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    Cary Grant

    January 18, 1904 November 29, 1986 • 82 y.o. (121)

    Full Name Archibald Alec Leach
    Place of Birth Bristol, England, UK
    Place of Death San Jose, California, USA
    Citizenship United Kingdom United States
    Career 1932 — 1986
    Genres Romance, Comedy, Drama
    Height 1.84 m 6′ 0″
    Zodiac sign capricorn
    Education
    Family

    Facts

    Grant was born Archibald Alec Leach on January 18, 1904, at 15 Hughenden Road in the northern Bristol, England suburb of Horfield. He was the second child of Elias James Leach and Elsie Maria Leach (née Kingdon). His father worked as a tailor's presser at a clothes factory, while his mother worked as a seamstress. His older brother John William Elias Leach died of tuberculous meningitis two days before his first birthday. Grant may have considered himself partly Jewish. He had an unhappy upbringing; his father was an alcoholic and his mother had clinical depression.

    Grant's mother taught him song and dance when he was four, and she was keen on his having piano lessons. She occasionally took him to the cinema, where he enjoyed the performances of Charlie Chaplin, Chester Conklin, Fatty Arbuckle, Ford Sterling, Mack Swain, and Broncho Billy Anderson. He moved a short distance to 50 Berkeley Road at about age 4, and was sent to Bishop Road Primary School when he was 4 1/2. He lived at six addresses in Bristol, but said his time at Berkeley Road were his childhood "happiest days".

    Grant's biographer Graham McCann claimed that his mother "did not know how to give affection and did not know how to receive it either". Biographer Geoffrey Wansell notes that his mother blamed herself bitterly for the death of Grant's brother John, and never recovered from it. Grant acknowledged that his negative experiences with his mother affected his relationships with women later in life. She frowned on alcohol and tobacco, and would reduce pocket money for minor mishaps. Grant attributed her behavior to overprotectiveness, fearing that she would lose him as she did John.

    When Grant was nine, his father placed his mother in Glenside Hospital, a mental institution, and told him she had gone away on a "long holiday", later declaring that she had died. Grant grew up resenting his mother, particularly after being told she left the family. After she was institutionalised, Grant and his father moved into Grant's grandmother's home in Bristol. When Grant was ten, his father remarried and started a new family. Grant did not learn that his mother was still alive until he was 31, his father confessing to the lie shortly before his own death. Grant made arrangements for his mother to leave the institution in June 1935, shortly after he learned of her whereabouts. He visited her regularly, including after filming Gunga Din in October 1938.

    Grant enjoyed the theater, particularly pantomimes at Christmas, which he attended with his father. He befriended a troupe of acrobatic dancers known as The Penders or the Bob Pender Stage Troupe. He subsequently trained as a stilt walker and began touring with them. Jesse Lasky was a Broadway producer at the time and saw Grant performing at the Wintergarten theater in Berlin around 1914.

    In 1915, Grant won a scholarship to attend Fairfield Grammar School in Bristol, although his father could barely afford to pay for the uniform. He was quite capable in most academic subjects, but he excelled at sports, particularly fives, and his good looks and acrobatic talents made him a popular figure. He developed a reputation for mischief, and frequently refused to do his homework. A former classmate referred to him as a "scruffy little boy", while an old teacher remembered "the naughty little boy who was always making a noise in the back row and would never do his homework".

    He spent his evenings working backstage in Bristol theatres, and at the age of 13, was responsible for the lighting for magician David Devant at the Bristol Empire in 1917. He began hanging around backstage at the theatre at every opportunity, and volunteered for work in the summer as a messenger boy and guide at the military docks in Southampton, to escape the unhappiness of his home life. The time spent at Southampton strengthened his desire to travel; he was eager to leave Bristol and tried to sign on as a ship's cabin boy, but he was too young.

    On March 13, 1918, the 14-year-old Grant was expelled from Fairfield. Several explanations were given, including being discovered in the girls' lavatory and assisting two other classmates with theft in the nearby town of Almondsbury. Wansell claims that Grant had set out intentionally to get himself expelled from school to pursue a career in entertainment with the troupe, and he did rejoin Pender's troupe three days after being expelled. His father had a better-paying job in Southampton, and Grant's expulsion brought local authorities to Pender's door with questions about why he was living in Bristol and not with his father in Southampton. His father then co-signed a three-year contract between Grant and Pender that stipulated Grant's weekly salary, along with room and board, dancing lessons, and other training for his profession until age 18. There was also a provision in the contract for salary raises based on job performance.

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                                  Actor — 75

                                  1966
                                  1
                                  1966 — Sir William Rutland

                                  Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 54 min
                                  United States • Charles Walters

                                    1964
                                    2
                                    1964 — Walter

                                    Adventure, Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 58 min
                                    United States • Ralph Nelson

                                      1963
                                      3
                                      1963 — Peter Joshua

                                      Comedy, Mystery, Romance, 1 hr 53 min
                                      United States • Stanley Donen

                                        1962
                                        4
                                        1962 — Philip Shayne

                                        Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 39 min
                                        United States • Delbert Mann

                                          1960
                                          5
                                          1960 — Victor Rhyall

                                          Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 44 min
                                          United Kingdom • Stanley Donen

                                            1959
                                            6
                                            1959 — Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman

                                            Comedy, Romance, War, 2 hr 4 min
                                            United States • Blake Edwards

                                              7
                                              1959 — Roger Thornhill

                                              Adventure, Drama, Mystery, 2 hr 16 min
                                              United States • Alfred Hitchcock

                                                1958
                                                8
                                                1958 — Tom Winters

                                                Comedy, Drama, Family, 1 hr 50 min
                                                United States • Melville Shavelson

                                                  9
                                                  1958 — Philip Adams

                                                  Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 40 min
                                                  United Kingdom • Stanley Donen

                                                    1957
                                                    10
                                                    1957 — Cmdr. Andy Crewson

                                                    Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 45 min
                                                    United States • Stanley Donen

                                                      11
                                                      1957 — Nickie Ferrante

                                                      Drama, Romance, 1 hr 55 min
                                                      United States • Leo McCarey

                                                        12
                                                        1957 — Anthony

                                                        Action, Adventure, Drama, 2 hours
                                                        United States • Stanley Kramer

                                                          1954
                                                          13
                                                          1954 — John Robie

                                                          Drama, Mystery, Romance, 1 hr 46 min
                                                          United States • Alfred Hitchcock

                                                            1953
                                                            14
                                                            1953 — Clemson Reade

                                                            Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 40 min
                                                            United States • Sidney Sheldon

                                                              1952
                                                              15
                                                              1952 — Dr. Barnaby Fulton

                                                              Sci-Fi, Comedy, 1 hr 37 min
                                                              United States • Howard Hawks

                                                                16
                                                                1952 — George Rose

                                                                Comedy, Drama, Family, 1 hr 38 min
                                                                United States • Norman Taurog

                                                                  1951
                                                                  17
                                                                  1951 — Dr. Noah Praetorius

                                                                  Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 50 min
                                                                  United States • Joseph L. Mankiewicz

                                                                    1950
                                                                    18
                                                                    1950 — Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson

                                                                    Crime, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 35 min
                                                                    United States • Richard Brooks

                                                                      1949
                                                                      19
                                                                      1949 — Captain Henri Rochard

                                                                      Comedy, Romance, War, 1 hr 45 min
                                                                      United States • Howard Hawks

                                                                        1948
                                                                        20
                                                                        1948 — Dr. Madison Brown

                                                                        Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 25 min
                                                                        United States • Don Hartman

                                                                          21
                                                                          1948 — Jim Blandings

                                                                          Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 34 min
                                                                          United States • H.C. Potter

                                                                            1947
                                                                            22
                                                                            1947 — Dudley

                                                                            Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, 1 hr 49 min
                                                                            United States • Henry Koster

                                                                              23
                                                                              1947 — Dick Nugent

                                                                              Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 35 min
                                                                              United States • Irving Reis

                                                                                1946
                                                                                24
                                                                                1946 — Devlin

                                                                                Film Noir, Drama, Mystery, 1 hr 42 min
                                                                                United States • Alfred Hitchcock

                                                                                  25
                                                                                  1946 — Cole Porter

                                                                                  Musical, Biography, Drama, 2 hr 8 min
                                                                                  United States • Michael Curtiz

                                                                                    26
                                                                                    1946 — Cary Grant, uncredited

                                                                                    Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 47 min
                                                                                    United States • Mervyn LeRoy

                                                                                      1944
                                                                                      27
                                                                                      1944 — Ernie Mott

                                                                                      Drama, Romance, 1 hr 53 min
                                                                                      United States • Clifford Odets

                                                                                        28
                                                                                        1944 — Mortimer Brewster

                                                                                        Comedy, Crime, Thriller, 1 hr 58 min
                                                                                        United States • Frank Capra

                                                                                          29
                                                                                          1944 — Jerry Flynn

                                                                                          Comedy, Family, Fantasy, 1 hr 29 min
                                                                                          United States • Alexander Hall

                                                                                            1943
                                                                                            30
                                                                                            1943 — Capt. Cassidy

                                                                                            Adventure, War, 2 hr 15 min
                                                                                            United States • Delmer Daves

                                                                                              31
                                                                                              1943 — Joe Adams posing as Joe Bascopolous

                                                                                              Comedy, Crime, Romance, 1 hr 40 min
                                                                                              United States • H.C. Potter

                                                                                                1942
                                                                                                32
                                                                                                1942 — Patrick O'Toole

                                                                                                Adventure, Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 57 min
                                                                                                United States • Leo McCarey

                                                                                                  33
                                                                                                  1942 — Leopold Dilg

                                                                                                  Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 58 min
                                                                                                  United States • George Stevens

                                                                                                    1941
                                                                                                    34
                                                                                                    1941 — Johnnie Aysgarth

                                                                                                    Film Noir, Drama, Mystery, 1 hr 39 min
                                                                                                    United States • Alfred Hitchcock

                                                                                                      35
                                                                                                      1941 — Roger Adams

                                                                                                      Drama, Romance, 1 hr 59 min
                                                                                                      United States • George Stevens

                                                                                                        1940
                                                                                                        36
                                                                                                        1940 — C.K. Dexter Haven

                                                                                                        Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 52 min
                                                                                                        United States • George Cukor

                                                                                                          37
                                                                                                          1940 — Matt Howard

                                                                                                          Drama, History, War, 1 hr 56 min
                                                                                                          United States • Frank Lloyd

                                                                                                            38
                                                                                                            1940 — Nick Arden

                                                                                                            Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 28 min
                                                                                                            United States • Garson Kanin

                                                                                                              39
                                                                                                              1940 — Walter Burns

                                                                                                              Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 32 min
                                                                                                              United States • Howard Hawks

                                                                                                                1939
                                                                                                                40
                                                                                                                1939 — Alec Walker

                                                                                                                Drama, Romance, 1 hr 34 min
                                                                                                                United States • John Cromwell

                                                                                                                  41
                                                                                                                  1939 — Geoff Carter

                                                                                                                  Adventure, Drama, Romance, 2 hr 1 min
                                                                                                                  United States • Howard Hawks

                                                                                                                    42
                                                                                                                    1939 — Cutter

                                                                                                                    Adventure, Comedy, War, 1 hr 57 min
                                                                                                                    United States • George Stevens

                                                                                                                      1938
                                                                                                                      43
                                                                                                                      1938 — Johnny Case

                                                                                                                      Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 35 min
                                                                                                                      United States • George Cukor

                                                                                                                        44
                                                                                                                        1938 — David Huxley

                                                                                                                        Comedy, 1 hr 42 min
                                                                                                                        United States • Howard Hawks

                                                                                                                          1937
                                                                                                                          45
                                                                                                                          1937 — Jerry Warriner

                                                                                                                          Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 30 min
                                                                                                                          United States • Leo McCarey

                                                                                                                            46
                                                                                                                            1937 — Nick Boyd

                                                                                                                            Biography, Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 49 min
                                                                                                                            United States • Rowland V. Lee...

                                                                                                                              47
                                                                                                                              1937 — George Kerby

                                                                                                                              Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, 1 hr 37 min
                                                                                                                              United States • Norman Z. McLeod

                                                                                                                                48
                                                                                                                                1937 — Jimmy Hudson

                                                                                                                                Musical, Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 50 min
                                                                                                                                United States • Robert Riskin...

                                                                                                                                  1936
                                                                                                                                  49
                                                                                                                                  1936 — Charlie Mason

                                                                                                                                  Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 21 min
                                                                                                                                  United States • Richard Wallace

                                                                                                                                    50
                                                                                                                                    1936 — Ernest Bliss

                                                                                                                                    Drama, Romance, Comedy, 1 hr 20 min
                                                                                                                                    United Kingdom • Alfred Zeisler

                                                                                                                                      51
                                                                                                                                      1936

                                                                                                                                      Short, Documentary
                                                                                                                                      United States

                                                                                                                                        52
                                                                                                                                        1936 — Andre Charville

                                                                                                                                        Drama, Romance, War, 1 hr 33 min
                                                                                                                                        United States • George Fitzmaurice

                                                                                                                                          53
                                                                                                                                          1936 — Danny Barr

                                                                                                                                          Comedy, Crime, Mystery, 1 hr 17 min
                                                                                                                                          United States • Raoul Walsh

                                                                                                                                            1935
                                                                                                                                            54
                                                                                                                                            1935 — Jimmy Monkley

                                                                                                                                            Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 35 min
                                                                                                                                            United States • George Cukor

                                                                                                                                              55
                                                                                                                                              1935 — Michael Andrews

                                                                                                                                              Action, Adventure, Romance, 1 hr 16 min
                                                                                                                                              United States • Charles Barton...

                                                                                                                                                56
                                                                                                                                                1935 — Ken Gordon

                                                                                                                                                Adventure, Romance, 1 hr 15 min
                                                                                                                                                United States • James Flood

                                                                                                                                                  1934
                                                                                                                                                  57
                                                                                                                                                  1934 — Gerald Fitzgerald

                                                                                                                                                  Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 23 min
                                                                                                                                                  United States • Elliott Nugent

                                                                                                                                                    58
                                                                                                                                                    1934 — Julian De Lussac

                                                                                                                                                    Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 2 min
                                                                                                                                                    United States • Frank Tuttle

                                                                                                                                                      59
                                                                                                                                                      1934 — Dr. Maurice Lamar

                                                                                                                                                      Musical, Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 18 min
                                                                                                                                                      United States • Harlan Thompson

                                                                                                                                                        60
                                                                                                                                                        1934 — Porter Madison III

                                                                                                                                                        Comedy, Romance, 1 hr 14 min
                                                                                                                                                        United States • Marion Gering

                                                                                                                                                          61
                                                                                                                                                          1934 — Malcolm Trevor

                                                                                                                                                          Drama, Romance, 1 hr 2 min
                                                                                                                                                          United States • Lowell Sherman...

                                                                                                                                                            1933
                                                                                                                                                            62
                                                                                                                                                            1933 — Mock Turtle

                                                                                                                                                            Fantasy, Adventure, Family, 1 hr 16 min
                                                                                                                                                            United States • Norman Z. McLeod...

                                                                                                                                                              63
                                                                                                                                                              1933 — Jack Clayton

                                                                                                                                                              Comedy, Music, Romance, 1 hr 27 min
                                                                                                                                                              United States • Wesley Ruggles

                                                                                                                                                                64
                                                                                                                                                                1933 — Ace Corbin

                                                                                                                                                                Drama, 1 hr 12 min
                                                                                                                                                                United States • Louis J. Gasnier...

                                                                                                                                                                  65
                                                                                                                                                                  1933 — Henry Crocker

                                                                                                                                                                  Action, Drama, War, 1 hr 13 min
                                                                                                                                                                  United States • Stuart Walker...

                                                                                                                                                                    66
                                                                                                                                                                    1933 — Jeffrey Baxter

                                                                                                                                                                    Drama, 1 hr 13 min
                                                                                                                                                                    United States • Paul Sloane

                                                                                                                                                                      67
                                                                                                                                                                      1933 — Captain Cummings

                                                                                                                                                                      Comedy, Romance, Crime, 1 hr 5 min
                                                                                                                                                                      United States • Lowell Sherman

                                                                                                                                                                        1932
                                                                                                                                                                        68
                                                                                                                                                                        1932 — Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton

                                                                                                                                                                        Drama, Romance, 1 hr 26 min
                                                                                                                                                                        United States • Marion Gering

                                                                                                                                                                          69
                                                                                                                                                                          1932 — Romer Sheffield

                                                                                                                                                                          Drama, Romance, 1 hr 13 min
                                                                                                                                                                          United States • William A. Seiter

                                                                                                                                                                            70
                                                                                                                                                                            1932 — Nick Townsend

                                                                                                                                                                            Drama, 1 hr 33 min
                                                                                                                                                                            United States • Josef von Sternberg

                                                                                                                                                                              71
                                                                                                                                                                              1932 — Lt. Jaeckel

                                                                                                                                                                              Drama, 1 hr 18 min
                                                                                                                                                                              United States • Marion Gering

                                                                                                                                                                                72
                                                                                                                                                                                1932 — Charlie Baxter

                                                                                                                                                                                Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 23 min
                                                                                                                                                                                United States • Dorothy Arzner

                                                                                                                                                                                  73
                                                                                                                                                                                  1932 — First Sailor, uncredited

                                                                                                                                                                                  Short, Comedy, Musical, 10 min
                                                                                                                                                                                  United States • Casey Robinson

                                                                                                                                                                                    74
                                                                                                                                                                                    1932 — Ridgeway

                                                                                                                                                                                    Drama, Romance, 1 hr 10 min
                                                                                                                                                                                    United States • Alexander Hall...

                                                                                                                                                                                      75
                                                                                                                                                                                      1932 — Stephen Mathewson

                                                                                                                                                                                      Comedy, 1 hr 20 min
                                                                                                                                                                                      United States • Frank Tuttle

                                                                                                                                                                                        Other — 163

                                                                                                                                                                                        Producer — 1

                                                                                                                                                                                        1960
                                                                                                                                                                                        1
                                                                                                                                                                                        1960 — executive producer, uncredited

                                                                                                                                                                                        Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 44 min
                                                                                                                                                                                        United Kingdom • Stanley Donen

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