlines.’ He was also a keen motor enthusiast and owned a number of cars.
Career
Archibald Alexander Leach continued to operate with his birth name and performed in many stage shows, such as ‘Irene,’ ‘Music in May,’ ‘Rio Rita,’ and ‘Wonderful Night.’ He became known for his comic-timing and gracefulness.
After performing in a number of Broadway shows, he decided to give Hollywood a shot in 1931. He signed a contract with ‘Paramount Pictures’ which advised him to officially change his name to Cary Grant.
He acted alongside Marlene Dietrich in ‘Blonde Venus’ in 1932. He was catapulted to fame with films like ‘She Done Him Wrong’ and ‘I’m No Angel,’ which were released in 1933. After a few unsuccessful movies with ‘Paramount Pictures,’ he signed a contract with ‘Columbia Pictures.’
In 1937, his first major comedy hit ‘Topper,’ distributed by MGM, was released. In the same year, he starred in ‘The Awful Truth,’ the film which played a crucial role in establishing him as one of the most prolific and gifted actors in Hollywood.
He appeared in a number of screwball comedies like ‘Holiday,’ ‘Bringing up Baby,’ and ‘The Philadelphia Society’ in the late-1930s. He also starred in ‘Penny Serenade’ and ‘Suspicion’ in 1941, which became huge box-office successes.
He worked closely with Alfred Hitchcock and starred in Hitchcock’s classics, such as ‘Notorious’ in 1946 and ‘North by Northwest’ in 1959.
In the mid-50s, he established his own production company called ‘Granart Productions’ and produced a number of films, such as ‘Indiscreet’ (1958) and ‘Father Goose’ (1964).
After his daughter Jennifer’s birth in 1966, he retired from acting in films in order to focus on raising her.
